Treasured Footstools

Before reclining chairs and sumptious sofas people used a footstool to stretch out their legs after another long hard day at work. When making dinner the footstool was summoned to reach the furthest jar in the cupboard when your vertically challenged mother could stretch no more. The relics of childhood footstools in our house are now battered wooden structures in need of a lick of paint!

Earlier incarnations of footstools have survived the years because most were carved from hard wearing wood such as oak or teak. Most were valued and lovingly cared for by their owners. With the passage of time footstools were reupholstered, some with needlepoint others with tapestry or quilted covers. I have always treasured my collection of footstools as valued pieces of antique furniture in their own right.

With my own footstool collection, some are valued for the beauty of the wood and the ornate decoration of the carving while others are displayed for their beautiful fabrics and aesthetic qualities. Small wooden footstools are wonderful when displayed on a table shelf or a large bookcase . You will find a lot of valued footstools in the homes of antique dealers. Such people are in the business because they treasure what they sell. And with the passage of time precious articles can accumulate. Things look better on a table or shelf albeit on different levels, perhaps with a glass frontage or spotlight to aid display. Instead of clutter a display of footstools creates interest, a focal point for guests at a gathering or party. They are indeed museum pieces for the home, a valuable journal of days gone by.

By the middle of the twentieth century footstools became large square hassocks. And yet, these wonderful pieces were built to last footstools before that era are still plentiful today at a good price. They were not thrown away, instead, they were kept to enjoy for the beauty they are. From me to you, add a footstool to your home, it's a fabulous conversation piece that really does create a home sweet home statement.





The author runs several well respected furniture businesses and is a respected authority on the subject of footstools and modern furniture design.

The All Purpose Ottoman

Funkyfootstools are proud to provide the finest footstools and ottomans to customers throughout the UK. We have several different kinds in a wide range of designs and upholstery styles. Whether you're replacing old furniture or buying brand-new, we have the footstools and ottomans you're looking for. You might be wondering, "why an ottoman?" Ottomans are more than just large footstools, they are versatile pieces of furniture which can prove invaluable in your home.

Ottomans
First of all, ottomans tend to be larger than standard footstools so they are ideal for use with the sofa. Imagine you and your significant other enjoying your favourite film or TV program, snuggled together with your feet up on the ottoman. A standard footstool won't be large enough to accommodate both of you comfortably, but that's not the case with an ottoman. Furniture in the conservatory or living area is just not complete without one. A bigger ottoman can even be used as a bench or an extra seat when guests come over. And it's strong enough to hold a significant amount of weight so you don't have to worry about breaking it. Having a dinner party? Inviting the whole gang over for the football match? Seating isn't a problem if you have a large ottoman or two. Just gather them around the rest of furniture and you have extra seats for several more guests.

Leather Ottomans

One of the nice things about ottomans is that they don't have to be ugly. Leather ottomans offer all the functionality of an upholstered piece while adding the luxurious beauty only leather can provide. A leather ottoman adds elegance and class to any room; they are especially nice in formal sitting rooms and more up-scale conservatories. They are very easy to care for if you know what you're doing, so there's no need to worry about damaging your leather ottoman. Storage is another consideration as well. A leather storage ottoman is the best of both worlds. You get the beauty of an elegant piece of furniture as well as the storage capability inside. Sizes can vary, but any amount of extra storage you can get is great for putting away photo albums, family memoirs, or other things.

Storage Ottomans

Storage ottomans are becoming more and more popular because of the convenience they offer in homes and flats with limited storage space. Ottomans with storage provide that extra space in a way that's easily accessible and convenient. A storage ottoman is an ideal place for things you don't want displayed but need access to on a regular basis; things like your CDs and DVDs. They are also an excellent choice for magazines, books, and other literature.

Ottoman storage has become so popular that it has spawned an entire line of furniture. You can now purchase storage Ottomans in several shapes and sizes - from the traditional to the modern - and all with the extra storage space you so desperately need.

The Footstool

The origins of "The Footstool" begin with its use as a practical foot propper or step up stool. It has evolved over the years to become an essential piece of household furniture in its own right. Footstools today are found in living rooms, bedrooms and offices providing comfort and practicality in equal measure.The literal function of the footstool as a furniture piece is to support the feet of its user. Its role providing comfort satisfies the most discerning shopper with the range of sizes, shapes, styles and the choice of available fabrics and leathers. Footstools can be ordered to fit into the smallest or largest of spaces and footstool height can be varied by choosing from a range of legs and feet. The footstool is a point of relaxation, allowing the recipient a period to rest his or her feet. Allowing people to take the weight off their feet has many medical benefits as patients suffering from varicose vein or thrombosis surgery will surely testify.

