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 White distressed Shabby Cottage Chic Beige Padded Vanity Bench footstool stool $21.95 Time Remaining: 11d 23h 9m Buy It Now for only: $21.95 |
 Large beautiful storage ottoman LOOK $55.00 Time Remaining: 1h 42m |
 Classic Modern Design Black Leather Large Storage Ottoman Bench $199.00 Time Remaining: 2h 7m |
 Barnes Leather Microfiber Cube Storage Ottoman Footstool 13 Types $39.00 Time Remaining: 2d 17h 34m Buy It Now for only: $39.00 |
 Elegant Contemporary Design Espresso Brown Leather Ottoman Bench $119.00 Time Remaining: 3h |
 Luxurious Tufted Espresso Leather Large Ottoman Coffee Table $249.00 Time Remaining: 3h 25m |
 NEW Portable Adjustable Height Foot Stool Fleece Pad $19.98 Time Remaining: 3d 6h 14m Buy It Now for only: $19.98 |
 4 Tray Top Espresso Brown Leather Storage Ottoman Coffee Table $279.00 Time Remaining: 3h 52m |
 Folding Design Brown Leather Collapsible Storage Ottoman Seat $65.00 Time Remaining: 8d 17h 44m Buy It Now for only: $65.00 |
 Elegant Armed Brown Leather Storage Ottoman Bench $199.00 Time Remaining: 4h 44m |
 ECO LEATHER CRIMSON RED OTTOMAN FOOTSTOOL FOOT REST STOOL X LEG SQUARE BENCH $98.99 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 Tufted Top Square Leather Fabric Storage Ottoman Footstool 6 Styles $32.00 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 17m Buy It Now for only: $32.00 |
 ECO LEATHER ESPRESSO OTTOMAN FOOTSTOOL FOOT REST STOOL X LEG SQUARE BENCH $98.99 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 New White Bicast Tufted Leather High Density Foam Cushioning Storage Ottoman $374.00 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 Tufted Top Black Fabric Square Storage Ottoman Footstool $32.00 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 7m Buy It Now for only: $32.00 |
 Transitional New Espresso Genuine and Bonded Leather Square Cocktail Ottoman $299.00 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 Dark Tan Moroccan Pouf Ottoman Footstool Poof Pouffe poufs Ottomans Pouffes $119.99 Time Remaining: 11d 16h 36m Buy It Now for only: $119.99 |
 Leather Storage Cocktail Ottoman $392.99 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 New Espresso Dark Brown Bonded Leather Round Cocktail Ottoman $394.99 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 Storage Bench and Ottoman Microfiber Suede Choose Color $129.99 Time Remaining: 11d 11h 49m Buy It Now for only: $129.99 |
 Modern Tribeca New Espresso Bonded Leather Storage Ottoman $398.99 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 Cream Faux Leather Dual Cushions and Trays Storage Ottoman Bench $159.99 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 STUFFED Moroccan Leather Pouf Poufs Pouffes Ottomans many colors available $139.99 Time Remaining: 6d 8h 47m Buy It Now for only: $139.99 |
 New Dark Brown Bicast Tufted Leather High Density Foam Cushioning Ottoman W Tray $174.00 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 NWT Room Essentials Black Microsuede Storage Ottoman Item 0008 $29.95 Time Remaining: 9d 12h 15m Buy It Now for only: $29.95 |
 New Manchester Dark Brown Bicast Tufted Leather Coffee Table Ottoman $551.99 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 Crimson Red Faux Leather Dual Cushions and Trays Storage Ottoman Bench $159.99 Time Remaining: 5h 52m |
 Modern Spring Hourglass Prince Aha Stool Chair White $58.00 Time Remaining: 6d 14h 59m Buy It Now for only: $58.00 |
 Brown Moose Plush Foot Stool Figure $29.99 Time Remaining: 7h 20m Buy It Now for only: $50.00 |
 Moroccan Leather Pouf Poufs Pouffes Ottomans many colors available $109.99 Time Remaining: 28d 14h 5m Buy It Now for only: $109.99 |
 Royal Vintage Design Brown Microfiber Ottoman Footstool $119.00 Time Remaining: 8h 2m |
 Natural Fabric Uphlostered Storage Ottoman Coffee Table $179.00 Time Remaining: 8h 53m |
 New BR Benwood Sori Yanagi Butterfly Stool Handcrafted $99.99 Time Remaining: 20d 19h 2m Buy It Now for only: $99.99 |
