Extended Answer

There isn’t really a list of ‘best’ fabrics for an ottoman as there are so many considerations. What one customer thinks is paramount may not be the highest priority for another.  We always begin with asking what we want the fabric to do.

For instance, an occasional bedroom footstool or blanket box that is not used daily and a high-traffic storage ottoman for daily use as a coffee table are both upholstered pieces but the fabric is living two very different lives.

Choose Fabric For How You’ll Use Your Ottoman

It’s sometimes best to define how frequently you will use your ottoman. Everyday use in high-traffic areas will likely benefit from a more durable fabric, whereas a little used ottoman for staging a tray of décor can carry a more light-weight fabric. If you intend to use your ottoman or footstool for a footrest or extra seating, it’s worth choosing something that has a high rub count and is easily cleaned or stain protected. Children, pets and busy living spaces all have specific requirements. Try creating a practical brief before falling in love with anything!

It Doesn’t Have to Be upholstery Grade Fabric

Many of the designers and customers that we help want a more fashion led look to their ottoman and printed linen is often send to us for upholstery onto ottomans. However, not every attractive textile is suitable for furniture – satin and silk don’t upholster ver well and are too fragile for everyday use and have a very low Martindale rub count.

A higher Martindale rub count isn’t automatically better but it gives an idea of the durability of a fabric when compared with its intended use. Far more important is a fabrics composition – this relates to fire retardancy more than anything and we discuss this in another article.

Think About How you Want It To Look (The Fun Part!)

Firstly you can consider if you wish the ottoman to blend in or become a feature. Thinking about how much fabric will be visible is especially important on larger ottomans as is the scale of the pattern. Using a large scale pattern on a small ottoman may mean you never see the whole pattern effect whilst a small pattern on a large ottoman may get lost.

Upholstery details such as buttoning also affect fabric and style choice. We would not recommend buttoning a striped fabric for instance as it alters the course of the stripe. Whilst this can be a pleasing effect in itself it is a good demonstration of how form and detail affect how the pattern will sit when upholstered.

The main decision process for narrowing down the fabric choice once its use is locked in might begin with plain vs patterned fabric, smooth vs textured and the colour.

Expert Tip

Don’t forget to handle the fabric. An ottoman is furniture you touch and interact with, so the way a fabric feels can be just as important as how it looks — particularly if it’ll regularly be used as a footrest or additional seat.

Key Takeaways

• There is no single best ottoman fabric
• Start with how the furniture will actually be used
• Choose fabric suitable for the expected level of wear
• Consider cleaning and maintenance requirements
• Colour, pattern and texture have a greater impact across larger ottomans
• Always assess appearance and practicality together
• Consider a stain protection element to seal any fabric as an additional measure