Principals of the Successful Footstools Retailer

Modern furniture businesses should be centred on the dual concepts of quality and excellent customer service. Customers need to be at the heart of everything the business does. Furniture products need to be engineered to maximise relaxation and to provide high-class design with built in quality. They need to be aesthetically appealing whilst combining practicality and functionality.

Successful footstool manufacturing businesses know the importance of “putting our feet up” after a hard day at work. As busy people themselves they understand the importance of relaxation. They value leisure time and know they have an important part to play by rewarding customers with the quality of the furniture they offer.

The design principles behind a successful furniture company are based on the idea of giving customers choice within a quality palette. That choice should be customer lead striking the perfect balance of colour, fabric, proportion and texture. In this way company products fit seamlessly into any lifestyle and environment.

A footstool business within the furniture sector needs to provide a niche product range. Hence made to measure footstools, pouffes and storage ottomans are designed to fit into any household space. They are appropriate for any room and are practical pieces in their own right. And the pieces are individually hand built for comfort and relaxation. Only through careful sourcing of the best leather, fabrics and component materials can craftsman built footstools meet the high expectations of customers.

An increasing number of footstool and ottoman manufacturers sell their products online. In this way they cut out the expensive overhead of retail rent and rate charges. Customers are buying a unique range of products directly from the manufacturer, thus avoiding the cost of a middleman. By visiting the site of an independent footstool retailer you are simply a click away from putting your feet up!

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.

Cubes for Seating

Upholstered pouffe or cube seating is the perfect solution to providing inexpensive and practical seating capacity at events, exhibitions and retail environments. You will rarely pass a shoe shop without seeing an arrangement of cubes within. Public houses, bars and restaurants rely on their adaptability for seating and cubes provide ready, comfortable seats in office reception areas. They are easy to store, each one coming in a tight fitting double walled card board box and if cared for will give you a life span of many years service. How then can such a simple piece of furniture offer so much to so many for so little?
Reputable footstools and ottoman suppliers regard the cube as a required piece within their furniture stores. Cubes fit into the smallest of spaces and can be arranged in any variety of combinations. A craftsman built cube offers a genuine measure of quality. The template is its hard wood frame, glued rather than screwed, stapled or nailed. A two to three inch deep rigid foam pad beneath a plywood structure provides the comport for seating and a protective foam and polyester wadding offers protection to the edges and sides. Four plastic glide feet are applied to the base so as to avoid scuffing and tears to the edges at floor level. The glides also provide stability and balance allied to simple manoeuvrability across surfaces.

The choice of outer covering should be dictated by where and for what purpose the cube is to be used. For instance cubes that provide seating in bars and restaurants require a hard wearing outer upholstered surface that is easy to clean. Light colours should be avoided as they are prone to staining. Dark fabrics should not be exposed to direct sunlight. That said the choice of beauticians and hairdressers is for "lighter" upholstered cubes in shades such as whites or golds. The brand image you are trying to portray is essential to your choice of cube. Wedding event organisers tend to select white leather cubes to enhance the atmosphere of the occasion. Many bar owners choose reds or black as their design colour and their cube seating selection is reflected accordingly. Leather or faux leather tends to be their upholstery choice as it is a practical solution for the club or bar environment.

If treated appropriately your cube will last you for many years. Fabrics treated with a Guardsman* stain resist finish (such as faux suede) may be wiped clean with a damp cloth to remove excessive stains and soiling. Upholstered leather cubes, particularly those in an aged Mustang leather look better with age and can last for up to ten years! If you are looking to buy seating for your business or home then a cube offers you a quality solution at a price to suit!



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

Leather for your footstool

Footstools upholstered in a fine Italian leather make a real statement about the discerning footstool buyer. When you purchase a British built leather footstool the true meaning of quality is revealed. But for all customers the style and leather selection is most important especially when a footstool becomes a true family heirloom and is to be passed onto future generations of your family.

The tanning of leather is a centuries old craft that can be traced back to pre Roman times. According to biblical references, Simon the Tanner was plying his trade in the first century AD. Renaissance Florence became a European centre for leather and the tradition of excellent leather manufacturing is maintained today in modern day Italy.

