Interior design: Cocktail ottomans bring in function, style, color

Cocktail ottomans, such as the Marilyn ottoman by Jessica Charles, provide room for seating or for serving refreshments to those seated at nearby sofas and chairs. Don’t think of an ottoman as a matching extension for a sofa or chair. It can be so much more than a place to rest one’s feet.

Beyond the godsend storage ottoman that keeps things tidy by tucking away toys, blankets or books, larger “sleeper” ottomans can hide a folding bed and help a home office double as a guest room.

The latest incarnation, the cocktail ottoman, actually looks back at the cinematic past, says Tonja Morrison, a spokeswoman for hand-crafted furniture maker Hancock & Moore. “It’s bringing back that old Hollywood glamour,” she says. “It makes a gathering opportunity for guests; you can sit on it, or you can use it to entertain – set your drinks or hors d’oeuvres on it for a party surface.”

Dramatically large cocktail ottomans such as the Marilyn ottoman by Jessica Charles, shown left, can become a centerpiece. In a spacious walk-in closet, a skirted number would be dreamy seating or a place to lay out the next day’s outfit and accessories.Raymour & Flanigan's Jackson cocktail ottoman, $399.95

Among various styles and sizes are round, oval, rectangular, square and cubic ottomans. Cocktail ottomans usually have a flatter top for better serving. “A lot of times you want to move your cocktail ottoman around, so casters on the bottom are great,” adds Morrison.

Try an ottoman to refresh a tired room, suggests Michelle Enders, who works with ottomans frequently as Raymour & Flanigan’s senior upholstery buyer. A new ottoman can wake things up, especially in a pleasing pattern. The effect is much like adding throw pillows, but with greater impact. “They just add another texture, another designer element,” Enders says. “You can bring in trendy colors and designs without having to redo your room or having to spend thousands of dollars.”

Browse any furniture store’s web site and you’ll likely see an ottoman topped with a tray of refreshments or flowers. Some designers are using larger ottomans as a soft-sided coffee table substitute. Raymour & Flanigan’s Jackson cocktail ottoman is a coffee table hybrid where cushioned leather surrounds a wooden table top. “It’s great if you’ve got small children,” says Enders. “You don’t have to worry about them falling and hurting themselves on it.”

A small ottomaOttomans, such as Raymour & Flanigan's nesting pair of Taya ottomans, can be utilitarian accents when used as side tables. n can also stand in for a side table. Raymour & Flanigan’s Taya ottoman, shown in the photo at right, is an economical choice in faux leather. Pull one next to the sofa for keeping after-work cocktails within easy reach. At $129.95, Taya’s actually two ottomans in one. The smaller ottoman (shown near the display case in the photo) can nest beneath the larger one.

The prize for the biggest cocktail ottoman we’ve seen goes to American Signature Furniture, which was displaying a 5-foot-square cocktail ottoman in its Woodbridge showroom. Call it a conversation ottoman – at that size, there’s enough room to seat every guest at a small party and still keep the goody tray at the center.