Categories: Bedroom Furniture

Investment Bedroom Ottomans: Pieces You’ll Love for Decades

An ottoman worth keeping for decades comes down to what you cannot see: a hardwood or reinforced frame, jointed rather than stapled corners, high resilience foam over a webbed or sprung base, and upholstery in a fabric rated for heavy domestic use. Those four things determine whether a bedroom ottoman still looks composed in fifteen years or sags within two.

Ottomans occupy an unusual position in a bedroom. They are sat on, stood on, piled with clothes, used as a suitcase rest and, in the case of storage designs, opened and closed several times a week. Few pieces in the house take that mix of loads, and it is why construction matters more here than in most furniture categories.

What separates a long lasting ottoman from a disposable one

Start with the frame. Kiln dried hardwood or engineered timber of good density holds its shape under repeated weight. Softwood frames held together with staples alone will loosen, and once a frame racks slightly the lid on a storage ottoman stops sitting flush.

Next, the suspension. Elasticated webbing across the seat base gives comfortable, durable support. Serpentine springs are firmer and also long lasting. A seat built only on a solid board with a thin foam pad will feel hard from the start and will not improve.

Then the foam. High resilience foam with a density above roughly 30kg per cubic metre keeps its shape under regular use. Lower density foam compresses permanently, which is what causes that dished look in the middle of a seat.

Finally the fabric. Look for an abrasion rating quoted in rub counts. Anything rated for heavy domestic use will handle bedroom duty comfortably. Tight weaves in wool blends, performance velvets and good quality faux leather all age well, while loose weaves snag on buttons and zips.

Storage ottomans: check the hinge, not just the box

A storage ottoman lives or dies by its hinge mechanism. Gas struts that hold the lid open safely are far better than a simple friction hinge, which can drop unexpectedly. Soft close struts are better again, particularly in a family home.

Look at how the lid is attached. A full width piano hinge or two substantial butt hinges spread the load across the back edge. A pair of small hinges screwed into thin board will pull out over time.

Check the interior too. A lined base protects bedding from splinters and dust. Breathable lining matters if you store duvets or winter coats for months at a time, since sealed synthetic interiors can hold moisture in a cold bedroom.

If storage is the priority, compare a standalone piece against an ottoman bed, which holds far more. Our modern ottomans UK range covers both, so it is easy to see which suits the space you have.

Sizing an ottoman to your bedroom

The most common mistake is buying an ottoman the same width as the bed. In most UK bedrooms that leaves too little walking space at the foot. A better guide is around two thirds of the bed width, which keeps the proportions right and preserves the route around the bed.

Height should sit at or slightly below mattress height. An ottoman taller than the mattress interrupts the line of the bed and makes the room feel shorter than it is.

Leave at least 60cm between the ottoman and the wall, wardrobe or chest opposite. If that is not possible, a narrow bench or a pair of small stools that tuck away will serve better than a single large piece. Our modern foot stools UK sale selection includes compact options for rooms where a full length ottoman will not fit.

Fabric choices that age gracefully

Fabric determines how an ottoman looks after a decade more than any other visible feature.

Wool and wool blends: hard wearing, naturally resistant to marking, and they soften rather than wear out. A sound long term choice in a bedroom.

Performance velvet: dense pile that resists crushing far better than traditional velvet. Shows finger marks in the pile, which many people like.

Linen blends: relaxed and breathable, though pure linen creases and marks more readily. A blend with cotton or polyester holds up better.

Bouclé: texturally appealing but loops can snag. Best in rooms without pets or young children.

Faux and real leather: wipes clean, ages with character in the case of real leather, and suits rooms where the ottoman doubles as a luggage rest.

On colour, muted tones outlast bright ones, both in fashion terms and in practice. Deep green, charcoal, warm grey and muted navy hide marks well and sit with most schemes. Very pale fabrics look striking and need more upkeep.

Where an ottoman earns its keep

At the foot of the bed is the traditional position, and it works because it gives you somewhere to sit while dressing and somewhere to put the things that otherwise land on the bed itself.

Under a window is the second option, particularly where a bay or a wide sill creates a natural alcove. Keep the piece clear of the radiator and avoid direct sunlight on darker fabrics, which will fade over years.

In a dressing area, a smaller ottoman or stool tucked under a dressing table takes no floor space when not in use. If you have room for a proper seat instead, our modern bedroom chairs UK range covers upholstered chairs that serve a similar purpose with back support.

What an ottoman does that other furniture does not

Three things, mainly. It provides seating without the visual bulk of a chair, which matters in a room where the bed already dominates. It gives a soft landing spot at a height that suits putting on shoes. And in storage form it holds bulky, awkward items that fit nowhere else.

That last point is the one most people underestimate. Spare duvets, pillows, winter bedding and suitcases are the hardest household items to store. A single storage ottoman can absorb most of a household’s spare bedding, which frees a wardrobe shelf for clothes.

A blanket box does a similar job with a firmer top. If you prefer timber to upholstery, our modern blanket boxes UK offer the same storage volume with a different character.

Legs, feet and the details people overlook

Leg construction is a reliable indicator of overall quality. Legs bolted into a reinforced corner block will stay tight for years. Legs screwed directly into thin board will loosen, and once they do the frame flexes every time the piece is sat on.

Height matters too. Ottomans raised on visible legs show more floor and feel lighter in a small room, while a plinth base reads as more substantial and suits larger bedrooms. On carpet, wider feet prevent the piece sinking and tilting over time.

Check stitching along the top edges, where seams take the most strain. Even, tight stitching with a double row on stress points is a sign the upholstery was built to last rather than to photograph well.

Caring for an ottoman so it lasts

Vacuum upholstery with a soft brush attachment every few weeks. Dust that settles into a weave acts as an abrasive and wears fibres faster than sitting does.

Rotate the use of a long ottoman so one end is not always taking the weight. If the top is cushioned, plump and turn it occasionally to even out compression.

Deal with marks quickly using a barely damp cloth and blotting rather than rubbing. Check the manufacturer’s cleaning code before using any product, since water based cleaners can leave rings on fabrics coded for solvent cleaning only.

Keep it out of direct sun where you can. Fading is gradual and uneven, and it shows most on the side facing a window.

Buying with the long term in mind

A piece bought for decades should be chosen for shape and construction first and colour second. Simple silhouettes, clean lines and a modest scale stay relevant. Heavily detailed or unusually shaped pieces can be harder to place after a move.

Check the weight limit if the ottoman will be sat on by adults regularly, and check the delivery dimensions against your stairs, since ottomans are usually delivered assembled.

At Furniture in Fashion every ottoman listing sets out frame materials, fabric type and full dimensions so you can judge construction before ordering, and we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.

Frequently asked questions

How wide should a bedroom ottoman be?

Around two thirds of the bed width is a reliable guide. For a standard double that is roughly 90cm to 100cm, which leaves clear space at each side.

Are storage ottomans good for storing bedding?

Yes, provided the interior is lined and reasonably breathable. Store bedding clean and fully dry, and avoid sealing damp items inside a cold room.

What fabric lasts longest on an ottoman?

Tightly woven wool blends and performance velvets rated for heavy domestic use tend to wear best. Loose weaves and delicate bouclé are more prone to snagging.

Can you sit on an ottoman every day?

A well made one with a hardwood frame and webbed or sprung base is built for daily use. Lightweight storage boxes with a padded lid are not, and will show it quickly.

Should an ottoman match the bed?

It does not need to match, and a contrasting fabric often looks more considered. Picking up a colour already present in the room, such as the curtains or a throw, ties it in without matching exactly.

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