Ottoman: what is it and how to choose?

The main task of decorating your home has always been to create an atmosphere of beauty and comfort. Progress does not stand still, and every year more and more new design ideas or options for improving old ones appear. Currently, more and more manufacturers are mastering the manufacture of such an element of furniture as an ottoman bed. We will talk about what kind of furniture it is and what types are there in today's article.

The ottoman is a cross between a sofa and a bed, most often the back is not provided - instead of it, pillows are laid out in a row. Models with 2 armrests can be found. The top is covered with a carpet or any other material. An ottoman bed is a double bed in which there is one headboard located across it. Along the larger side, there is another backrest, with pillows leaning against it.

The described furniture was brought to Europe around the 18th century. It gained its general recognition pretty quickly. Initially, the ottomans had very large dimensions, but over time they diminished.

Any furniture has its advantages and disadvantages, and the ottoman is no exception. Let's consider its most obvious advantages:

• today, a wide variety of models will allow you to choose the design that fits perfectly into any interior;
• their use will significantly save space in the room;
• the described furniture is practical and comfortable;
• has a low cost, which allows you to purchase it even with the most modest budget.

Now let's look at the negative features of this furniture:

• model with manual mechanism make you experience some difficulties while lifting the mattress, it is especially difficult if the product is made of solid wood;
• spring mechanisms quickly fail due to stretching of the spring;
• gas stops springs last much longer, but their price is very high.

To begin with, let's answer the question that has just arisen: "What is a sofa"? This is a rather complex type of upholstered furniture. Its feature is the location of the back and armrests at the same height. At first glance, it does not differ much from the usual low sofa. At the same time, the ottoman most often has no armrests at all.

The first thing a potential buyer pays attention to when choosing upholstered furniture is the external difference between an ottoman and a regular sofa and sofa. Sometimes, at first glance, it is quite difficult to find differences in these furniture models.

There are several points to consider first.

• The sofas are characterized by a wide variety of designs and types. This is due to the fact that this type of upholstered furniture has more pronounced ergonomics and sometimes the ability to transform. The ottoman is distinguished by its simplicity and strength, since it is made in the form of something in between a bed and a sofa.
• Sofa manufacturers are constantly experimenting with filler and replacement base cushions. The ottoman has everything like a regular bed.
• Residents of small apartments really need boxes for bedding in the base of sofas... Such constructive solutions are typical for ordinary sofas, but not in ottomans, since this furniture implies location in the living room, hallway or on the veranda.
• An ordinary Euro jacket is not equipped with a complex folding mechanism. This can be taken as a significant drawback, although the described furniture itself is miniature and does not require additional transforming elements.
• The ottoman does not have a lot of unusual shapes.... The basis of such furniture is an ordinary couch, which is well located in the corner of the room or along the wall. The location depends on the type of backrest.

But do not think that modern ottomans do not have new modifications in their designs.

• Sometimes you can still find a similar type of upholstered furniture. with the ability to turn into a place to sleep, but in this case, the ottoman becomes very similar to a classic sofa.
• The filling material is spring blocks. The best way to design a spring block is when each spring is enclosed in a separate block. This ensures an even distribution of weight over the surface. There are also cheaper furniture models on sale that use inexpensive synthetic fillers, but this material quickly loses its elasticity.
• Ottoman means the presence of some kind of cover or cape. This gives it an additional positive quality compared to a sofa, since it is much easier to remove and wash the cape than dry cleaning the upholstery. Changing the cape gives the designer an opportunity to show their abilities.
• Minimalism can play a key role in this situation.... Many modern models have an elegant design, thanks to which they gradually become fashionable. Over the past few years, Parisian living room designers have used the ottoman for their own purposes.

The described furniture has a large number of models that have appeared quite recently, namely, at a time when such designs have again become fashionable among designers. Some of the examples may look ridiculous and completely unfortunate, but they still have a right to exist, and perhaps they are liked by consumers.

Consider the most popular types of ottomans.

• With a corner back. This model is considered the best option for all premises. This shape of the backrest allows you to place it anywhere in the room.