When used for upholstery the latest scientific techniques and rigorous quality control are employed to each hide prior to tanning. Without a significant beef industry there would be no skins and therefore no trade in leather. Hence Northern Italy, with a prosperous cattle sector is well placed to provide the raw material for the trade in leather.

At the abattoir skins are removed from the beasts and are left in a temperate place to cool. In some traditional Italian abattoirs the skins are placed on marble floors to cool down. This procedure is vitally important as the rapid cooling of marble reduces the threat of bacterial attack. Hides are then salted to preserve them prior to shipping to a tannery where further processing takes place.

On arrival at the tannery blemishes are removed from the hide and re inspected to ensure only the best hides are used. At this point colouration takes place whereby a number of hides are dyed in large vessels to a precise formulation. A protective coating is frequently applied to the leather after colouration to protect it from wear and tear and ensure a long life span. Finally the leather is softened and then ironed to remove creases prior to shipment.

Upholstery buyers are particularly selective when choosing leather. Given the value of the furniture to be upholstered, leather for benchstools, tablestools or ottomans is highly prized and needs to be of the highest quality. Leather for your footstool must comprise three main elements. Firstly is has to be durable as it will have to withstand the weight of many feet during its life time. Secondly it must be without major blemishes such as creases, scars or tears. Finally the leather for your footstool must convey the quality of a superior piece of upholstered furniture. Its appearance must be second to none or the premium a customer deserves when choosing leather for his or her footstool will not be met. Only then will the discerning customer realise he or she has made an excellent footstool choice!

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

Buying an Ottoman Today

Buying an ottoman today could not be easier although with the choices available finding the piece to match your exact requirements may be more difficult. You can find storage ottomans in a variety of shapes and sizes, built to varying levels of craftsmanship. With a purchase plan in mind you should not have a problem finding something that will suit your needs.

The first thing you should consider is what you want from your ottoman. Do you want it to be stylish, practical or both? If you want a stylish bedroom then you should consider buying an ottoman to ensure your bedroom is stylish and relaxing. Ottomans are suitable for almost any bedroom size and shape. They are most commonly located at the foot of the "master bed" where linen, pillows and duvets become easily accessible. Sleek storage ottomans are ideal for helping to keep your bedroom clear of clutter and they are ideal for storing bedding and laundrySome storage pieces add a touch of glitz to a living area and help set the tone of the room.


There are plenty of size options available, even for the smallest room. When it comes to selecting an ottoman you will probably want something sleek, either upholstered in fabric or leather. If selecting a piece to coordinate with your suite you have plenty of options available. A mixture of both leather and fabric is more likely to be the design choice of today.

You can buy storage ottomans both online and offline. You will need to think about how much you are willing to spend and what items you need the piece to coordinate with. If selecting the offline option make sure you choose a store that has a good selection of Sofas and Ottomans. There are many places to visit and in the UK DFS, Argos and IKEA, are as good as anywhere. Online the choice is even greater although a reputable online footstools and ottomans retailer with many years trading experience and a verifiable list of satisfied genuine customers is the place to start.

After you have chosen a place to buy your ottoman and settled on a budget you may consider the ranges available. As long as you make sure you have done your research then an ottoman should be a fun and exciting task.


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

Footstool Definitions

According to a well known "online resource" a footstool is a piece of furniture, the purpose of which is to support one's feet. There are two main types of footstools, which can be loosely categorized as those designed for comfort and those designed for function.

The type of footstool designed for comfort is typically used to provide comfort to a person seated, for example, in a chair or sofa. It is typically a short, wide, four-legged stool with a padded top, upholstered in a fabric or animal hide, such as leather. This type of footstool is also a type of Ottoman and it often referred to simply as an Ottoman. It allows the seated person to rest their feet upon it, supporting their legs at a mostly horizontal level. Ottomans are frequently designed with another function in mind, namely they arrive with a hinged lid allowing for valuable storage space within.