Footstools were discovered when the tombs of the Pharaohs of Egypt were unearthed by archaeologists in the late Nineteenth and earlier Twentieth Century. Miniature footstools were found encased within various sacred artefacts. Discovered remains show the ancient Egyptian chair as being quite high off the ground in stark contrast to other Egyptian furniture which had smaller dimensions. The highness of the chair required a footstool to be reached. It is thought that in order for the Pharaohs to reach their throne a specially crafted footstool was presented to the King as part of the investiture ceremony, conferring his new found status. When enthroned, the footstool was used to support the feet and was made out of teak, cedar or a similar hardwearing wood. The fact the evidence of these footstools remains is due entirely to the longevity of the wood used and the sterile conditions found within Egyptian tombs. Footstools have also been discovered at Greek and Roman archaeological sites.

Yet it was the nomadic Arab Moors who more than anyone needed a lightweight device to carry from place to place. Latterly the Ottomans of the Turkish Empire popularised what we would today understand as a storage footstool or "Ottoman". They combined practicality, storage and comfort with a softly upholstered seat piled with cushions. The first of these "Ottomans" was introduced into Europe in the late 18th century by English and French veterans of the Napoleonic Wars in and around Egypt and the Ottoman Empire.

Upholstery manufacturers today provide a great variety of footstools to compliment their sofa offerings. Most dedicated footstool retailers recognise that their products need to reflect contemporary tastes so that colours, textures, fabrics, shapes and styles fit seamlessly into modern everyday living environments. And in the way of countless generations before, people can take the weight off their feet and relax by putting their feet up on a footstool after another hard day of toil!


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.

Ten Years in Footstool Furniture.

With over ten years trading experience Funkyfootstools can justifiably claim to be the leading UK manufacturer of footstools on the Internet. From the click of a browser customers can buy footstools, cubes and storage ottomans directly from a superbly designed and easy to navigate website.

All products are built in the UK to contract standard by experienced craftsmen who deliver exceptional quality as the norm. At the turn of the Millennium the online furniture industry was in its infancy. The older mail order businesses were experiencing difficult trading conditions and needed to find ways to adapt to the changing times offered by new technology. Funky Footstools entered the market place to manufacture and sell footstools, benchstools, tablestools, cubes, drumstools and storage ottomans offering sensibly priced products with quick delivery.

From humble beginnings the business worked out of a back bedroom at first. Some of the founders of the business had been in the textile industry, others in home furnishings and furniture manufacturing. The originators decided to "live the dream" and start their own business on the net.

It was tough at first but the business began to find its way with help from partner suppliers. Today it has its own dedicated factory in Yorkshire where each piece is hand built by skilled craftsmen to individual customer requirements.

Funky Footstools have made their fair share of mistakes throughout the years but have always managed to take stock, learn from their mistakes getting back stronger each time. As the business struggled to grow it saw the opportunities to help people make their homes better places to live through easy and dedicated access to buying footstool furniture online. And ten years later Funky Footstools are well on their way to becoming the first choice for UK footstools furniture.

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.

Bedroom Ottomans

Your bedroom is the last place most of your visitors will see however it is your sanctuary and place of calm after you have shed the last vestiges of your day. When you need peace and quiet your bedroom should be the place to encourage rest and placidity where you can reflect upon the triumphs and challenges of your life. Your focus should be on comfort, order and function so that nothing can disrupt your need for sleep and relaxation. So what better than making an investment in an ottoman, altogether an essential piece of your bedroom furniture.


According to the Encyclopaedia of Furniture by Joseph Aronson, an ottoman is defined as an “upholstered seat or bench having neither backs nor arms, so named after the Turkish influence in the early 18th Century”. Many people will not know that back in the Nineteenth Century ottomans were used as backless chairs in Middle Eastern council chambers. The were also made popular in Europe after members of both Napoleon and Nelson's forces brought ottomans back from Egypt and the Ottoman controlled Eastern Mediterranean following the English victories over the French at the Battle of the Nile (1798). Ottomans and ornate footstool furniture entered the fine houses of Western Europe thereafter from the early days of the Nineteenth Century.

In your bedroom an ottoman adds a high degree of style especially when you select colours and textures to coordinate with your surroundings. Today comfort and softness are built in to the bedroom ottoman with rigid foam cushions and polyester wadding surrounding a hardwood frame. The upholstery choice is between fabric or leather with shade variations to suit. For those with a smaller budget an ottoman in faux leather is the perfect compromise. These are ideal for the bedrooms of children where surfaces can be easily wiped clean after a spillage. If your choice is a fabric upholstered ottoman then an easy care solution may be a stain protected fabric which similarly helps protect against grease and grime.

