Armless and backless, linear and modern as well as tufted and traditional, they lend a decorative grace note to a room. One new ottoman from Italy even converts into a bed. Big square ottomans make terrific coffee tables, he says. The soft corners are easier than wood or glass on kids, pets and shins. Dixon says there's nothing better than an ottoman shaped like a three-leaf clover for nestling into the curve of a grand piano.
Round ottomans have their place too, especially in the middle of a room.
Much as he appreciates ottomans, Dixon has a couple of caveats. For one thing, beware of deep tufting. Dixon says an ottoman 42 to 48 inches long and 36 inches wide is his ideal, but in large rooms he's gone as long as 55 inches. Ottomans used as coffee tables should be 16 to 18 inches high, according to Jo Coveny, design director for the Kellogg Collection's. That height also works for seating.