Which Footstool?

A footstool has a dual purpose as a piece of furniture. It has a primary function of being a support to the feet and can also be used for seating. The styles of footstool available on the Internet vary widely and only the most reputable retailers with solid trading performance should be considered. They should also be able to exhibit testimonial evidence from customers who have bought footstools and would recommend them to others.

A footstool as a "foot rest" should be used to compliment existing furniture. For example a potential customer should select a footstool to match his or her sofa or a favourite chair. Thus shade, texture, size and performance are key considerations when making that all important purchase. A typical piece should be slightly lower in height than the seat of the chair or sofa. In this way the legs rest below the seating position, outstretched for beneficial circulation and muscle relaxation. This type of stool is usually a short, wide, four-legged piece with a rigid foam upholstered top pad either buttoned or plain. Most footstools are either supplied in fabric or leather with a wood frame surrounding base and four legs.

As a vehicle for seating, footstools need to be well constructed to withstand the various pressures of human weight loads and gravity. Seating footstools are not chairs or sofas as such and are designed without a backrest so they can be approached from virtually any direction. A cube, ideally about eighteen inches tall from the ground, provides an acceptable height for seating whilst fitting into the
smallest household space. Similarly a drum stool affords about seventeen inches of height and is popular as a seating solution in bars, pubs and restaurants. Both cubes and drum stools are fitted with small glide feet to enable smooth transfer whilst protecting the edges from "scuffing" through direct contact with hard stone or wood floor surfaces.

Choosing a footstool on the Internet either for seating or as a foot rest is made easier via a well developed website. With so much to choose from customers need quick answers to their questions so a contact through email or a land line telephone is most important. Secure in the knowledge that the stool would be appropriate for either seating or resting feet the customer can go ahead with confidence and make his or her purchase decision.

The author has over 20 years experience running companies involved in furnishing fabrics and furniture manufacturing in the UK and writes extensively about footstools and contemporary furniture.