Those with bigger bedroom budgets should consider an ottoman upholstered in the finest leather. A choice of Capri, a semi aniline, grained leather from Italy conveys feelings of calm that are reflected in the subtle hues of this most sought after and exquisite material. By combining contemporary shades with softness of texture your bedroom is greatly enhanced by the addition of an ottoman upholstered in Capri leather.

Not only are ottomans fine pieces in their own right they are also functional and provide storage solutions. Bedroom wardrobes are traditionally where linen and clothing is stored however this constant logistical problem is solved by the clever internal storage solution within any ottoman. Beneath the opening lid is deceptive storage space for extra bedding, laundry and pillows. With easy access your bedroom ottoman is on hand to provide you with sheets, duvets and throws. Not only does it enhance the quality of your room, your bedroom ottoman effectively solves one of your major household storage issues - at a stroke!

New Year Footstools

So 2011 has arrived and we would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! We are all looking forward with relish to the opportunities ahead and in particular suggest that you consider a small investment in an invaluable piece of household furniture. So make this a good one and as our motto for January goes, "New Year, New Footstool!"

How about an investment in a small leather footstool? These are unobtrusive footrests, built by skilled craftsmen and will last for years if treated with care and respect. Using quality sourced leathers from a tannery in Italy our footstools are lovingly crafted by our team of time served upholsters. They are available from stock and make an ideal New Year present!

When the family descends in January where they are all going to be seated? A selection of hardwood frame Pouffes are a superb way to create additional household seating. Manufactured in our UK factory, pouffes and cubes are available in both fabric and leather selections. From as little as £75 a faux leather pouffe makes a fabulous gift at any time of the year.

When you need something upon which to rest a tray, or papers why not consider a tablestool? These splendid pieces are essentially supersized footstools which can be upholstered in either leather of fabric. They traditionally sit in front of your favourite sofa or chair, opposite a roaring fire and provide a Winter sanctuary of comfort and relaxation. People use tablestools as the centre piece of a room where they function as tables between the chairs and sofas.

Benchstools are also make great seating solutions. With an extensive choice of feet their most appropriate use is as a footrest for two to share however choosing a set of tall contemporary legs (giving a height of around fourteen inches from floor to top) provides an additional seating solution. Choosing castor feet enables you to move the benchstool with ease and a choice of ornate Queen Anne legs convey a feeling of genuine character.

And finally the perfect storage solution, an ottoman! These fantastic furniture pieces can be upholstered in either fabric or leather is ideal for storing all your favourite household items. An ottoman enhances any room by its presence providing functionality with elegance. They are available in a range of sizes to fit your bedroom (for the storage of bedding or laundry), living room or office. The cube storage ottoman is also a sturdy and practical seat. If you take on board the call "New Year, New Footstool" then you cannot make a better choice than an investment in an ottoman!

Along with prostitution the tanning of leather is one of the oldest professions on earth and approximately half of all footstools sold today are upholstered in leather. But where does the leather we use come from and what are the origins of this multimillion pound industry?
The origins of leather production can be traced back to the stone-ages. The first leather was created almost by accident by Neanderthal man. As the early hunter gatherers prepared their prey, the first part of the preparation was to skin the animal. They soon discarded the skin and not long after noticed that skins left in moist areas when combined with the foliage from leaves had exhibited certain characteristics. They lasted longer before they began to decay and retained their features longer than other skins. The plant extracts eventually became known as vegetable tanning and is still practiced today in a similar form. According to the Bible Simon the Tanner was plying his trade as long ago as 2000 years ago.

Leather making advanced slowly over the ages, with more modern refinement of chemicals slowly improving the quality of the leather produced by the early tanners. It wasn’t until the 19th century that more dramatic changes were introduced. In the mid 1850’s, Frederick Knapp presented his ideas on tanning with chromium sulphate. Chromium sulphate with its higher hydrothermal stability soon became a favourite of leather makers across the globe and is today the most popular product used in the tanning process.

Progress in the research and development of organic chemistry utilised in the chemical industry have seen much more rapid advances in the technology used in the leather making process, leading to much more advanced leather products. Various footstool ranges offer leathers finished to differing quality standards and specifications. Hard wearing leathers are most appropriate in the contract market whereas softer, more vibrant shades are upholstered to form pouffes, cubes or ottomans on offer to the general public. Customers agree that a leather footstool is an excellent household investment and will offer great use for many years.