A photo of a sofa complete with an ottoman is often found in foreign interior magazines. American and European designers simply adore this small piece of furniture, bringing a bit of oriental charm and relaxation to the living room. Modern Russian interiors often also use a sofa with an ottoman. But, like everything new and not yet ubiquitous, such a sofa model must be carefully selected.
Straight, semicircular and corner sofa with an ottoman
The Ottoman came to us from Turkey, where it was a bed on low legs with a lot of pillows. Modern ottomans are more like poufs and can be an independent piece of furniture, but more often they create a single ensemble with a sofa.
At the same time, the sofa itself can be of any design and shape. It can be rectangular or have a rounded shape, in which case the ottoman repeats its shape and is square or round.
But the most popular corner sofas with an ottoman are right- and left-handed. And this is not surprising - a corner sofa with an ottoman is simply designed for a leisurely and cozy evening, when all family members can comfortably sit near a TV, fireplace or with books. The Ottoman allows you to comfortably stretch and relax your legs or put a tray of tea and cookies, or lay out a board game.
Modular designs
Modular sofas with ottomans are very popular today. This is a real designer in which all parts can be interchanged and assembled for maximum comfort. So, the sofa can have one or two wide armrests made of wood, replacing the table. The table can also recline in the sofa itself, for example, in the corner section. The Ottoman is placed separately or becomes a continuation of the corner sofa, increasing its area. In addition to the ottoman, a designer with a direct sofa can include a freestanding box. There are collections of modular upholstered furniture, consisting of as many as 60 elements!
However, the most popular are simple models from the main sofa, goats and ottomans. This set allows you to create several different designs, suitable for different rooms, as well as for different occasions. Unassembled, these are several independent zones that allow you to lie down or sit down in different parts of the room, but they are easy to assemble and turn into a large sofa with an ottoman.
Sizes of sofa and ottoman
When choosing a sofa, many people think about its color or configuration, but size is the first thing to consider. This is especially true of the couch with an ottoman. By itself, this piece of furniture is quite large, and the ottoman will take up additional space.
The first rule is that the sofa should not occupy more than ⅔ of the length of the wall on which it will stand. Standard sofas are about 2 meters long. Next, pay attention to its width and depth if the sofa is angular. The depth of the cap is usually not more than a meter, as it is not designed to lie in full growth.
The size of the ottoman can be absolutely any, but usually its width does not exceed the width of the sofa, and the length is either equal to the width or slightly exceeds it. If the sofa is angular, the ottoman is usually completely placed in the formed corner. Keep in mind that usually it is pushed away from the sofa, and there must be a distance of at least 30 centimeters between them for a comfortable passage.
Interior Use Options
The Ottoman is only at first glance an unnecessary luxury. If the size of the room allows you to put a sofa with an ottoman, you can find her a lot of uses. Here is some of them:
- On the ottoman, you can fold your legs for a more comfortable stay.
- It is good to use it instead of a coffee table, but in the event that it is upholstered in leather or fabric that can be cleaned well. Otherwise, do not put a cup of coffee or a plate of berries on the pouf.
- If you have guests, the ottoman can be used as a pouf or an extra seat.
- Many Ottoman models have a hinged lid and are used to store things, such as a guest bedding set or rugs.
- A decorative element - an ottoman may look unusual or have an interesting finish, so this item will become the stylistic center of the room.
How to choose a sofa model with an ottoman
To choose a sofa with an ottoman, first decide why you need such a model. If you want to use it as an additional seat, then choose models in which the ottoman is quite soft and high. If you want more comfort from your sofa, then choose an angular model with a wide enough ottoman, on which you can fold your legs and relax in comfort. If you just like the design of such furniture, choose an unusual sofa with an ottoman. Photos of such decorative ottomans, for example with a carriage screed, can always be found in foreign design magazines and blogs.
Pay attention to the material of the sofa and pouf. If you plan to put food or drink on it or use it as a footrest, the ottoman fabric should be one that can be easily cleaned at home.
Also decide on the size - a sofa with an ottoman takes up a lot of space, and the latter must be freely moved in space. For a cramped and small room, this piece of furniture will be redundant.
Pros and Cons of an Ottoman Sofa
Such furniture has a lot of advantages. Firstly, it is multifunctional, because the Ottoman can serve as a coffee table, and a pouf, and an armchair, and a box for things. Few other furniture boast such a set of features. And finally, the Ottoman simply decorates the interior, making it European-style exquisite.
She also has minuses. The main thing is that this furniture takes up a lot of space, therefore sofas with an ottoman are recommended only for spacious rooms. In the interior of the living room, this item is most appropriate, but if you use the room both as a living room and as a bedroom, and a sofa for receiving guests and for a night’s sleep, then the ottoman can be superfluous and just disturb you. In addition, in such rooms, another surface simply attracts unnecessary things - clothes, magazines, toys. Therefore, when choosing a sofa with an ottoman, it is better to weigh the pros and cons in advance.