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Replacing coffee table with large ottoman

8 years ago

SueB's post regarding ottomans started me thinking seriously about something I've considered off and on for quite some time. Below are photos of our living room. There are only two of us and cats -- and the cats typically claim the wingback chair next to the fireplace, so we rarely sit there. The Stickley bench beneath the large painting is occasionally used when we have a guest and need an extra seat. DH and I mostly sit/lounge on the Chesterfield sofa and chair to watch TV or just enjoy the fire. I really like our coffee table -- the style, size, and shape of it just feel right to me -- but more often than not, I find myself putting my feet up on it, and having been raised in a household where I was taught not to put my feet on the furniture, I always feel a twinge of guilt! I like the height of the coffee table when used for its intended purpose, but it's a bit too tall for putting one's feet up. That said, I've started thinking about replacing it with a large ottoman, but don't quite know what style or shape to choose in that regard. I'd like to be able to put my feet up on it from either the leather sofa or matching chair. I've seen some nice-looking leather, tufted ottomans, but that might be too much sameness in this space. Would appreciate suggestions on style and shape of ottoman to pursue. I would add a tray on top of the ottoman so we'd still have a place for a cup of coffee.


(As an aside, I'm not changing anything else in this space, so uninterested in off-topic recommendations. Thanks!)








Comments (34)

  • 8 years ago

    I say yes. I think you can even put the table in the dead space corner, so as not to waste it.

    I would not do leather and I would not tuft it. I might do a slubby type or ribbed fabric in a neutral, and then put a big tray on it and style it up.

    User thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 8 years ago

    I agree with mtnrd-- fabric, not leather, and no tufting. It will look nice there!

    User thanked sas95
  • 8 years ago

    First one I saw when I searched was Tibetan fur! That'd be fun , LOL.

    I am thinking plain and maybe in a lighter color, like your walls.

    MGBW.

    User thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 8 years ago

    Thanks so much for the kinds words and the enabling -- er, I mean encouragement! :-D

    Oh, the cats would ADORE Tibetan fur! They already have a sheepskin rug draped over "their" wingback chair, so they'd probably think they'd died and gone to heaven. I like the idea of a simple, lighter-colored fabric, but wonder how practical that would be. Someone will barf on it, and probably repeatedly. (I'm talking about one of the cats - not DH or myself.) I suppose a kilim would be a bit too much pattern? Probably cost-prohibitive as well, but gosh, this thing is pretty.

  • 8 years ago

    Ballard has a lot, including ones w storage.

    I like this, but not sure you want to mix woods esp mixing w your Stickley


    This comes in a lot of fabrics

    User thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I love the Tibetan kilim ones. I do think you have a lot of dark though, so I might mix in something light-er ... though not as light as what I pictured. Maybe an olive or khaki corduroy or velvet.

    You could use sunbrella or get one that is slipcovered. With 3 kids and a dog, almost every piece of furniture I own is offwhite ... but slipcovered!

    User thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 8 years ago

    I agree with Mt. about fabric and no tufting but I think a light color may be too much contrast with your furniture and rug. I think with your solid furniture, if you could find a kilim that would play nice with your rug, it would look great! That might be hard to do.

    User thanked tinam61
  • 8 years ago

    Yes to what Mt. just added. Lighter but not too light.

    User thanked tinam61
  • 8 years ago

    I think a kilim would work, given your sofa/chair color and your beautiful oriental rug. There are many that are simple in pattern and if you find complimentary colors it would be stunning. Beautiful room!

    User thanked Bonnie
  • 8 years ago

    I agree, a more medium tone and definitely something with legs similar to the one Bonnie has shown. I do think a kilim would be a bit much with all the colors and patterns of the art in addition to the rug. I can't imagine wanting to change anything else in this gorgeous room!

    User thanked ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
  • 8 years ago

    I would probably have one custom made with a washable slipcover. I like the rectangular shape and I agree with no tufting and in a solid color that is medium in hue. I would look at the minor colors in the rug and see if any of those would work.

    User thanked Fun2BHere
  • 8 years ago

    hmm, as far as shape.. is the negative space a square? if so i'd do a sq, if not rectangle

    User thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 8 years ago

    I think a slipcovered ottoman is a great option to explore. I love rug ottomans and when I was looking for our new house they were hard to come by and expensive. (I ended up with a melon leather one!) These new ones are from Annie Selke and I'm very tempted!!

    https://annieselke.com/Kali-Rug-Ottoman/p/ASH7669

    Between you and Sue B, I am now also obsessing about replacing the tables in our older house with one. This one:

    https://annieselke.com/Pali-Rug-Ottoman/p/ASH5910-RO

    User thanked rubyclaire
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I was just sitting here thinking, "I'm definitely not spending $1,000 on an ottoman" ... and then I come back to the latest suggestions. Those Annie Selke designs are divine! **drooling**

    The negative space is ... weird. I think it can go either way - square or rectangle, depending on how close to the leather pieces the ottoman is pulled. With the round table there now, it has more of a square feel to it. Does that even make sense?

