Ottomans and Poufs
1920s British Regency Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
1920s French Napoleon III Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Silk, Giltwood
1920s English Regency Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
1920s Italian Louis XV Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Linen, Wood
1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Cherry
1920s English Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Wood
1920s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
1950s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Metal
1960s French Louis XV Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Beech
21st Century and Contemporary French Louis XVI Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
2010s American Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin
2010s British Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary European Art Deco Ottomans and Poufs
Wood, Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary American Hollywood Regency Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric
Early 2000s American Regency Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Walnut
Early 20th Century Tudor Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Rustic Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Oak
1920s Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Wood
1920s French Napoleon III Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Fruitwood
1920s Mexican Spanish Colonial Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Pine
1920s Scottish Queen Anne Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
1920s Swedish Empire Revival Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Beech
1920s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Bouclé, Walnut
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
1920s Spanish Baroque Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
1920s Moroccan Moorish Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Mohair, Wood
1920s French Neoclassical Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Wood
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Giltwood, Faux Leather
1920s Italian Art Deco Vintage Ottomans and Poufs
Walnut
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.