 Contemporary Square Brown Faux Leather Storage Ottoman by Coaster 501042 $114.99 Time Remaining: 12h 34m Buy It Now for only: $129.99 |
 Ottoman 20 Robotic Calf Foot Massager Black Working Great $32.98 (5 Bids) Time Remaining: 12h 54m |
 Elegant Rolled Arm Leather Ottoman Bench With Lift Top Storage $199.00 Time Remaining: 24d 14h 58m Buy It Now for only: $199.00 |
 Leather Ottoman With 2 Tray Top Storage Coffee Table Bench Ottoman Brown New $139.95 Time Remaining: 12h 57m Buy It Now for only: $154.95 |
 VINTAGE FOOTSTOOL OTTOMAN 2 TONE GREEN FLOWER PATTER METAL LEGS VERY NICE $34.95 Time Remaining: 28d 18h 36m Buy It Now for only: $34.95 |
 Edgar Espresso Bonded Leather Storage Ottoman $249.00 Time Remaining: 13h 26m |
 Moroccan Pouf Tangerine $24.99 Time Remaining: 13h 39m Buy It Now for only: $32.99 |
 Hand Woven Rush Storage Cube Ottoman Stool CoffeeTable $44.99 Time Remaining: 25d 14h 50m Buy It Now for only: $44.99 |
 Oversize Faux Leather Storage Ottoman by Coaster 501041 $149.99 Time Remaining: 14h 3m Buy It Now for only: $164.99 |
 Antique Terrier Hand Needlepoint Footstool in Burgundy 10 inch $169.00 Time Remaining: 15h 35m |
 Oak Foot Stool Ottoman Storage Bench Home Decor NEW $34.50 Time Remaining: 26d 21h 40m Buy It Now for only: $34.50 |
 VINTAGE LEG LOUNGER RETRO PEARL WICK ADJUSTABLE FOOTSTOOL MID CENTURY VINTAGE $39.00 Time Remaining: 16h 7m Buy It Now for only: $80.00 |
 FRENCH Vintage OTTOMAN FOOTSTOOL Drawer Paris Parisian $69.95 Time Remaining: 22d 6h 38m Buy It Now for only: $69.95 |
 Rustic Wood Bench and Bamboo Lamp Moving Sale $30.00 Time Remaining: 16h 39m |
 4 PINE WOOD BUN FEET Sofa Ottoman Chest of Drawers Credenza $14.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 16h 45m |
 Storage Bench Ottoman Tufted Accents Cuppaccino Bicast by Coaster $149.99 Time Remaining: 13d 10h 48m Buy It Now for only: $149.99 |
 Tufted Espresso Leather Ottoman Coffee Table With Drawer $199.00 Time Remaining: 16h 48m |
 Avenue Six Fabric 45W Ottoman Storage Bench Seating Tufted Top Nail Head Trim $149.99 Time Remaining: 13d 15h 14m Buy It Now for only: $149.99 |
 Beautiful Leopard Print Decorative Stool $29.99 Time Remaining: 16h 54m |
 Leather Ottoman Espresso Storage Bench Coffee Table With Storage Compartment $174.95 Time Remaining: 17h 27m Buy It Now for only: $194.95 |
 Moroccan Pouf Ottoman Footstool Poof Pouffe of Genuine leather $109.99 Time Remaining: 3d 16h 36m Buy It Now for only: $109.99 |
 VINTAGE BLUE NEEDLEPOINT ROSE FOOTSTOOL OTTOMAN BENCH FLOWERS PETITEPOINT $59.00 Time Remaining: 19h 6m Buy It Now for only: $89.00 |
 Nolan Beige Fabric Nested Ottoman Set Set of 3 $199.99 Time Remaining: 19h 14m |
 Black Faux Leather Storage Hassock Foot Stool $23.89 Time Remaining: 2d 12h 9m Buy It Now for only: $23.89 |
 STAR FLOWER Hand Tooled Brown LEATHER OTTOMAN Brazil Stool Novica ART New $138.95 Time Remaining: 19h 14m Buy It Now for only: $159.95 |
 Moroccan Pouf Ottoman Footstool Poof Pouffe of Genuine leather White $109.99 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 45m Buy It Now for only: $109.99 |
 REGAL Artisan India BRASS REPOUSS Black Tussar OTTOMAN STOOL Novica ART NWT $229.95 Time Remaining: 19h 32m Buy It Now for only: $257.95 |
 Set 3 Dark Brown Round Leather Ottoman Footstools New $232.70 Time Remaining: 19h 36m |
 Storage OTTOMANS Padded Vanity Foot STOOLS Palm Floral $22.95 Time Remaining: 7d 14h 20m Buy It Now for only: $22.95 |
 38 Long Authentic Turkish Handmade Wool Kilim Upholstered Ottoman $219.99 Time Remaining: 19h 44m Buy It Now for only: $299.99 |
 ATLANTIC Dark Brown CRAFTED LEATHER OTTOMAN Footstool 17 Sq Brazil NOVICA ART $159.95 Time Remaining: 19h 55m Buy It Now for only: $182.95 |
 Large 35 Inch Square Storage Bench and Ottoman Suede or Leather Choose Color $164.00 Time Remaining: 3d 17h 15m Buy It Now for only: $164.00 |
 Designer White Leather Lounge Furniture $300.00 Time Remaining: 20h 12m |
 Memory Foam CUBE Ottoman FOOTSTOOL 7 COLOR CHOICES $41.97 Time Remaining: 20d 53m Buy It Now for only: $41.97 |
