Whether you call them poufs, stools or ottomans, these small furnishings serve a vital function. They give us a place to put up our feet when we sit in a chair that doesn’t have one built in. They can also be used in place of a chair, or in a pinch, as a landing for a TV-focused belly-flop. In the latter case, I opt for a pouf.
Pouf seems to be a word that is used interchangeably with ottoman, and sometimes, stool, though they aren’t quite the same. A pouf is a little like a cream-filled chocolate. It’s soft all the way through. Contrast that to an ottoman, which is a rigid and usually barrel-like form completely covered with fabric, leather, embroidery, or beading--more like a caramel-filled chocolate.
While most people think of ottomans as footstools, they were originally, and are probably more properly, a large piece of furniture with a head and no back. As the name implies, their origins were in the Ottoman Empire.
That brings us to the most ancient form of all, the stool. Back in the days when chairs were status symbols, no ordinary mortal could aspire to own one. Sitting on the floor isn’t all that great, so someone poked three sticks on a round of wood, or an equivalent, and the wooden stool was born. It was a handy little invention, portable, light, and in a pinch, it could function as a small table. To complete the sweet metaphors, this is rock candy.
It might be fun to note that from the 17th to 19th centuries the words "footstool" and "cricket" were interchangeable. The cricket was the lowest of three stool categories and stood no more than 12" high. The second category was the "stool" which could be used for resting the feet or for sitting. It ranged from 12" to 20" in height and were called "Misses Stools" or "Table Stools." The final of the three stool types at over 20" was the tallest. We’d call them "bar stools" today.
It is armed with this deep historical grasp of the subject that I gathered a vast array of poufs, ottomans and stools that the trusty scouts here at Trend Hunter have ferreted out. I’m not the only one that thinks that footstools in all of their variations are interesting and important. Country Home Magazine chose footstools as one of the "Top 10 Collectibles of 2008."
I hope you enjoy the many creative ways these forms have been interpreted by their makers as you look through the cluster below.
23 Unique Poufs, Stools and Ottomans
23
Naughty Wood Furniture
A Stool for A Man's Jewels
22
When Art Becomes Furniture
Stool Based on the Bum of Michelangelo's David
21
Stackable Key Stools
Command Sit Brings Out Your Inner Nerd
20
Furniture From Old Tires
Repurposed Rubber Makes Posh Poufs
19
Busts for Your Butt
The Bean Burrito Stool
18
Recycled Balloon Furniture
The Balloona Stool
17
Giant Teacup Chairs
Alice in Wonderland Stools
16
Recyclable Folding Cardboard Stool
Flat mate
15
Koosh Ball Ottomans
Eco-Conscious Furniture Made from Recycled Flip-Flops
14
Oversized Wool Seating
Flocks Pouf Features Giant Cable Stitching
13
Recycled Mattress Chairs
Madam Rubens Stool
12
Convertible Stool Matress
Nap at Work With The Teo Stool Matress
11
Seating that Glows
The TiGalet
10
Furniture Has Own DNA Code
Artifical Intelligence Stool
9
Skateboard Stools
Seating from Recycled Decks
8
Anorexia-Inspired Furniture
Skinterior Stools Are the Size Zero of Seating
7
Animal-Inspired Sculptural Seating
Life-Sized Sheep Double as Sturdy Stools
6
Headstand Stools
5
The One Shot MGX Stool
Untwist to Sit
4
Multi-Functional Ottomans
Impression Stools by Tanya Aguiniga
3
Wave-Inspired Stools
The Flosion Seating System
2
Bucket Seat
Take your Stool with You
1
Backs for Backless Chairs
The Abu Stool
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Posture-Improving Stuffed Animals
Funbaruzu is a Supportive Companion to Help Improve Posture
Modular Cat-Friendly Couches
The 'Quarter Sofa' by SUNRIU Design Has Storage and More
Supportive Gamer Cushions
The Bauhütte Large Cushion Table BHT-700C Works in Several Ways
Multifunctional Sleek Furniture
Hoek Home Presents the Modular FLEX Furniture Designs
