Extended Answer

Start with the width of your bed

What goes inside an ottoman usually depends on which room it’s in.

An ottoman that’s a little narrower than the mattress or bed frame will usually look more balanced than one that extends beyond it. It also leaves a little visual space at each side, which helps the bed remain the main feature.

You don’t need to chase an exact formula. The aim is simply for the ottoman to look substantial enough to belong with the bed without overwhelming it.

Don’t forget the space in front

This is the measurement that’s very easy to miss.

Measure from the end of your bed to the opposite wall or nearest piece of furniture, then consider how much usable floor space will remain once the ottoman is there.

You still need to be able to comfortably walk around the room, open drawers or wardrobes and actually use the ottoman without squeezing past it sideways.

An ottoman can be beautifully proportioned to your bed and still be too big for your bedroom.

What height should a bedroom ottoman be?

For an end-of-bed ottoman, we’d usually avoid making it noticeably taller than the mattress.

Something around the same height or slightly lower tends to sit comfortably within the proportions of the bed and keeps the sightline through the room feeling open.

If you’re planning to regularly sit on it while getting dressed, height becomes a practical consideration too, not just an aesthetic one.

What if I don’t have much space?

You don’t need a huge bedroom to have an ottoman at the end of the bed.

A narrower bench-style ottoman or smaller footstool can give you the same upholstered finishing touch without taking up as much floor space.

And because our ottomans are made to order, if you find a style you love but the standard dimensions aren’t quite right, ask us about adjusting the size.

Expert Tip

Before ordering, mark out the proposed ottoman on the floor with masking tape. Then walk around the bed, open nearby drawers and cupboards and live with the outline for a little while.

Key Takeaways

• An end-of-bed ottoman will usually look best slightly narrower than the bed.
• Don’t choose the size based on the bed alone. Measure the available floor space too.
• Make sure there’s comfortable room to walk around it and use nearby furniture.
• Around mattress height or slightly lower generally works well.
• Smaller or bench-style ottomans can work beautifully where space is tighter
• If a standard size isn’t quite right, a made-to-measure adjustment may be the simplest solution.