 Bohemian Brass Stool $900.00 Time Remaining: 21h 5m Buy It Now for only: $1,100.00 |
 Geometric Black Circle Dot Storage Ottoman $81.53 Time Remaining: 21h 11m Buy It Now for only: $89.99 |
 Storage Ottoman Hand Woven Rush Cube Wood Frame Mocha Home Decor New $64.97 Time Remaining: 28d 15h 13m Buy It Now for only: $64.97 |
 Circle Rotundity Pattern Fabric Storage Ottoman Stool $94.00 Time Remaining: 21h 18m Buy It Now for only: $104.38 |
 Lexington Chocolate Brown Tufted Leather Ottoman $259.99 Time Remaining: 22h 4m |
 STUFFED Moroccan leather Pouf Ottoman Poof Pouffe $149.99 Time Remaining: 26d 20h 55m Buy It Now for only: $149.99 |
 Metal Bath Towel Rack Laser cut Art Trout Fish CABIN Home DECOR $29.95 Time Remaining: 23h 6m |
 Moroccan Pouf hassock ottoman footstool Poof Pouffe $109.99 Time Remaining: 10d 10h 4m Buy It Now for only: $109.99 |
 Elegant Beige Linen Upholstery 2 Tray Top Storage Ottoman Coffee Table $139.00 Time Remaining: 1d 4h 29m |
 NIP IKEA KLIPPAN HAGEBY Slipcover Footstool Pouffe Cover Blue NEW $17.99 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 11m Buy It Now for only: $24.99 |
 NEW Ottoman Storage Bench Durable Brown Faux Leather HINGED LID SHIPS FREE $108.95 Time Remaining: 8d 9h 9m Buy It Now for only: $108.95 |
 Vintage Shabby Chic Vanity Footstool with Deep Pile Buttoned Upholstery c1950s $14.85 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 25m |
 MODERN SMALL DARK BROWN BONDED LEATHER CUBE OTTOMAN FOOT STOOL REST NEW $38.01 Time Remaining: 17d 6h 59m Buy It Now for only: $38.01 |
 Storage Ottomans and Storage Bench trunk set of 3 NEW $199.45 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 37m |
 Pink Flower ottoman $150.00 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 30m Buy It Now for only: $345.00 |
 BUN Feet LOT of 4 for Furniture Couch loveseat Legs Black Oak wood set of four $16.97 Time Remaining: 6d 16h 11m Buy It Now for only: $16.97 |
 Classic Modern Design Red Leather Large Storage Ottoman Bench $199.00 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 30m |
 Leather Ottoman With 2 Tray Top Storage Coffee Table Bench Ottoman Brown New $139.95 Time Remaining: 1d 12h 57m Buy It Now for only: $154.95 |
 Ethan Allen 2 STACKABLES Footstools $95.00 Time Remaining: 29d 10h 10m Buy It Now for only: $95.00 |
 New York Giants Footstool feet $25.00 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 12m |
 Tato Dark Grey Footstool or Pouf NEW by Baleri Italia $525.00 Time Remaining: 28d 22h 35m Buy It Now for only: $525.00 |
 Beutifull Buterfly Footstool $100.00 Time Remaining: 1d 14h 4m Buy It Now for only: $240.00 |
 NEW KINFINE SQUARE TUFTED STORAGE OTTOMAN BROWN $10.94 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 15h 4m |
 Elegant Design Soft Tufted Fabric Ottoman Footstool $119.00 Time Remaining: 3d 21h 50m Buy It Now for only: $119.00 |
 NEW Adjustable Portable Foot Stool w Fleece Cushion $19.98 Time Remaining: 1d 15h 52m |
 Kilim Ottoman w hinged lid and hidden hanging file folder storage $174.95 Time Remaining: 1d 16h 14m Buy It Now for only: $199.99 |
 LumiSource Modern Serpent Cube Ottoman White Home Office used OTTO KW SERP W $55.95 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 17m Buy It Now for only: $55.95 |
 NEW ROUND ABOUT 50 LOUNGE CUSHION GOLDEN YELLOW $6.33 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 17h 8m |
 VANITY CHAIR SEAT ANIMAL PRINT MICROSUEDE OTHER FABRICS $45.00 Time Remaining: 21d 12h 25m Buy It Now for only: $45.00 |
 Leather Ottoman Espresso Storage Bench Coffee Table With Storage Compartment $174.95 Time Remaining: 1d 17h 27m Buy It Now for only: $194.95 |
 LEATHER OTTOMAN 4 TRAYTOP STORAGE COFFEE TABLE SOFA BRN $199.95 Time Remaining: 1d 17h 42m Buy It Now for only: $219.95 |
 DITZ DESIGN POLAR BEAR OTTOMAN FOOT STOOL PLUSH 3 FEET LONG LARGE $175.00 Time Remaining: 29d 21h 18m Buy It Now for only: $175.00 |
