Ottomans have been around since the late 18th century. The word itself refers to a number of different styles of furniture, with the basic idea being that of an armless and backless stool. This stool, which is usually round, can be used to sit on or to put the feet on. It can even be used as a table. Ottomans can be hollow and used for storage.
They were first brought from the Ottoman Empire which is also where they get their name from. In the empire, they were central pieces of furniture, where they used to be piled high with cushions. Later on they were redesigned in Europe to be fitted against the walls, and later were shortened into furniture that could be fitted against one wall of the room or against a corner. By the 19th century, they had developed into their round and puffy shape that we are now familiar with.
As the nightclub scene rose in the modern era, ottomans became much more popular. They are now considered an extra but very comfortable fitting for the house or business-place. Many establishments prefer ottomans to seat customers because their puffy and cute appearance makes them look attractive, and they’re also comfortable to sit on. In addition, storing ottomans is much easier, since they are smaller in size and their lack of arms or backs makes them easier to stack.
The kind of ottoman you require really simply depends on what you’re going to use it for. The specialists at HCCF can really help you out if you get stuck, since everyone has a different preference and not everyone knows how to combine that with a piece of furniture that will suit their room. If you need ottomans for a sitting arrangement, slightly higher ottomans with comfortable but firm padding (so your customers don’t sag into the ottoman) are what you require. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an ottoman that matches with the rest of your furniture and has no specific purpose, you might look for something nondescript in a shade that is suited to your room. It’s actually not necessary for the ottoman to match the other furniture exactly – you can have your ottomans make a contrasting note by having them in an opposite color. If your ottoman is intended for use as a footstool, a soft small ottoman with comfy padding will be enough.
Whatever you need, the experts at HCCF can help you get it.