An ottoman coffee table is a sound long term investment when four things are right: a solid hardwood or quality engineered frame, a dense filling that springs back, a hard wearing cover such as leather, wool or a performance fabric, and legs that are properly fixed into the frame rather than simply screwed into a board. When all four are in place, an ottoman can serve as a table, a footrest, extra seating and storage for decades, and it tends to age gracefully rather than wear out.<\/p>\n
That versatility is why so many households now choose an upholstered piece over a hard top table. Our collection of modern coffee tables UK<\/a> shows how upholstered designs sit alongside wood, glass and stone, and comparing them side by side is a useful way to decide what your room really needs. Below, we look at the details that separate a lasting ottoman from one that will need replacing after a few years.<\/p>\n A hard coffee table does one job well. An ottoman does several. It softens the centre of the room, which matters in homes with young children who are learning to walk. It gives tired legs somewhere to rest in the evening. It becomes an extra seat when family arrive for Sunday lunch. With a lid, it swallows blankets, board games and the clutter that otherwise collects on the floor.<\/p>\n In smaller UK homes, where the living room often doubles as a playroom, a study corner and a guest space, that flexibility has real value. It also means the ottoman is used more intensively than most furniture, which is exactly why construction matters so much. A piece that is sat on, leaned on and opened every day needs to be built for that treatment.<\/p>\n An ottoman also tends to link the main pieces in a room. It sits comfortably with sofas, armchairs and the wider range of modern living room furniture UK<\/a> homes rely on, because its soft shape does not compete with them. That makes it easier to keep when you change other pieces over time.<\/p>\n The frame is the part you cannot see, and it is the part that decides how long the ottoman will last. Kiln dried hardwood, such as beech or oak, is the traditional choice because it resists warping and holds fixings securely. Good quality plywood is also reliable when it is thick and properly joined. Thin chipboard frames, on the other hand, tend to loosen at the corners once people start sitting on them.<\/p>\n Look at how the corners are joined. Glued and screwed joints, corner blocks and dowels are all signs of care. Staples alone are not enough for a piece that will carry weight. If you can, press down firmly on each corner and along the middle of the top. There should be no creaking, flexing or movement.<\/p>\n The filling determines how the ottoman feels on the first day and, more importantly, how it looks after years of use. High density foam holds a crisp, tailored outline and springs back after pressure. Lower density foam feels soft in the showroom but compresses quickly, leaving a permanent hollow where people rest their feet.<\/p>\n Many long lasting ottomans use a combination: a firm foam core wrapped in a layer of fibre or wadding. The core supports weight and the outer layer gives a softer, rounded finish that feels pleasant under the hand. Deep buttoned designs often rely on this layering, and the buttoning itself helps to hold the filling in place.<\/p>\n If the ottoman will be sat on regularly, choose a firmer feel than you might for a footstool. A firm top also works better as a table, because trays and cups sit level rather than tipping into a soft surface.<\/p>\n The cover takes the most wear, so it deserves careful thought. Each material ages in its own way.<\/p>\n Leather<\/strong> is the classic investment choice. Good quality full grain or top grain leather develops a patina over time, softening in colour and gaining character where hands and feet rest. It wipes clean easily and suits homes with children, though it can be marked by sharp claws.<\/p>\n Wool and wool blends<\/strong> are naturally resilient and resist soiling better than many people expect. They have a warm, matt texture that suits traditional and contemporary rooms equally well.<\/p>\n Velvet<\/strong> gives a rich, tactile finish and looks particularly striking in deep colours. Modern velvets are far more durable than older versions, but they do show pressure marks, which some people enjoy as part of the character and others find distracting.<\/p>\n Performance fabrics<\/strong> are woven or treated to resist stains and spills. They are a practical option for busy households and often come in textured weaves that hide everyday wear. Whatever fabric you choose, check that it is rated for heavy domestic use on the Martindale rub test, which measures how well a fabric resists abrasion.<\/p>\n A storage ottoman adds a great deal of everyday usefulness, but it also adds moving parts. Hinges are the first thing to wear, so they deserve attention. Soft close or stay hinges hold the lid open safely and stop it slamming shut, which protects small fingers and reduces strain on the fixings. Piano hinges that run the full length of the lid spread the load evenly and tend to last longer than two small hinges.<\/p>\n Inside, look for a lined or finished interior. Bare board can snag fabrics and shed dust. A lining makes it pleasant to store throws and cushions, and a smooth base is easier to wipe out. Some ottomans have a lift off lid rather than a hinged one. These have no moving parts to fail, but the lid needs to be light enough to lift comfortably and somewhere sensible to rest while you reach inside.<\/p>\n Think about what you plan to keep inside. Board games and remote controls need a shallow space you can reach easily. Spare bedding for guests needs depth. It is worth measuring the items before you choose. If you would rather keep the ottoman solid, a nearby cabinet or chest from our range of modern storage furniture UK<\/a> can take on that role instead.<\/p>\n Legs are often overlooked, yet they carry the full weight of the ottoman and anyone sitting on it. The strongest fixings are bolted into a solid block within the frame. Legs that screw into a thin plate can loosen over time, particularly on hard floors where the ottoman is pushed and pulled.