Freestanding Vertical Desk Designs
The Conceptual 'Workstick' by Alp Çakın is Space-Saving
Transforming Stool-Integrated Tables
The 'Quartet' Side Table Hides Four Stools Within
Modular Storage-Equipped Pet Sofas
The Conceptual Grid Sofa from Sunriu Design is Multifunctional
Voluptuous Texture Sofa Designs
The Bretz 'Balaao' Modular Sofa System is Curvaceous
Ultra-Slick Modern Cube Chairs
Blå Station's BOB Solo Chair is Versatile and Privacy-Focused
Inconspicuous Pet Furniture
Pilar Pirez Manfredi Designs the TAIPEI Pet Furniture Collection
Mid-Century Modern Furnishings
Todd Hewitt Adds Four Designs to the Last Ditch Series
Curvaceous Bench-Style Coffee Tables
The 'Shell' Table by Deniz Aktay is Chic Yet Strong
Ultra-Simple Workstation Seats
The Verk Stool Encourages a Natural Seating Posture
Energy-Producing Furniture Designs
The yA-18 STOOL by Beomseok Chae Features Solar Panels
Portable Air-Filled Sofas
Muji's Sofa Made from Air is Lightweight and Easy to Move
People-Pleasing Office Furniture
Form Us with Love's Cubicle System is Minimalist and Interesting
Storage-Centric Minimal Furniture
Julian Topor Designs the KURVE Furniture with Storage Spaces
Modular Coffee Table Sofas
The 'Silky' Sofa from the Teixeira Design Studio is All-in-One
Chic Single-Piece Plywood Chairs
The 'Void' Lounge Chair Boasts Built-in Storage
Sculpted One-Piece Coffee Tables
The 'Pelican' Coffee Table by Deniz Aktay is Artistic
Iconic Furniture Releases
Fasetti is Reimagining Olof Ottelin's Jumbo Lounge Chair
Curvaceous Storage-Focused Nightstands
The 'Cozy Night Stand’ Satisfying Holds All Essentials
Wheeled Bright Stumpy Stools
Alexander Lotersztain Designs the Stump Stool for Derlot
Modern House Pet Furniture
The 'Choo Choo' Console by Ricardo Sá is Feline-Friendly
Posh Pet-Friendly Chair Designs
The Conceptual 'Quella' Chair by Dhiraj Choudhari is Plywood-Made
Modular Collaboration Stool Designs
The Butterfly Stool is Elegant and Functional
Posh Pet Organization Furniture
The 'Dolley' Pet Furniture Piece is Functional and Charming
Sleek Multipurpose Crib Furniture
Zhipeng Qiu and Yufeng Lin Present a Unique Chair-Crib Design
Modular Childhood Bed Designs
The Pupupula Kids Rock-Solid Bed System Adapts as Needed
Whimsical Stool Designs
Modern Design Review Curates Hem X's Collection
Multi-Position Side Tables
The 'Drop' Side Table by Deniz Aktay is Made of Recycled Materials
Contemporary Upholstered Seating
Patricia Urquiola Debuted the Lowland Upholstered Line for Moroso
Active Sitting Cork Stools
The Ylin Stool from the OWN Design Shop Has a Natural Aesthetic
Chunky Cylindrical Lounge Chairs
Rostislav Sorokovoy Designs the UMI Armchair with a Curved Form
Artistic African Culture Chairs
The Patewo Chair Evokes the Look of Braided African Hairstyles
Cozy Cat-Friendly Furniture Designs
The Flow Single Sofa by SUNRIUI Has Dedicated Spots for Pets
Shapeshifting Spine-Like Work Chairs
The 'Spine Chair' Adapts to Sitter Needs
Funky Colorful Storage Units
Pavel Vetrov's Funky Storage Units Capture Attention
Chess-Inspired Stools
Ross Gardam's Rook Stool is Ultra- Minimalist and Comfortable
Modern Cushioned Outdoor Furniture
Paola Lenti Designs the Pod Outdoor Seating Series
Sliding Flatpack Seating Solutions
The Conceptual 'Folio Chair' by Jeongwoo SEO is Leather-Covered
Striking Storage-Friendly Poufs
The 'Berliner' Pouf by Tugce Sonmez Evin is Multifunctional
Stone-Like Styrofoam Stools
The Kinold Styrofoam Stools by Jiwon Jung are Inherently Lightweight
TV Packaging Seating Solutions
The 'Cuna' Furniture by Valeria Coello is Made Out of Cardboard
Posh Pet-Friendly Chair Designs
The 'Nomad Juno' Chair Hides a Dog Bed in the Backrest
Minimalist Book Storage Tables
The 'Pocket' Coffee Table by Deniz Aktay is Split Open
Recycled Aluminum Furniture Pieces
The JOY Stool One Works as a Chair, Side Table and More
Bold-Tonal Organic Furniture Series
Shim Seungyeon Designs the Pressura Stool and Table
Expanding Three-in-One Furniture
The 'Expandy' Adapts to Needs in Seconds Without Tools
Colorful Dual-Purpose Stool Designs
The S1 Stool Doubles as a Side Table to Suit Needs
