What is the point of an ottoman?

The point of an ottoman is mainly to provide a place for you to rest your feet so that you can relax with your legs elevated. The ottoman, originally an upholstered seat or small bench without a back or arms, was a family’s main seating furniture, a way to merge floor seating with cushions and mats. It wasn’t until they were brought to Europe from Turkey, during the 18th century, that it became popular to join ottomans with other pieces of furniture, such as at the base of a chair. Large ottomans can also double as extra seats, and some have hidden storage for throws, pillows and other items. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of ottomans.