How to choose the right footstool for your lounge

Whether you call them footstools, ottomans or pouffes, these furniture accessories are a welcome sight after a long, hard day at work.

Adding dynamism and a depth of colour, a beautiful upholstered footstool delivers boundless character, conviviality and – most importantly – comfort to your most lived-in room. It’s just a case of finding the right one for your feet.

Take a look at our pouffe-purchasing parameters, below, to help you along the way.

Firstly, what will you use it for?

Whether you’re lusting after an afternoon nap, want to cram all your friends together for a movie night, or simply seek a better lounging position, it helps to know what you’re going to use your footstool for.

A large footstool, for example, is ideal if you need extra seating for guests, and can also come in handy if your lounge begs for a makeshift coffee table. Those who are strapped for space, on the other hand, might find a smaller footstool satisfies the solo loungers of the group better.

Then, there is spacing to think about. Just like with a coffee table, you don’t want your footstool to feel cramped, nor do you want it so far away your toes barely brush the edge. The “just right” amount is usually between 30cm-40cm distance between footstool and seat. If you find this isn’t possible with your preferred pouffe, this could be a sign it’s too big.

What is your existing décor?

Where sofa suites and rugs might take centre stage, footstools should ultimately blend in with the living room.

To be sure they don’t stick out like a sore thumb, your focus should be on co-ordination. A leather-bound antique footstool, for example, may look spectacular on its own, but it can look awkward and out of place when placed next to a floral-patterned fabric sofa.

An easy way to continue the aesthetic is by matching the style exactly to your existing furniture. If you have a velvet sofa, for instance, then a fabric footstool upholstered in Chelsea Velvet will finish the demure look off beautifully.

But you’re not limited to exact fabric matches. Rather, use your upholstered stool to add personality and character to your living space. If you favour a monochromatic colour scheme, for instance, then a Sandringham Rose footstool in Ruby adds a quirky punch of colour, without taking away from the minimalist aesthetic.

How long will the footstool last?

To make sure you can enjoy your upholstered footstool for years to come, durability should be just as high on your checklist as size and style.

Don’t worry though, you don’t need to be an expert upholsterer to gauge the lifespan of your footstool; all you need to do is look at a fabric thread count to get an idea of when you will need to replace your purchase. Generally speaking, the higher the thread count, the more ‘rubs’ the fabric can withstand before showing signs of wear and tear.

Not sure which fabric is best for your footstool? Start with our very Cardinal range own. This incredibly durable fabric boasts a whopping 40,000 rubs and comes in more than 50 colourways to choose from. Or, for a more velvety soft feel, check out our Amalfi range with its impressive 60,000 rubs.

Now you know what to look for in a footstool, view our range of luxury footstools and ottoman fabrics to find the perfect match for your feet.