When you’re decorating a small space, you can’t afford to waste an inch. Furniture needs to do more than look pretty to earn its keep. Whether it’s a coffee table that’s also your game table and snack spot or an accent chair that pulls up to a desk or dining table in a pinch, multi-purpose is the name of the game.
But which double duty furniture is worth investing in? Not all items are created equal; some pieces offer more versatility than others. And designer Sallie Lord, founder of GreyHunt Interiors, has a strong opinion on where you should start.
“Ottomans are the essential furniture we use in every project,” Lord says.”They’re versatile in both style and function.”
Lord uses ottomans for both seating and storage, among other uses, and here’s exactly how she thinks about them in a small space.
Ottomans Can Be Used for Extra Seating
If you entertain regularly, you know the restrictions of a small space. You might only have room for a loveseat or one accent chair.
This is where an ottoman or a pair of ottomans is a lifesaver. You can keep an extra ottoman or two in a living room and instantly have additional space for guests.
“Ottomans provide extra seating for conversation or a spot at the table,” says Lord, who notes that they can also pull up to a dining table or kitchen table.
Ottomans Are the Perfect Hidden Storage Spot
It’s rare that a small space has abundant storage, and an ottoman can hide storage in plain sight. Ottomans are often designed with removable tops that let you take advantage of the otherwise wasted space inside.
You can store blankets, dog toys, or anything else that doesn’t have an obvious home.
Ottomans Create a Lounge-worthy Space
The intended purpose of an ottoman is typically thought of as a place to kick up your feet (and avoid getting scolded for putting your feet on the coffee table!).
Lord says, “Ottomans provide a casual place to put your feet up and lounge.”
While this isn’t necessarily a direct space-saver in a small room, it does create a lounge-worthy environment, and that’s not always easy when you’re short on square footage.
Ottomans Can Be Easily Moved Throughout a Space
Ottomans are often lightweight pieces that can be moved from one side of the room to the other or from one part of the house to another.
“Ottomans are perfect to pull up to the kitchen or dining table, add into the gathering room for conversation or place at the end of bed to put on shoes,” says Lord.
If you live in a small house, you can tote the ottoman around where you need it that day, allowing it to do triple or even quadruple duty when it comes to functionality.
Plus, Ottoman Can Adapt to Any Style
There’s practically no limit to how you can use an ottoman within a space.
Lord incorporates ottomans in her designs because of their multi-purpose functionality, but also because they let her clients play with color, fabric, and pattern without committing to it on a large scale piece of upholstery.
They can be designed to make a statement in one single room or become part of the larger color palette of the home.
“Choosing a versatile fabric is the perfect way to make the ottoman feel cohesive with your home so it can move with ease into other spaces,” Lord says.