• With three backs. At first glance, this solution seems unusual and strange. Most often, the size of such a product allows you to comfortably take a nap on it, while its unusual "appearance" makes it an excellent option for a narrow room.

• One of the most popular types is considered to be orthopedic. This is a very good option for daytime or evening relaxation, therefore it has a specially curved sleeping place that repeats the correct shape of the spine. In such products, there must be a high-quality filler that will not lose shape and elasticity over time.

• Models with an independent spring block. An independent spring block in the design of such furniture deserves special attention. This solution can be the most successful when choosing a comfortable ottoman. Each spring has its own separate shell so that the weight is distributed evenly and smoothly. Independent blocks are often removable, so if necessary, the spring block can be replaced with a regular orthopedic mattress.

• Ottoman with armrest. This option is controversial, since the absence of armrests is the main distinguishing feature of this type of furniture. Its presence makes it something between a sofa and a sofa. However, for a veranda or balcony, such an ottoman can be purchased in order to relax and unwind if necessary.

This type of upholstered furniture is suitable both for placement in the bedroom and in the guest room. In the daytime, you can just relax on it and watch TV, and in the evening you can use it as a full-fledged sleeping place. This model has a padded headboard and armrest.

In such models, there are no mechanisms that tend to break. The roller system allows, if necessary, to move the ottoman to any desired place. It unfolds quite easily. To do this, you need to push the seat towards you and lower the backrest to the vacant space. This option can be a good addition to the interior of a small apartment, when an extra bed may be necessary, but there is not a lot of free space for it.

The transforming ottoman is another good option for small apartments. Today there are several varieties of this model, each of which has its positive and negative sides. But they are all designed to fulfill 1 main condition, namely, save space in the room.

This model is equipped with a non-removable mattress. At the same time, it has a high level of practicality and ease of use. Such a product can be placed not only in the bedroom or living room, but also in large kitchens. Most of these samples are for 1 person only.

Such models can be converted from a single model to a double by rolling out the additional section. This option is suitable for those who often stay overnight with guests or relatives come.

Over such a long history, the ottoman has undergone a number of changes and improvements. At the moment, all new ways are being thought up to give this interior element additional ergonomics.They are trying to realize this by introducing new transformation mechanisms.

The transforming ottoman can increase the number of berths to accommodate late guests... If the described furniture is on the veranda or in the gazebo, then there is no point in additional folding.

Of all the available types of folding ottomans, only 2 are popular. They practically do not change the stability and quality of the furniture.

• Withdrawable... The mechanism is very easy to use and straightforward. When unfolding this system, the berth is simply pushed forward. Next, the soft back must be lowered to the vacant space. As a result, you can get a full-fledged one and a half place to sleep. This layout option is very similar to the Eurobook sofa.

• Eurobook with a more complex folding mechanism. To enlarge the sleeping bed, you will need to position the backrest horizontally. In this case, the main part of the couch begins to rise for the subsequent activation of the main mechanism and only moves forward a little to get a berth.

On sale you can find more unusual and interesting options. You can find a model of an ottoman, as close as possible to a sofa. In this case, the retractable mechanism will be pulled out from under the seat.

However, such systems, although they look unusual and interesting, can still have a very significant drawback, which will at once cross out their functionality and originality of execution, namely, instability of the structure. This can lead to a quick failure of the mechanism and damage to the appearance of all furniture.

Just like most of today's furniture, various materials are used for upholstery and frame fabrication, the correct choice of which is very important. Often meet combined solutions, and this may not only apply to the upholstery. Consider a few of the most popular materials that are used to make an ottoman. The described furniture can be made of solid wood. The whole base ensures maximum strength, stability and product quality. Such a model is characterized by small dimensions and does not have additional mechanical parts.

A daybed made of wood is considered a classic... Most often, this method of making a product is used if the design provides for an unfolding or extending mechanism. In this case, the soft part is in a wooden frame. As a rule, such tree species as oak, pine, cedar, walnut are used. The final cost of the product depends on the choice of a specific option.