    In considering using the existing coffee table in the empty space between the leather pieces, I think it's a little too big - and unfortunately, that's a main point of ingress/egress to the seating area. DH would balk at having it restricted, although I've never really liked that empty area. Have just gotten used to it, I suppose.

  • 8 years ago

    Are you any good at diy tasks? I love the coffee table, any chance you could pad it and add the fabric of your choice and then use it as an ottoman?

    User thanked Yayagal
  • 8 years ago

    I actually toyed with that idea, Yayagal. The legs would have to be cut down, as it's a tad too tall as it is now to comfortably rest one's feet on, and with the cross bars down at the bottom I'm not sure that's possible. I do hate to lose the table, though, as I really like the style. Maybe I'll find an ottoman with very similar legs, but at the proper height.

  • 8 years ago

    I love the rug ottomans from Annie Selke! I have toyed with the idea of one at the foot of our bed as we have some of their linen bedding similar to the Pali pattern. Still toying. I think one of the medium tone ones would look great with your leather furniture.

  • 8 years ago

    Kilim or ikat was my first thought too. Here is one for $750 that would play nicely, imo.

    User thanked nutsaboutplants
  • 8 years ago

    Umm, I’ve looked at a lot of coffee table ottomans recently. Company C has some great ones. Room and Board does, too. The ones at Ballard come in different wood finishes. Oh, West Elm has some that look pretty decent at a lower price, too. Of course, Wayfair and Overstock have tons as well.

    User thanked Sueb20
  • 8 years ago

    Thank you all so much for the inspiration and suggestions! I'm not going to rush into replacing our coffee table, but am definitely going to keep my eye out for something that might work perfectly in its place. (And I'm still gonna put my feet up on the table from time to time in the interim. Don't tell my mom.)

  • 8 years ago

    Idaclaire, when I got my “new” sofa(i think I’ve had it 10 years) I picked up a cheap ottoman as a space filler. I ended up making a slipcover for it and have kept it. It has a tray on it, but it is mostly a foot rest for sure.

    If I were you, I’d get some dimensions of what size ottoman could fit and keep those dimensions on your phone or somewhere easy to recall. Then if you run across something just buy it! I found my cheap ottoman at a garage sale when I was actually looking for dining chairs with a friend.

    User thanked Annette Holbrook(z7a)
  • 8 years ago

    I wonder ... How hard could it possibly be to make (or have made) a simple, large ottoman? It kinda blows my mind that something as uncomplicated as this design (see below) would be upwards of $1k. You'd basically build a large box, pad it, cover it, and add legs -- right?


  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Just found this ... How To Make an Oversized Ottoman. Would enable one to create exactly the size needed.

  • 8 years ago

    I loved reading the how-to! I got a bit lost on figuring out how to cut the top fabric, but otherwise it was well written.

    Of course, my final takeaway is, what happens when someone spills red wine on the fabric?

  • 8 years ago

    LOL -- yep, the fabric she chose for her ottoman would not have been my choice. I'm not even sure that was the best choice for feet resting on it. I think I might be tempted to build the ottoman frame, then take it to an upholstery shop to finish the job. I'd likely look for an old, worn kilim rug to cover it with too.

  • 8 years ago

    I love the look of old, worn rugs. It turns out everyone does; they are a lot more than new ones. I wish my ancestors had had fancier tastes. : )

  • 8 years ago

    I think if you have patience it would not be too difficult to make your own ottoman. That way you get to choose your fabric and size.

    Love your beautiful room. I hope you can reuse your coffee table bc it is simply gorgeous!

    User thanked amykath
  • 8 years ago

    Love the Kilim style! Perhaps keep watch on your local Craigslist for a good price on a coffee table that is the right size/shape and has nice legs and convert it to an ottoman. Cheap table...nice fabric :).

    I am sitting here looking at my ugly orange oak coffee table, almost the size of a small dining table, and imagining turning it into a beautiful ottoman. But, I have no skills! When I mention getting a new table, my now sixteen year old GD says “You can’t get rid of that table. What is C (the 4 year old GD) going to play board games and Old Maid and Checkers on with Papaw?”

    User thanked tuesday_2008
  • 8 years ago

    My3dogs made an ottoman out if a coffee table a while ago, and posted pics a each of the stages of the process with descriptions. I lack talent of any kind when it comes to home decor or DIY, but am always in awe of folks like her and cliffandjoann. You may want to search for her post.

  • 8 years ago

    Ohhhh, she is so very talented! What an amazing transformation! You'd never know the finished product had started life as something completely different! Thank you for finding that and posting here!

  • 8 years ago

    I'm the lone dissenting vote of No. This was a topic of conversation I had recently when I showed pictures of my favorite house in a nearby town that went on sale. Lordy how I want that house!

    Friends and I all agreed the LR had too much stuffed furniture which suffocated the room. Here's a picture to give you an idea.

    I like the one Nuts posted. The bigger the ottoman the stuffier the room will be.


    User thanked Oakley
  • 8 years ago

    That's a great rug. Think about a glass or Lucite to give a modern twist and let the rug show.

    Love your large art!