A functional footstool, also known simply as a stool, is used as a short stepladder or to support a person's (usually a child's) feet that do not reach the floor when seated. In the former case, the footstool is used by placing it on a flat surface and standing on it to extend one's reach. In the latter case, the footstool is placed under the feet of a sitting person so that the person's feet may rest comfortably on it. An example of the latter is the type of piano footstool used in conjunction with a piano bench. It is also used to make the blood circulation of your body flow more freely than sitting down. The "step up stool" is often found in the kitchens of short people. It can be quickly moved in and out of use and allows the short person to reach the highest shelves or to clean cobwebs in far flung corners. For repeated higher level work we recommend the use of a ladder or step ladder rather than a footstool.

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.

Further Medical Uses for Footstools

From the sanctuary of my hospital bed I can see the benefits of being able to put your feet up after a serious illness or major surgery. Several patients in my vicinity have had varicose vein surgery and as part of their recuperation have by necessity to promote proper blood circulation to the legs. Others have blood pressure issues so that blood flow to feet, positioned on appropriately sized footstools, becomes an essential component of recovery.

Whilst in recovery many people are under pain relief medication. Some patients require oxygen whilst other need something stronger such as morphine. The medical profession are keen to stress the benefits of effective recuperation as part of the whole recovery process. They stress the need for relaxation and for people to get as much sleep as they can. This can be achieved in bed however as the patient gets increasingly mobile, he or she is encouraged to sit in a chair with feet in a horizontal position. The reasoning for this is simple; - blood flow is more evenly distributed in this position and the body' natural defences s can more effectively repair damaged tissue. Clearly the prescription of a suitable footstool is most important.

Size matters! Doctors recommend a footstool height where the legs are on a slight incline from the the recipient's bottom. A comfortable "sitting" height is about 16 inches so a footstool height of 12 - 14 inches would be appropriate. Height levels can be adjusted on certain types of footstools but these are mechanical in appearance and aesthetically displeasing. A much better solution is to select a given height by choosing feet for the stool. These come in different sizes and styles and can be attached to your footstool accordingly. The choice can be made between wooden, or metal legs, either of which can be fixed on castors to aid manoeuvrability.

The outer covering material of the footstool needs to be correctly specified. In a medical environment, polyurethane or "faux leather" upholstery coverings enable regular cleaning and sterilisation of surfaces. With concerns over patient transferred infections and efforts to clamp down on the super bug MRSA, effective use of appropriate cleaning agents is vital. What is clear however is that a correctly specified footstool really can increase the recovery times of patients who reed rest and recuperation.


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

Information about Ottomans

Ottomans in the home are multifunctional and make a statement about the quality of your furnishings. They also contribute to the amount of valuable storage space you have as well as being used for seating and as footstools. However many people will not know that back in the Nineteenth Century ottomans were used as backless chairs in Middle Eastern council chambers.

Although ottomans are not usually employed as chairs these days, rigid foam cushions and polyester wadding are nowadays built in, adding comfort, to the wooden originals. Today the choice is between fabric or leather ottomans with variations of each. For instance low maintenance ottomans may be produced in faux leather which is simply wiped clean after a spillage. If you want an easy care solution a stain protected fabric ottoman should be your preference. Those with bigger budgets should look towards the genuine quality of leather ottomans.

Reputable ottoman manufacturers construct their frames with a solid hardwood such as beech or oak. Their frames are glued and the upholstery should be double stitched to protect the covering. For an ottoman in the living room storage is an essential feature where papers, toys, videos and CD's can be quickly stored in the event of an unexpected arrival. The piece also functions well as a coffee table or footstool when centred between living room sofas. When hosting parties or at Christmas time your ottoman is invaluable as a source of seating for extra guests.

No longer the exclusive preserve of politicians at Middle Eastern council meetings, ottomans are made affordable by Internet retailers offering the widest range of sizes and styles. Discerning customers enjoy choosing between fabrics and leathers at prices that are not going to break the bank! And the major difference between locally sourced suppliers and those from overseas is that there will be no six to eight week wait for delivery. Most reputable suppliers will carry stock or arrange delivery within two weeks of you having placed an order.

