Ottoman Benches For Rest And Play

Few pieces of furniture are built more with comfort in mind than ottoman benches. Often thought of as fancy footstools, ottomans have become very popular in recent years as people have rediscovered how fun it is to enjoy the beauty and comfort of their homes.

One could blame this on the economy and implosion of the housing market, but other factors seem to be at play, including a longing to return to a simpler time when families enjoyed their time together at home, watching a movie, playing a game or just simply talking late into the evening.

As anyone knows, being comfortable is essential to these nights at home. That's where ottoman benches come in handy, since they are made to improve the seating experience in the home by giving your tired legs and feet a place to rest. This not only take pressure off your aching muscles and bones, but also changes the way the blood flows through your body, reducing the stress and strain placed on your heart. No wonder you feel so relaxed when there are ottoman benches around.

Ottoman benches come in all shapes, sizes and styles these days. You can get very large ones that can really double as a coffee table, allowing four or even more people to kick their legs up and sit a spell. Others are small, made for a single person who may have found their favorite chair, but still need a footrest.

The smaller ottomans have the advantage of being very portable, so you can move them around the room or even the house so you can relax and enjoy a great seating experience wherever you are. That's not to say that the larger pieces aren't portable. Usually, larger ottoman benches have wheels so it's easy to move them from the sofa to the love seat or to the occasional chair over in the corner by the television.

If you have a bedroom chair that you love to relax in, think about adding an ottoman to it. One of the great things about an ottoman is that it doesn't have to match the chair, sofa or loveseat. It can really be a signature piece, showing of your personal tastes and style, even if it's a bit whimsical.

Yes, you can go a bit crazy with ottoman benches, selecting styles that are eclectic and even a bit eccentric.

When selecting ottomans for your home, the most important consideration is comfort. You want it to have a nice padded top, not be too low or too high and be able to accommodate the weight of your legs without becoming rickety or winnowing under constant use. A lot of homeowner's prefer the more traditional looks, which include tufted leather with matching piping. That's fine, but it can make your space a little too formal. That said, you can use it in place of a coffee table, adding a large tray on top of it so that most of the time it can be used at a table. When company or the holidays arrive, take the tray off and use the ottoman for additional seating.

One of the great things about an ottoman is that it can be readily available to handle virtually any entertainment or relaxation needs you or your family have; yet remain on the sidelines until it's needed. And, if you get an ottoman that has built in storage, you can even add more usefulness to its all-purpose role in your home. Load it up with your favorite blankets and when the chilly winter nights finally roll around, know that your ottoman is a jack-of-all trades, providing your family with lots of extra bang for the buck.