<\/p>\n Turned wooden legs, tapered legs and slim metal legs all lift the ottoman visually and make cleaning underneath easier. A plinth or skirted base gives a more solid, traditional look and can suit rooms with low ceilings or heavier furniture. Castors are useful if you move the ottoman often, but choose lockable ones so it stays put when someone sits down.<\/p>\n A well built ottoman that is the wrong size will never feel right. As a general guide, aim for the top to be roughly level with your sofa seat or a little lower, so it works comfortably as both a footrest and a table. Allow a clear walkway of around 40 to 45cm between the ottoman and the sofa, so people can pass without turning sideways.<\/p>\n For length, many designers suggest a piece that is around two thirds the length of the sofa. With a corner sofa, a large square or round ottoman often fits the space more naturally than a long rectangle, because it reaches both sides of the L equally.<\/p>\n In a smaller room, a pair of compact ottomans can be more flexible than one large piece. They can sit together as a table, split apart as extra seats or move to the window when you need floor space. If you like that idea, our range of footstools UK sale<\/a> includes smaller pieces that work well in pairs.<\/p>\n The one thing an ottoman cannot do on its own is hold a hot drink safely. A rigid tray solves this neatly. Choose one with raised edges in wood, rattan, lacquer or metal, sized so it covers around a third to a half of the top. It gives a stable surface for cups, remote controls and a candle, and it can be lifted away when the ottoman is needed as a seat.<\/p>\n Beyond the tray, keep styling simple. A small stack of books, a low vase and a folded throw are usually enough. Leaving part of the top clear keeps the ottoman usable as a footrest and stops it looking cluttered. For more ideas on combining upholstered and hard pieces, see our advice on styling sofa sets with coffee tables for UK homes<\/a>.<\/p>\n With an L shaped layout, the ottoman becomes the meeting point between both sides of the sofa, so keep the styling low enough that it never blocks the view across the room. Our guide to pairing corner sofas and coffee tables in UK living rooms<\/a> explores those proportions in more detail.<\/p>\n A little regular care makes a noticeable difference. Vacuum fabric covers with a soft brush attachment every week or two to lift dust and grit, which otherwise work into the fibres and wear them down. Rotate cushions or plump the top if it has a loose seat, and occasionally turn the ottoman so wear is spread evenly.<\/p>\n For leather, dust with a dry cloth and apply a suitable leather conditioner a couple of times a year, following the maker’s guidance. Keep it away from radiators and strong direct sunlight, both of which can dry and fade the surface. For fabric, deal with spills quickly by blotting rather than rubbing, and test any cleaner on a hidden area first.<\/p>\n Check the legs every few months and tighten them if needed. It takes a moment and prevents the gradual loosening that eventually damages the frame. If the cover wears long before the frame, a good quality ottoman can often be reupholstered, which is one of the clearest signs of a true investment piece.<\/p>\n When you are comparing ottomans, it helps to prioritise in order: frame first, filling second, cover third and style last. A beautiful fabric on a weak frame will disappoint, while a well built ottoman in a quiet colour can carry you through several changes of sofa, rug and wall colour. You can explore upholstered, wooden, glass and stone designs, along with the sofas and storage to match, at Furniture in Fashion<\/a>, where we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.<\/p>\n Yes, provided you use a rigid tray for drinks and choose a firm top. Many households find an ottoman more useful than a hard table because it also works as a footrest and extra seat.<\/p>\n Both can last for decades. Quality leather ages with a patina and wipes clean easily, while wool and performance fabrics resist wear and feel warmer. The choice depends on your household and how you use the room.<\/p>\n Firmer than a typical footstool. A firm top keeps trays level, holds its shape when people sit on it and resists the hollows that softer fillings develop over time.<\/p>\n Not if the hinges and frame are well made. Look for full length or stay hinges, a lined interior and a central support under wide lids.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An ottoman coffee table becomes a genuine investment when its frame, filling, cover and legs are all built to last. In this detailed guide we explain what sits beneath the upholstery of a well constructed ottoman, which fillings hold their shape over many years and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":72917,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[29,25,7560],"class_list":["post-72916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-living-room-furniture","tag-coffee-tables","tag-living-room-furniture-2","tag-ottoman-coffee-tables"],"acf":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72916\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furnitureinfashion.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Why an Ottoman Earns Its Place in the Living Room<\/h3>\n
The Frame: What Sits Beneath the Upholstery<\/h3>\n
Filling That Holds Its Shape<\/h3>\n
Choosing a Cover for the Long Run<\/h3>\n
Storage Ottomans: Hinges, Lids and Linings<\/h3>\n
Legs, Feet and Floor Protection<\/h3>\n
Getting the Size Right for Your Room<\/h3>\n
Styling an Ottoman So It Works as a Table<\/h3>\n
Caring for Your Ottoman Over the Years<\/h3>\n
Finding an Ottoman That Suits Your Home<\/h3>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n
Can an ottoman really replace a coffee table?<\/h3>\n
Is leather or fabric better for an ottoman that will last?<\/h3>\n
How firm should an ottoman coffee table be?<\/h3>\n
Are storage ottomans less durable than solid ones?<\/h3>\n