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

Footstool Choice

There are many important considerations to make when deciding to make a footstool purchase. With so many ranges and styles to choose from it is all too easy to make the wrong choice. What we intend to do here is guide you through the many aspects of the footstool buying decision prior making that all important purchase.

By way of an example are you buying a footstool to coordinate with an existing sofa arrangement? How do you want to use it and is the footstool to be functional or for decoration? The first question to answer is do you want to rest your feet on your stool? If so then the height of the stool is a vital consideration.

The height of the seat cushions from the floor will vary however an average UK sofa / chair height is perhaps fifteen inches. Without stretching your legs in an exact horizontal position, most people prefer to gently rest their feet downwards so that their feet are below the height of their posteriors. This means that a footstool should be between ten to fourteen inches in height from floor to top.

When an optimum height is established it is important that the choice of legs coordinates with your existing furniture. For instance if your sofa and chairs incorporate a dark wood finish then choosing a dark oak or mahogany wood finish for your footstool legs would be sensible. If the sofa runs on brass castors then similar feet should be chosen for your stool. Many people rush into a footstool purchase without considering the leather shade to coordinate with a leather sofa. We always suggest collecting leather or fabric samples before buying as the best way to ensure appropriate marrying of shade and texture.

Footstools can be simply decor but as functional units they really come into their own. Does your room have a table? If not a table footstool to solve this dilemma. "Tablestools" are useful pieces in either fabric or leather to match to your existing furniture and act as a coffee tables for placing drinks or snack foods. They are a fabulous addition to any room and provide the dual aspects of style and functionality at the same time. Your tablestool acts as a footrest for anyone else who can fit onto the sofa! When choosing a tablestool ensure that the top is firm and flat enough to rest drinks on and check that a fabric or stain protection has been applied to fabric tablestools to avoid problems with spillage. As previously ensure that the height suites everyone before making the purchase.

Another important consideration is whether you want your footstool to offer storage and how much will be needed. A small footstool storage cube with an uplifting lid can be used to hide away papers, magazines and books as well as offering valuable seating capacity in small rooms. A footstool pouffe may be used as a footrest or for additional seating so it can be easily moved around and tucked out of the way when not in use.

In conclusion it is footstool functionality and "decorative" value that should determine your buying decision. Whether you are looking for an extra accessory to add balance to your room or you need to rest weary feet after along day at work your choice of footstool is very much a personal decision. With these thoughts in mind your perfect footstool purchase can now be made.

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

Medical uses for footstools

You may have heard about the benefits of wearing tight "air socks" to reduce the likelihood of thrombosis in the legs during long aircraft flights but are you aware of the health benefits of "putting your feet up" to revive blood circulation in the legs?

After muscle pulls or breaks to the bone legs doctors often prescribe sitting "with your feet up" to aid convalesence. This takes pressure away from the point of the injury allowing better blood circulation. It allows oxygen and the body's natural nutrients to the affected areas.

When this author had a recent serious calf injury whereby the the muscle fully "snapped" away from the holding ligaments the doctor's advice was to spend as much recovery time as possible with the calf resting on a bench or footstool. With the leg positioned higher than the hip reduced pressure via blood circulation allowed the injury to repair far quicker than had the leg been subject to the normal forces of gravity.

Doctors advise similar relaxation techniques when recovering from serious abrasions or cuts: - skin tissue repairs itself far quicker (and is less susceptible to infection) if the leg is held in temporary suspension via an appropriate foot rest.

A proven way to assist recovery is to use a medical footstool. This item is really a standard domestic stool upholstered with a special polyureathane coating with added chemicals to reduce the spread of infection. Resting feet on the footstool helps to increase the circulation
in the lower legs and foot area. Use of such a footstool in a medical environment vastly reduces the liklihood of infection and is easy for staff to sterilise and wipe clean. Most operating theatres have beds with PU coated fabric mattresses which comprise a knitted cotton or polyester substrate over a rigid foam composite. The benefits of this upholstery material are plain to see. Not only do they relieve pressure and reduce the incidence of bed and leg sores they are easy to work with and maintain.

