There is no better feeling than sitting down at the end of the day with your feet up and a cup of tea (or hot chocolate in my case). Footstools, as the name suggested, are the companion pieces of armchairs and sofas. But, Footstools have many more uses than you may realise. They are also ideal as seats in hallways, at the end of the bed, or in a library or study. I think every home should have at least one footstool, but having a few around in different shapes and sizes is even better. Scroll down to find more ways to use footstools in your home.
1. To give additional seating
Footstools can easily double up as extra seating, particularly for children. Adding a couple of footstools into your living space can provide extra seating for days when friends and family come to visit. Another great way to add some seating is footstools at the end of beds, or under console tables in hallways so you can sit and put your shoes on before going outside. Or, why not consider bringing stools into your dining room, the next time you are having a large family gathering, such as Christmas or Easter.
I have designed footstools for children’s bedrooms in the shape of toadstools to create a reading corner. See my cute photo below:
2. To Introduce colour and/or pattern
Footstools are a fantastic way of adding a burst of colour or introducing a fun pattern as they can be relatively cost-effective. It’s far cheaper to buy a footstool than a colourful rug, new wallpaper or, in some cases, a large art print. They can be an excellent way to add colour to a rented home where you may not have free rein with more permanent decorative features.
Patterned footstools help to add texture to your space too. Patterned fabrics work particularly well with children and pets too as they don’t show dirt/spills as much as plain fabrics.
3. To divide a room
Rather than having a single giant living room, lots of homeowners opt to give one end a slightly different use – a dining area, snug, play zone or, a reading spot by the garden and away from the TV. Footstools can be a great way to separate two spaces, like a room divider.
This is a really budget-friendly way of zoning spaces, rather than splurging on a room divider or open shelving unit. Just make sure the footstools work with your design scheme to create a coherent look between the zones.
4. To add extra storage space
Another great reason to have footstools in your home is the hidden storage space they can offer. Lift up that lid and – hey presto! – you can use it to keep all sorts of things that you need to hand in the living room, but really don’t want cluttering the place up. We’re talking of the remote, books, newspapers, magazines, throws, and, of course, all those toys that the kids fill the room up with and that you want out of the way when it’s bedtime.
5. To act as multi-funtcional pieces
Footstools are one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can have in your home. They can also be used as side tables, particularly if they are ceramic, metal or wooden. Simply place next to a cosy armchair, pop a table lamp on top and you have the perfect reading nook.
There are some really cool and quirky footdtools on the market right now. Upholstered in anything from boucle, to ceramic to jute. Any colour and shape you can think of. See my top picks below:
Shop the stools: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
I’m busy planning some really helpful and informative content for the next couple of months. Is there anything you’d like me to write about? Or anything festive that you want to see in the lead-up to Christmas? Let me know in the comments.
Speak soon,
Eve x
We had this one before and it help us to give more seat when family comes. Greats reasons to use them.
There’s an upholstery studio local to me where you can do a course to make your own, and I really want to do that.