A couch made of metal comes across quite rarely. This option can be a budget and durable replacement for solid wood furniture. Metal allows for greater structural stability. At the same time, it remains possible to equip the ottoman with various folding mechanisms. This version of the furniture is well suited as another place to sleep, which can be placed in the living room.

It is believed that the ottoman is a very compact product. However, today you can purchase a model of almost any size, and if the desired option was not found, then it can be made to order. A mini ottoman is exactly the small model that is familiar to Asian countries. The average dimensions of the "eastern" ottoman are 80x190 cm. Moreover, it is rather narrow, and its width does not exceed 120 cm. It is these models that are equipped with armrests and corner backs. When fully unfolded, such a bed does not exceed the size of a one-and-a-half or single bed (90x200 cm).

If there is a need for an additional place to sleep, then you can take a closer look at a wider version of this furniture, which has a width of 140 or 180 cm.These parameters will be enough to comfortably accommodate 2 people. The most popular sizes of such sleeping places will be 120x200 cm, 140x200 cm and 180x200 cm.

When choosing a suitable ottoman, you should take into account its stylistic orientation. Such furniture should harmoniously fit into the existing environment. The combination of styles must be monitored.

• Classic... Classic style furniture should be made from natural and expensive materials. Nothing flashy and pretentious should not be. Light, neutral tones are the best choice. The presence of various wooden elements with carvings is allowed, but in small quantities.

• High tech. This is a modern style for which plain, discreet-looking options for upholstered furniture upholstered in leather, leatherette or any other practical material are well suited. Small quantities of metal and some functional additions are allowed.

• Minimalism. Modern design, in which all items are made as simply, strictly and monotonously as possible. As a rule, no additional decorative elements are used. The room is filled to a minimum with the most useful and important things.

• Modern. An ottoman made in this style will look great with quality leather trim and rounded shapes. It is allowed to use 2 or 3 different colors, but on condition of their "overlap".

• Baroque. This style is designed to showcase luxury and wealth. It uses expensive and rare materials. In such an environment, it is desirable to find exceptionally expensive, high quality and beautiful looking furniture.

• Provence. This is the style of the French countryside, cozy and welcoming. In such an environment, high upholstered furniture with light upholstery is used, which is decorated with stripes, flowers and any other pretty designs. It is desirable that the furniture used is made from natural, environmentally friendly materials.

• Ottoman "Rubin 1"... This is the most popular model among all other designs from the Belarusian manufacturer Pinskdrev. The product has dimensions of 190x90 cm and is equipped with a Eurobook folding mechanism. The structure is made of solid wood with chipboard and chipboard. The spring block Bonnel was used as the filler, the material for the upholstery was velor fabric, flock and jacquard.

• Ottoman bed from the manufacturer "Milena" can become the main decoration of the bedroom. The whole structure is made of high quality solid wood. The headboard is straight and decorated with a laconic pattern. The bed is protected from moisture and mechanical damage with a special Italian varnish.

• Ottoman bed Siesta in a modern design from the manufacturer "Ormatek" will perfectly fit into the living room of a small apartment. This model is equipped with a padded back, which will provide additional comfort during sleep and rest. A good addition to this model is the lifting mechanism, which gives unhindered access to the laundry drawer.

If you want to purchase such furniture for yourself and at the same time not be mistaken with the choice, then these tips will help you:

• measure the place where you plan to install the ottoman, and choose a model based on the dimensions obtained;
• decide in advance on the style and color of the product;
• if you purchase an ottoman as an extra bed, then it is advisable that the pillows fit the interior of the room;
• decide on the desired folding mechanism and choose just such a model;
• do not forget about the quality certificates for the product.

• Made in 2 colors, the ottoman goes well with a beige wall and dark curtains. The whole room is done in soothing colors, and upholstered furniture, ideally matching colors, gives a feeling of comfort and warmth.

• The ottoman with soft side sections, made in purple color, is located in an almost white room. Attention here is riveted to her and to the silvery carpet with a high pile. This combination looks very impressive, but you need to be very careful with purple and purple.

For information on how to make an ottoman bed with your own hands, see the next video.