Ottomans and Poufs
1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Walnut
Late 18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Wool, Walnut
17th Century French Louis XIII Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé, Walnut
17th Century French Louis XIII Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé, Walnut
18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
1750s Italian Rococo Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
1680s English William and Mary Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Beech
18th Century French Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
15th Century and Earlier American Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Hardwood
1910s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Walnut
15th Century and Earlier American Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
1910s English William IV Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XV Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Giltwood
1770s French Louis XVI Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
1780s English Georgian Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Walnut
18th Century and Earlier Italian Louis XIII Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
18th Century and Earlier British Chippendale Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Mid-18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
1920s Italian Rococo Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Jacobean Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Ottomans and Poufs
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary French Ottomans and Poufs
Bronze
1880s English Late Victorian Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
Mid-20th Century European Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Oak
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Metal
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Swedish Rustic Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Wood
1950s French Rustic Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
Mid-18th Century Italian Baroque Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
Late 18th Century American Chippendale Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Pine, Mahogany
17th Century French Louis XV Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
Late 18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Brass
1910s American Other Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Wicker
1910s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet
Mid-18th Century Italian Rococo Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
Late 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Pine
18th Century French Louis XIV Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Metallic Thread
1730s French Louis XIV Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
Early 18th Century European Baroque Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Suede, Wood
1910s English Regency Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Brass
Antique and Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Antique and vintage ottomans and poufs add comfort and style to any living room, game room, home office or minimalist lounge space. An ottoman is a short seat or footstool that is also often used to store items. A pouf is similar, but it’s typically more petite than an ottoman, usually without the storage space inside.
When one thinks of the Ottoman Empire, it’s easy to overlook the iconic seat named for the region. 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. Eventually, these footrests were transformed into storage furnishings to organize quilts and blankets or other textiles. Furniture makers crafted their ottomans with lids that revealed a hidden cupboard, which rendered them both comfortable and practical.
Poufs, which appeared in France during the 1840s, are also of the low-platform seating variety. These versatile furnishings have been made available in all manner of shapes and sizes over time, and depending upon their firmness can be used as a side table should an occasion call for an extra one. However, your average ottoman is almost always firmer than a pouf, and even if the plush pouf in your living room feels sturdy, it’s probably not the best surface for your early-evening cocktail.
Both ottomans and poufs can help create an inviting and warm atmosphere in your living space. For the smaller rooms that are characterized by a casual feel, a shaggy or woven wool pouf might be a better choice, as it’s likely to be more compact and floor-cushion-like than an ottoman. The latter are often larger and more table-like and are comparatively a good fit for a more formal room such as a library or a study. Today, you might find that an ottoman works well in your bedroom, where there isn’t room for a sofa, or perhaps it can serve as a reliable perch in front of your vintage vanity table.
Whatever your seating needs are, find a collection of antique, new and vintage ottomans and poufs in varying styles on 1stDibs that include neoclassical, Industrial and mid-century modern. From the bright colors and bold patterns deployed by Milan-born designer Lorenza Bozzoli to the classy leather furnishings created at family-run Brooklyn, New York, atelier Moses Nadel, there is an endless range of these lovable low stools that merge seamlessly with most decor.