Expressive Triple-Layer Stools
The 3PLY Assemble Stool by Yongbaek Lee is Multifaceted
Sustainable Concise Furniture Series
Joyf and Rostyslav Sorokovyi Design the Tube Collection
Weather-Versatile Conical Chairs
The Conicent Chair Has a Minimal Design for Indoor and Outdoor
Visibly Undulating Stool Designs
The Concave Stool by Deniz Aktay is Structured Yet Soft
Versatile Curvaceous Side Tables
Teixeira Design Studio Designs the Proust Side Table
Oozing Cake-Like Furniture Designs
The 'Roll Furniture' Makes Use of Discarded Materials
Transforming Imaginative Furniture Designs
The Kiddie Couch Encourages a Sense of Play
Stylish Modular Pet Beds
FÜZI PETS Introduces Modular Pet Beds with Stylish Standards
Modular Flatpack Furniture Designs
The 'OPO=O' Multifunctional Furniture Piece Works in Many Ways
Stacked Pebble-Like Furniture
The FIGURE Sofa and Lounge Chair are Inspired by Josef Hoffmann
Stylish Essentialism Furniture Ranges
The CRUSO OTAP Collection Was Created with Julien Renault
Posh Pet-Friendly Chair Designs
The 'Arch' Chair Design by Ricardo Sá Has Multifunctional Storage
Childhood-Inspired Outdoor Chairs
Faye Toogood & Vaarnii Design the Peace Outdoor Lounge Chair
Wood-Mimicking Furniture Sets
Raffaello Galiotto Designs a Stool and Table Collection for Nardi
Bookshelf-Incorporated Coffee Tables
The Overlap Table by Deniz Atkay Boasts Multiple Purposes
Storage-Equipped Restaurant Chairs
The RACK Chair Design by Zhiyuan Fang is Multifunctional
Bao-Resembling Modern Poufs
Alda Ly Architecture Presents the Bao Pouf Capsule for HBF
Air-Purifying Stool Seats
The Conceptual 'ZAZEN' Air Purifier by Jiayan Li is Multipurpose
Modular Camping Furniture
'Owomo' Created a Line of Build-Your-Own Camping Panels
Sleek Minimal Space-Saving Furniture
Patricia Perez Designs the Altura Stool for Case Furniture
Smart Bulbous Seating Solutions
Mobella Designs the Comfortable Buffo Seating Collection
Human Form-Inspired Furniture Series
Bend Goods Introduces the Tube Collection of Furniture
Relaxed Anti-Distraction Seats
The 'Fortune Chair' Provides a Private Space to Work or Read
Stylish Pet Pads
PUPIBOO's Pee Pads are Style-Conscious and Washable
Interlocking Living Room Furniture
Mirlay Özlem ER's The Cube is Elegant and Space-Saving
Cocoon-Like Knitted Chairs
Miray Özlem ER's Cocoon Chair is Inspired by Metamorphosis
Stylish Storage-Equipped Side Tables
The 'Basso' Side Table by Manuel Amaral Netto is Fashionable
Minimal Adaptable Furniture Collections
Studio TK Presents the Custom Bevy Collection of Tables
Ergonomic Luxe Comfortable Chairs
Porsche Design Unveils a New Reclining Lounge Chair
Minimal Wooden Webbed Stools
found/Founded Designs the New KNOT Stool with Refreshing Tones
Pod-Inspired Bulbous Furniture
One Week Presents Its New Pod Collection of Furniture
Modernized Wooden Stool Designs
The Eames Turned Stool Updates a Classic
Leather Strap Benches
Tortuga Forma's Stacked Bench is Multifunctional and Versatile
Versatile Outdoor Furniture Series
Fermob Presents a Look at its Latest Collection of Furniture
Rolled-Up Wooden Tables
The Sofan Table by Qi An Has a Clever Rollable Design for Portability
Cozy Storage-Focused Furniture
The Pocket Chair by Blå Station is Designed by Stone Designs
Relaxed Upholstered Furniture Capsules
Orior Designs the Néad Lounge Series of Furniture
Versatile Nesting Furniture
Cozmo Debuts the 'Cosy Armchair' and the 'Cosy Cutout Nesting Tables'
Toy Block-Inspired Furniture
The Bloc Collection by From: C is Inspired by Nostalgic Elements
Sculptural Geometric Seating Poufs
ALA Introduces the New Bao Collection of Bright Furniture
Upcycled Stool Designs
Space Copenhagen Designs a Stool with Coffee Shells and E-Waste for Mater
Global Design-Honoring Stool Capsules
Colección Estudio & Difane Join Forces on the Basurto Stool
Minimalist Meditative Bench Designs
The Pause Bench Offers a Spot to Relax and Reflect
Modular Inflatable Furniture Sets
The Aerosofa Inflatable Transforming Sofa Works Indoors and Out
Cultural Heritage-Inspired Stool Designs
Mohamed El-Haddad Designs the El Nahla Stool
