Using an Ottoman as a Coffee Table

Using an Ottoman as a Coffee Table

Yes, an ottoman can replace a coffee table, and we think it's a great swap for families, smaller living rooms and relaxed entertaining. You get soft edges, a place to put your feet up and an extra seat when guests come over. The one thing you give up is a hard, flat surface, but a sturdy tray on top solves most of that. In this guide, we'll compare ottomans and coffee tables, explain how to choose the right size, share our styling tips and look at when a storage ottoman makes the most sense.

Key Takeaways

  • An ottoman works well as a coffee table once you add a sturdy tray, which gives drinks and books a flat, steady surface.

  • Ottomans are softer and more versatile, with no hard corners and the bonus of a footrest and extra seat.

  • Coffee tables are better for a hard surface, so they suit laptops, meals on the couch and more formal living rooms.

  • A storage ottoman does double duty, with a coffee table surface on top and space for throws and remotes inside.

  • Choose an ottoman close to the height of your sofa seat so it's comfortable as a footrest too.

  • If you'd rather have timber, we also make the Kirribilli Coffee Table, with a handy storage shelf underneath.

Ottoman vs Coffee Table, Pros & Cons

Ottomans and coffee tables both give you a low surface in front of the sofa, but they suit different homes. We've compared them on the things that matter most day to day.

Factor

Ottoman

Coffee Table

Surface

Soft top, so it needs a tray for drinks

A hard timber, stone, glass or engineered top

Storage

Some models have storage inside

Some have a shelf underneath

Softness and safety

Upholstered, with no hard corners

Hard corners that little ones and pets can bump into

Uses

Footrest, extra seat and soft coffee table, sometimes with storage

Coffee table

Style

Matches your sofa fabric and feels relaxed and warm

Anchors the room and can feel more formal

Moving it around

Lighter and easier to move

Heavier, so it usually stays put

Cleaning

Fabric, with washable covers on many models

Wipe-clean, though it can scuff or mark

Best for

Small living rooms, homes with kids or pets and relaxed entertaining

Working from the couch, meals on the sofa and larger, more formal rooms

When an Ottoman Works Better

We'd go for an ottoman if you have kids or pets, because soft edges mean fewer bumps and bruises. It's also the better choice if you like putting your feet up on the same piece that holds your cuppa, if your living room is compact and one piece needs to do three jobs, or if you're after a relaxed, lived-in look where soft fabric matters more than a hard surface.

When a Coffee Table Works Better

We'd go for a coffee table if you often work from the couch and need a steady spot for your laptop, or if you regularly eat in front of the TV. A timber or stone table also suits a more formal living room, and its solid look helps fill a large, open-plan space where a soft ottoman might feel a little light.

How to Choose the Right Ottoman Size

The right ottoman should feel in proportion with your sofa and leave enough room to move around it. These are the things we'd check before you buy.

  • Height. Choose an ottoman close to the height of your sofa seat, so it's comfortable to put your feet up. A lower sofa suits a lower ottoman.

  • Length. Aim for an ottoman that's shorter than your sofa, so it doesn't look like it's competing with it. Around half to two-thirds of the sofa's length usually looks balanced.

  • Width. Make sure the top has room for a tray and your feet at the same time.

  • Space around it. Leave enough room to walk comfortably between the ottoman and the sofa.

  • Rug placement. Keep the ottoman either fully on the rug or fully off it, as half on can look accidental.

If you have a modular sofa, a matching ottoman like our Tamarama Modular Ottoman or Torquay Modular Ottoman gives you a footrest in the same fabric as your sofa.

Styling an Ottoman as a Coffee Table

The one thing an ottoman needs to work as a coffee table is a sturdy tray. After that, a few simple styling touches make it look like it was always meant to be there.

Adding a Tray for Stability

A tray is the most important accessory when you use an ottoman as a coffee table. Without one, drinks can tip and the remote slides into the cushioning. A large timber, rattan or metal tray gives you a flat surface while keeping the soft look of the ottoman.

These are our tips for choosing a tray.

  • Size. Choose a tray that covers most of the top but leaves a soft border around the edge.

  • Weight. A heavier tray sits more steadily on a soft top, while a light one can slide when you put a drink down.

  • Material. Timber feels warm, metal feels modern and rattan adds texture to a coastal or Scandi room.

  • Handles. Handles make it easy to lift the tray off when you want to put your feet up.

Leave the tray on most of the time, then lift it off when you want to use the ottoman as a footrest or seat.

Mixing Textures & Cushions

A few finishing touches turn your ottoman into a styled centrepiece rather than a spare footrest.

  • Stack a few hardback books on the tray for height.

  • Add a small bowl or vase with fresh greenery or dried stems.

  • Drape a chunky knit throw over one corner, and move it when you want to put your feet up.

  • Repeat colours from your sofa cushions so the ottoman feels part of the lounge.

  • Add a candle in a sturdy holder for a cosy evening glow.

Changing things up with the seasons keeps it fresh, with heavier textures and warmer tones in winter and lighter fabrics and greenery in summer.

Storage Ottomans as a Dual-Purpose Option

A storage ottoman gives you a coffee table on top, with a tray, and hidden storage inside for throws, remotes, magazines or kids' toys. We think it's one of the smartest choices for smaller apartments and busy family homes, because one piece can replace a coffee table, a storage box and a blanket basket.

A storage ottoman makes the most sense in these situations.

  • You live in a compact apartment where every bit of floor space counts.

  • You have a busy family living room with toys and blankets to tidy away each day.

  • You're renting and can't add built-in storage.

  • Your living room does more than one job, like doubling as a study, guest space or play area.

  • You like having throws close by for cooler evenings.

Our Koala Sofa Bed Ottoman is one of our storage options, and you'll find more in our ottomans range.

An Ottoman That Works as a Coffee Table

If an ottoman sounds like the right fit for your lounge, we've got options to suit the way you live. Our ottomans have soft foam cushioning on top and a sturdy frame underneath, and some come with hidden storage, so you can put your feet up, set down a tray of drinks and tidy away the throws all in one. If you'd still prefer a timber table, our Kirribilli Coffee Table has soft curves, a lip that helps stop things sliding off and a storage shelf underneath.

Everything comes with our 120-day trial, so you can see how it works in your lounge before you decide.

 

Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs )

Can you use an ottoman as a coffee table?

Yes, you can use an ottoman as a coffee table, and it's a popular choice for family living rooms, small apartments and relaxed entertaining. Add a sturdy tray so drinks, books and the remote have a steady, flat surface. Choose an ottoman close to the height of your sofa seat, so it works as a footrest too.

Is it better to have a coffee table or an ottoman?

It depends on how you use your living room. We'd choose an ottoman for homes with kids or pets, smaller apartments and relaxed spaces where softness and flexibility matter. A coffee table is the better pick if you often work from the couch, eat in front of the TV or want a more formal look. If you can't decide, a storage ottoman with a tray gives you a bit of both.

How do you turn an ottoman into a coffee table?

Add a large, sturdy tray that covers most of the top, then style it with a few books, a small vase and a candle. The tray gives you the flat surface of a coffee table, and the styling makes it look intentional. Lift the tray off whenever you want to use the ottoman as a footrest or extra seat.

Is it okay to sit on an ottoman?

Yes, it's fine to sit on an ottoman, and many are designed to work as extra seating for guests. Ottomans with a firmer top are more comfortable to sit on for longer, while very plush ones are better as footrests or for a quick perch.

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