Versatile and functional, ottoman furniture can be used is nearly every room of your home. Ottomans can be utilized as storage units, coffee tables, and when placed in your living room, ottomans encourage you to kick your shoes off, stretch out and relax. Ottoman furniture is available in a variety of styles, shapes and sizes and few people realize that this simple piece of furniture has so many uses.

Below are just a few of them.

From footrest to coffee table:

When home alone and watching TV, most people use their ottomans as a place to prop their feet. However, when entertaining, many guests gravitate to the living room and gather on the couch. Adding a stylish tray or fitted glass panel to the top of your ottoman turns it into an instant coffee table. Guests can then place drinks or plates onto the ottoman without worrying about ruining the fabric due to spills.

Pet bed:

According to a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, the most popular place for a family dog to sleep is in their owner’s bed. The survey found that 45 percent of dogs are lucky enough to share the covers with their owners. Despite the love we have for our pets, allowing them to share the bed can be disruptive to sleep patterns and can exacerbate allergies. Placing an ottoman at the foot of your bed provides a place for pets to sleep and allows you to reclaim your sleeping space. For those who don’t have the heart to banish a pet from the bed, an ottoman can act as a step-up for an aging cat or dog that has difficulty jumping up to the bed.

Many shapes and sizes:

Ottoman furniture comes in so many forms and styles that selecting one may seem difficult. Choosing the right ottoman depends on the layout of other furniture in the room, as well as the scale and style of your existing space. Round ottoman furniture looks best when paired with a large sectional with rounded corners. Whatever the shape, ottomans can also be used for extra seating and with the right look, can be the centerpiece of any room.

Storage ottoman furniture: Ottomans that double as storage space prove the versatility of this type of furniture. Hinged-top ottomans open to reveal ample room to store remotes, game controllers, books, and more. In the bedroom, storage ottomans can hold extra blankets or pillows, and can be a great seat to tie your shoes in the morning.

The price is right:

Ottomans range in price from under 100 dollars to more than a thousand. Cheap ottoman furniture does not have to mean poor quality. Well-made ottomans can be found in many discounts department stores or the clearance sections of larger retailers or you can get it from Better bed company. To save even more money, consider shopping at yard or estate sales. Ottoman prices fluctuate based on brand, size, and the type of fabric you choose.

Having a sleepover? Gone are the days when guests are confined to the lumpy sofa bed in the living room. Cleverly designed ottomans now contain fold-out beds, which are typically the size of a standard twin. Many ottoman beds are equipped with caster wheels for easy movement to virtually any room in the house. An ottoman bed is perfect for apartments or smaller homes that often lack the room to entertain overnight guests.

From small to big, round to square, an ottoman is probably the most functional and useful piece of furniture you can buy. They add visual interest to a room and can be customized to match your existing furniture. An ottoman is like a good spouse…it’s useful, dependable and can last a lifetime.