 Medium turtle chekered top $100.00 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 7m Buy It Now for only: $230.00 |
The History of Ottomans
The ottoman must be appreciated for a number of reasons. It is certainly the least presumptuous of all living room furniture; standing alone, in the middle of your living room, forever playing second banana to the big, plush couch. Usually modestly sized and oftentimes less ornate and interesting than the other living room furniture; no extraneous material, no superfluous bits and pieces. The ottoman is simply a reasonably padded, moderately upholstered little square, asking nothing more than for you to put your feet on it. Some might think that it is unnecessary, the ottoman. That perhaps it is too much to have an ottoman when you already have a nice, big couch. But everybody knows, the second your plop your weary feet onto a friendly ottoman, it is a feeling beyond compare. As the weight is lifted from your tootsies and that instant gratification swims from your toes to your brain, you think to yourself, thank goodness for the ottoman, and you settle back to watch Wheel of Fortune.
Well, you can thank goodness all you want, but if you do, you are not giving credit where credit is due. Although it is not 100% clear who was first to prop their aching dogs upon a specially made stool, we can accredit the French for lending us the word, which refers to a type of textile fabric. We can also thank the Turkish folks for inspiring the idea with their invention of the divan, which is the name for a long mattress laid against the side of a room or a frame for people to lean on, fashionable in the 1800s.
However, the idea of foot propping devices has been in practice since the Renaissance period. The 15th century saw the tradition of more functional footstools; people adorning their sturdy wood ottomans with little drawers instead of fanciful upholstery, or hollow spaces in order to store household items. These were the kinds of hard-wearing footstools on which you could feel safe balancing on to reach your best pantaloons on the top shelf.
During the 16th century, ottomans were transformed into a decorative staple for the rich and worldly, ornamented with handsomely woven braids and tassels and rich, luxurious fabrics. Ottomans were referred to as tabourets, meaning a small drum, and in the French court, while the King was perched in his throne, only their wives or equally noble royalty had the privilege of parking their caboose on a tabouret. This practice of restricting the use of ottomans for the noble was referred to as ‘tabouret etiquette’ and was regarded a strict and serious matter.
As the 17th and 18th centuries rolled around, tabouret etiquette was significantly relaxed and the ottoman began to expand and reinvent itself. Ottomans could now look more like benches, or could have independent and interchangeable cushions; they could be found in anyone’s home now and oftentimes were. Due to the prevalence of a disease called Gout, caused by a build-up of uric acid around joints and tendons, footstools and ottomans were often used to keep the feet elevated; a treatment believed to aid in the sharp pain associated with gout.
As you can see, the ottoman has endured a long foot-covered journey to find its way into your living room and under your feet. Like a loyal dog, it resides in your living room all day, just waiting for you to come home to relax on it, offering its cushioned head for you to plop your feet on and sigh with comfort. This is what the ottoman craves – people. What could make you feel better than owning something which likes you for your feet?
Check out ottomanselect.com and explore our vast and varied selection of ottomans and footstools in every fabric, design and style today. You never know, you might just find a new addition to the family...room.
About the Author
Ainslie Hogarth is a marketing associate for Cymax Stores Inc, a premiere online furniture distribution company.
Finishing Footstool/Ottoman, Putting on the final cover(2/6)