Recovery from any kind of illness is enhanced by ‘putting your feet up’. When the illness is leg related quick recuperation by using a well designed stool is further improved when choosing a practical, well designed and aestheticaly pleasing footstool.

Uses of Footstools

The footstool started out as something practical, and over the years it has evolved into a decorative piece of furniture in its own right. Over time, the theme of footstools seemed pretty consistent: small, made of wood, used as a foot-propper or a stair-stepper.

Today the footstool is emerging as a separate class of furniture in its own right. It can now be used as something to sit on, place something on, hide something in, or as a decorative piece for an entire room.

With a choice so wide there are many sites on the internet that offer footstools in all shapes an sizes. Ranges vary to satisfy any discerning furniture shopper and the choice of fabrics and leathers is unsurpassed.

The footstool can be ordered in various sizes. Its shape can be organised to fit into the smallest or largest of spaces and the height of the footstool can be varied by an appropriate choice of legs and feet.

No suite of sofas and chairs should ever be without a footstool. The footstool is a central point of relaxation, becoming an oasis of calm after yet another weary day at work. Even if you can only grab yourself a few minutes of "quality time" ensure
that you gather up your footstool and take the weight off your feet just for a few moments.

Design is a key element when choosing a footstool or ottoman. Should the piece be flush to the ground to co-ordinate with the clean lines of your existing furniture, or if your style more traditional, a footstool with turned or carved legs may be a better choice? When selecting a footstool it is a good idea to apply pressure to it or to sit down on it to make sure it is sturdy. Do not forget to measure the width of the footstool to make sure it would not be too large and feel awkward in the space you intend to put it.

You are reminded to measure the height as well to ensure that the feet will rest comfortably when sitting on your chair or sofa. Price is a consideration and many online retailers may well have the perfect footstool custom designed to your taste, specifications, and your budget. No matter where you decide to purchase your footstool, or even if you decide to build one yourself, function, style, and value are the most important elements.

The author has over 20 years experience running companies involved in furnishing fabrics and furniture manufacturing and has recently been specialising in company start ups.

A History of Ottomans

The origins of the term "ottoman" to describe a particular style of footstool are subject much debate with some commentators pointing to Napoleon Bonaparte's exploits around the Mediterranean, others as a direct export of Turkish influence in Europe. The "Napoleonic" view sees to the term 'ottoman' entering common parlance as a style of footrest made popular in France towards the end of the Eighteenth Century. When the French invaded Egypt they found the locals popularising a style of footstool - Egypt at the time was still part of the Ottoman Empire and its people were subject to many acts of brutality and endured many forms of punishment. Footstools were developed to rest weary and tortured feet and when the French returned home, they took with them the influences and styles of furniture they had seen their travels. The French foot rests became popular in Europe and were given the name "ottoman" in tribute to its origin.Others were influenced directly from their visits to parts of the Ottoman Empire. Travellers returning to Western Europe from the Balkans and Greece saw evidence of Turkish furniture styles at mosques and palaces and the name was introduced into the English language in the late 1780's.

The generic term "Ottoman" referred to a footstool or a low upholstered seat completely covered by fabric. The first wooden ottomans had no legs sitting directly on the floor being constructed in box form with storage space under the seat with a non fixed lid. Later ottomans were fitted with hinges to regulate the uplifting lid. They also came in a variety of sizes and shapes.

Modern day designs can be both functional or luxurious, with stunning upholstered fabrics and leathers. They are found in almost every room in the house having been large receptacles of blankets and bedding in the grand Victorian houses of the late Nineteenth Century. Nowadays they are most commonly found in the bedroom as useful storage footstools of sheets and bedding, in bathrooms as taller, narrower units associated as receptacles of dirty linen and clothes or in living rooms as pieces in which to store papers and magazines. Their versatility is such that they are often the centrepiece of a modern sitting room, not only offering valuable storage space but acting as coffee tables, or as large tablestools upon which weary legs may be rested!