Electronic Packaging-Made Stools
Razeen Mohammed Designs the Portable EDGAR Stool
Sea Creature-Inspired Chairs
Yue Zhuo Designs the Seat Urchin with Bright Cushions
Laidback Modular Sofa Designs
The Natuzzi 'Bao' Sofa Embraces a Soft, Relaxed Aesthetic
Modular Eco-Sourced Cozy Couches
The Transformer Couch is Made with Soft Foam Padding
Minimal Upholstered Chair Designs
Philippe Malouin Designs the Sacha Chair for Resident
Pointed Foundation Coffee Tables
Donatas Žukauskas Designs a Distinctive New Coffee Table
70s-Inspired Structural Furniture
Nouveau Standard Creates the Collection 12 of Retro Designs
Colorful Sustainable Recycled Stools
Alexander Latersztain Designs the Stump Recycled Stools
Wooden Lounge Rocking Chairs
Ali Shoieb Designs the Wooden Nice Chair with Working Capabilities
Compact Geometric Portable Lamps
&Tradition Designs the Portable Pivot Lamp
Multifunctional Sleek Oak Furniture
The Team at Kosmos Architects Design the Dice Furniture
Bamboo-Made Multi-Functional Footrests
Vilno Footrester™ is a Three-in-One Ergonomic Footrest
Soft Geometric-Themed Furniture
Patricia Urquiola Designs the Oru Collection for Andreu World
Frying Pan-Inspired Furniture Series
Alessi and Philippe Starck Join on the Poêle Collection
Wood-Resembling Recycled Plastic Furniture
Nardi Designs a New Stool and Table Collection
Adaptable Office Storage Solutions
Form Furniture Introduces the Versatile Stash Series
Bauhaus-Themed Contrasting Sofas
Jens Juul Eilersen Designs the Cocoon Sofa for Eilersen
Elevated Upholstered Seating Systems
Moroso and Patricia Urquiola Join on a New Furniture Series
Bent Multi-Functional Coffee Tables
The Shell Table by Deniz Atkay has a Curved Structure
Modernized Midcentury Bar Stools
The Rex Kralj Mosquito Bar Stool Reimagines a Classic
Organic Sustainably Crafted Stools
The Luffa Stoolita is Made Out of Coffee Grounds, Soil and More
Nature-Inspired Minimal Stools
Shota Uruasaki's Capture the Light Stool Depicts Shadows and Light
Stylish Oakwood Storage Furniture
Priyan Doshi Designs the Moose Cabinet with a Whimsical Look
Versatile Modular Couches
The Transformer Couch 2.0 Adds Flexible Style to the Living Room
Playful Design Exhibitions
Dina Adlouni and Tarlan Vaziri Farahani Presents Mushy Exhibit
Stylishly Functional Yellow Chairs
Yeeun Son's U-Sofa is an Ideal Solution for Working from Home
Bench Wall Furniture Systems
Form Us With Love Designs the Cubicle Furniture System
Minimal Rounded Furniture Collections
MUT Design Creates the Tres Collection for Saba
Stackable Cork-Like Stools
Teixeira Design Studio Creates the Textural Drum Stool
Elevator-Inspired Cozy Sofa Collections
Julien Renault and MOR Design Presents the LIFT Sofa
Grow-at-Home Sponge Furniture
ÉCAL's Sponge Furniture Expands 10 Times in Size After Soaking
Unconventional Playful Seating Series
Note Designs the Bau Seating Series for Lammhults
Squishy Clay-Made Daybeds
Niveau Zéro Atelier Designs the Soft Soil Daybed From Waste Clay
Whimsical Kids Furniture Collections
Oeuf Presents the New Moss Collection of Modern Looks
Posture-Correcting Olive Chairs
HUMAN MADE Taps ayur chair for Another Furniture Collaboration
Stool-Inspired Design Exhibitions
Daisuke Motogi Presents the Hackability of the Stool Show
Refreshed Perforated Modern Stools
Zanotta Gives its Mezzadro Stool a Refreshing Update
Cocoon-Like Multifunctional Furniture
Yeeun Son Designs the U-Sofa for Multiple Purposes
Lounge-Inspired Artful Sofa Capsules
EQ3 Presents its New Bird Collection of Sofas
Topography-Inspired Furniture Capsules
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs the TOPOS Collection
Contemporary Rocking Chair Designs
Audo Designs the Sleek Mid-Century Penguin Rocking Chair
Upcycled Down Furniture Series
Christoph Kurzmann Breathes New Life to Old Furniture
Minimal Metalic Bar Stools
Bestcase Designs the Industrial Foundation Bar Stool
Pretzel-Like Comfortable Chairs
Dohui Kim Designs the Dynamic Dobui Chair with a Twisted Shape
Saddle-Inspired Ergonomic Modern Stools
Raffaella Mangiarotti Designs the Dynamic Pepe Stool