Introductory
Ottoman Furniture This article discusses the ottoman and its place in our home and why you may want to use them. The ottoman, which originated in Turkey and made its way through the Ottoman Empire to Europe and to the new world, sits in front of us with great royal grace.
In its simplest form, an ottoman is a piece of furniture with a cushioned top for resting your feet or as a stool for sitting.
Ottoman Furniture Design and Construction
The ottoman has taken many different forms and uses over the years. You might best know them by names such as a hassock, footrest, or footstool. Although there may be some differences between them, the ultimate goal we think of between most of them is to put our feet up after a hard long day’s work and allow our heads to rest.
Ottoman frames can be crafted from many different materials. Some typical ottoman frames include wood, rattan poles, steel, and aluminum. Any of the frame materials can be shaped to create aesthetically pleasing designs. Full fabric covers, loom or woven wicker, can cover the frames to form a more formal look.
Ottoman Cushions
Depending on the design, the cushioned tops of the ottoman can be in the form of:
- A separate replaceable foam or tufted ottoman cushion that can be adjusted or turned over as desirable.
- The cushion and fabric can be permanently sewn, stapled, attached, or laid on the ottoman frame.
Benefits of Ottomans
What’s great about ottomans is that they can be used with just about any seating, such as a chair, loveseat, or sofa. Many people today have reclining furniture. If you don’t have that type of furniture or like your sitting area to be a little more formal, you should consider using an ottoman with foam cushion and, in essence, adding an ottoman to your seating essentially converts it into a chaise lounge of sorts. The ottoman can be moved around a room and used with different furniture, or you can add more than one where needed. One nice thing about using an ottoman is that you can pick it up and move it away when it’s not being used to provide more open space.
Ottomans are not unique to indoor settings. Many people use ottomans outdoors with their patio or porch furniture.
Health Benefits
If you suffer from poor circulation in your legs or want to improve circulation throughout your body, raise your feet. Raising them above your heart for ten minutes or more a day is better. You might have to add an extra pillow or two, depending on the height of your ottoman.
Summary
Hardly a home is without some footrest used in the sitting room or patio. If you are annoyed because you can’t stretch out and relax on your furniture or need to improve your circulation, consider using an ottoman.
Remember, in a pinch, ottomans second for a great stool for someone to sit on at a party. Enough ottomans can save you the trouble of buying additional furniture for infrequent gatherings.
Check back for our next article to learn more about how to relax on your patio furniture.
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