How to Decorate an Ottoman

Ottomans

Working out how to style an ottoman can be a difficult, frustrating task, but it’s not impossible, especially with our help. Keep reading to discover five simple ways to decorate any ottoman and enhance the appeal of your space.

Use A Tray

The best decor item to add style and functionality to an ottoman is a tray. Ottomans have a soft, padded surface that’s very comfortable however, not ideal for holding food and drinks. But the addition of a tray provides a solid surface to properly support liquids and snacks.

A tray is a lightweight furniture piece that can be easily moved to create more room. It also offers a functional area to store remotes. In terms of style, a tray can create a clean look by reducing clutter and is a fantastic place to add additional decorations like books, a notepad, plant, or candle.

But before you add a tray to your ottoman, consider the following:

– Choose a tray that’s the same shape as your ottoman. For example, use a rectangular tray for a rectangular ottoman.
– Ensure the tray has handles for practicality.
– Consider the tray’s material: Try to compliment the tray’s medium to the material of the ottoman. You could pair a fabric ottoman with a mirrored tray or add a metal type to a leather ottoman. Choosing materials that complement rather than match will help you avoid a clash.

Tip: If you have a large ottoman, you could include more than one tray to store, display and space out multiple items.

Change Up the Look on Your Ottoman with A Slipcover

If you’re looking to transform your space simply, then adding a cover to your ottoman could be the answer. Slipcovers are an easy, affordable way to brighten a room and change up the feel. They also protect your ottoman from dust, dirt and potential spills and are machine washable.

You could buy a cover with ties or elastic depending on the look you’re going for. To measure your ottoman for a slipcover, get the dimensions of your chosen cover/s and ensure they match up with the dimensions of your ottoman, including width, depth, and height.

Add Books

Make your ottoman both stylish and useful by incorporating some of your favourite books. This is your opportunity to bring some personal interest to your style and make the space your own. Depth is an essential part of styling, and a stack of books can add that texture.

Including a stack of books on your ottoman can also provide you with another solid surface to place more decorations or your cup of coffee.

Tip: Add no more than three books stacked on top of each other for balance.

Add A Throw

Build upon the comfort in your space by adding a throw blanket to your ottoman and instantly enhance the style. Throw blankets are multi-functional comforters that can bring warmth to your body and area. They can make your ottoman feel more inviting and are stunning to look at.

Throws are a cost-effective way to elevate a room and come in a comprehensive range of colours and materials, so you can pick one to pair with your space. If your room consists of darker tones, this is the perfect opportunity to add light with a brighter throw.

To style a throw on a square ottoman – simply drape it over one corner and let it fall naturally. In contrast, place the throw lengthways over an oval or rectangular ottoman.

Add Small Decorative Items

Make your ottoman a more featured piece that will draw the eye with an array of small decorations.

Some of the best decorations to include on your ottoman could be:

– Plants or Flowers to bring new life and a natural feel to the space. Plants and flowers are fantastic stand out decorations that can brighten an area and create a feature which instantly draws the eye.
– Coasters – add some practicality to your space by incorporating some coasters to rest drinks upon while entertaining.
– Add a small decorative box or basket – A box is a perfect place to hide away bulky, unstylish items like your remotes. It can help reduce the amount of clutter on the ottoman and enhance functionality.
– Add Candles or a diffuser – Create an appealing smell to your space with a candle or diffuser. Candles are a great way to boost the mood in an area and class up the style.
– Add some personal items – your space should reflect your style, so use your ottoman tray to include items you adore like shells, memorabilia, crystals etc. All are a fantastic way to boost the texture of an ottoman and make you happy.

General Tips for Styling an Ottoman

Hopefully, these suggestions have given you some inspiration on how to style your own ottoman.

While you’re decorating, keep in mind the following tips to ensure you create a stylish masterpiece.

– Don’t over clutter the space – At the end of the day, your ottoman still needs to work functionally, so try to avoid adding an unnecessary number of decorations and remember, less is more.
– Include items of different designs – adding different textures and heights to a space is a crucial styling tip. An area with the same decor can look odd and clash in the room, whereas including different items will balance the look and draw the eye up.
– Incorporate a diverse colour palette – stick to the rule of threes; include three different shades that complement well together.