Ottomans Are Underrated
Most people treat ottomans as an afterthought. Something to park your feet on. That's a waste. A good ottoman pulls double or triple duty — extra seating, storage, a surface for a tray and drinks, a way to add texture and weight to a room. Heading into 2027, we're seeing ottomans take on a bigger role in living spaces, and for good reason.
We carry ottomans from brands like Uttermost, Universal Furniture, and Four Hands — names that take materials and construction seriously. Here's what we think is worth your attention right now.
Storage Ottomans Still Win
If you're working with a smaller living room or just hate clutter, a storage ottoman earns its square footage. The Brown Storage Ottoman is one of our most practical pieces — clean lines, lift-off top, and enough room inside for throws, remotes, or whatever you're tired of looking at.
The Colorful Cube Storage Ottoman does the same job but adds a punch of color. It's compact enough to tuck into a corner or pull out when guests come over. Storage plus extra seating in one piece. That's efficiency.
Texture Is the Move
One of the easiest ways to make a room feel more layered is through an ottoman with interesting material or weave. We've written about how to add texture to a room without more throw pillows — ottomans and poufs are a big part of that answer.
The Upholstered Ottoman with Wood Base and Waffle Weave is a great example. The waffle weave fabric gives it visual depth, and the solid wood base keeps it grounded. It reads transitional without trying too hard.
The Shiro Pouf is another textural play — more casual, easy to move around, and works just as well next to a sofa as it does at the foot of a bed.
Pattern and Color
Neutral rooms need an anchor that isn't another gray cushion. Patterned ottomans do this without overwhelming a space.
The Blue Patterned Ottoman with Wood Base brings color and pattern together on a solid wood frame. It's the kind of piece that makes a room look like someone actually thought about it. The Striped Ottoman in Blue and White leans more coastal — not surprising given we're in Costa Mesa, a few minutes from the beach. If your place has that Newport Beach coastal feel, this one fits right in.
For something with a little more edge, the Green Plaid Ottoman has a heritage vibe that works surprisingly well in modern rooms. Plaid against clean-lined furniture creates tension in a good way.
Poufs vs. Ottomans
People use these words interchangeably. They shouldn't. Poufs are generally smaller, lighter, and easier to move. Ottomans tend to have more structure — legs, frames, firmer cushioning.
The Mesick Pouf is a true pouf — low to the ground, casual, and portable. Great for kids' rooms or as a pull-up seat when you're entertaining. The Arles Large Ottoman in Black, on the other hand, is a proper ottoman — scaled up, structured, and substantial enough to anchor a seating area.
Pick based on how you'll actually use the piece. If it needs to hold a tray of drinks, go with an ottoman. If it just needs to be a landing spot, a pouf works fine.
The Shapes to Know
Round and organic shapes are carrying momentum into 2027. The Gumdrop Ottoman in Black and its sibling, the Gumdrop Ottoman in Confetti, have that soft, rounded form that plays well against angular sofas and sharp-edged coffee tables. They're also conversation starters — the Confetti version especially.
The Mid Century Modern Ottoman takes a different approach with cleaner geometry. If your room already has a lot of curves, this balances things out.
What Pairs Well
An ottoman doesn't exist in isolation. Think about what's around it. A structured leather ottoman next to an upholstered swivel chair creates a reading nook that actually gets used. A pouf at the end of a coastal bench adds a layer without cluttering the room.
Scale matters too. An oversized ottoman in front of a small loveseat looks off. Match proportions. If you're unsure, bring your room dimensions — we're happy to help you figure it out in the store.
Come See Them
Photos only tell you so much. Fabric weight, cushion firmness, how a color reads in natural light — you need to see and sit on these things. We're in Costa Mesa, right off the 405, in a converted WWII quonset hut that's been our home for over 20 years. If you're in the Newport Beach or Costa Mesa area, stop in. We carry ottomans and poufs from Uttermost, Universal Furniture, Four Hands, and other makers who build things to last. No pressure, no commission salespeople — just good furniture and honest advice.
