Ottomans and Poufs
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Beech
2010s Italian Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Textile
20th Century American Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Iron
20th Century French Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Gold Leaf
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Beech
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Beech
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Oak
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1920s Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Bentwood
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Elm, Walnut, Pine, Burl
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Steel
2010s Italian Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Textile, Beech
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Wood
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Beech
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Giltwood
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Walnut
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Beech
1930s Scandinavian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Beech
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Beech
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Macassar
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Upholstery, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Wood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Lacquer, Wood
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Silk, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood, Beech
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Beech
1920s Belgian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1940s European Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Beech
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Beech
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Iron
Late 20th Century European Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
20th Century European Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Wood, Fabric
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Velvet
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Suede, Wood
2010s American Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century Moroccan Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
1920s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Hardwood
2010s German Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Bentwood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Bouclé, Velvet, Faux Fur
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.