Storage Ottomans: Which Shape Fits a Small Living Room
For a small living room, a cube ottoman about the size of a footstool adds a seat and hides a throw or games, and many fold flat for a move. A round ottoman with a tray lid doubles as a side table. A long storage bench fits the foot of a bed or a wall. For spare bedding you rarely need, a pouf cover you fill yourself turns it into a floor cushion.
By Tess Mullins · Updated
Which one fits your room?
| If you have | Look at | Deposit Risk |
|---|---|---|
| A footrest or a spare seat beside a chair | Small cube ottomans | Low |
| A spot next to the sofa for your feet or a drink | Round ottomans | Low |
| The foot of a bed or a wall in the living room | Storage benches | Low |
| Spare bedding or out-of-season clothes you rarely need | Pouf covers you fill | Low |
Small cube ottomans
Good for: A footrest or a spare seat beside a chair
- Deposit Risk: Low
- Landlord Permission: Not usually needed
- Take It With You: Yes
A padded cube with storage inside: a footrest, a spare seat and a box for a throw, games or chargers. The examples here fold flat when you don't need them.
Check before you buy
Check the weight rating if it'll be a seat and not just a footrest, and its height against your chair or sofa. If you move often, look for one the maker says folds flat.
At move-out
Empty it and fold it flat, or carry it out whole. Nothing is attached to the apartment, and it goes with you.
Examples on Amazon
SONGMICS MAZIE 15 Inch Storage Ottoman
Faux leather cube that folds flat
- Fits
- 15 in on each side; about 11 gallons inside
- Holds
- Up to 660 lb
- Synthetic leather over MDF panels; wipe with a cloth
- Sets up by inserting the bottom panel
A footstool-size cube that wipes clean and folds flat when you don't need it, which suits a dorm or a first apartment.
See it on Amazon: SONGMICS MAZIE 15 Inch Storage OttomanAmasSmile 17 Inch Folding Storage Ottoman
Faux leather ottoman with a foam-padded top that folds flat
- Fits
- 17 in long, 13 in wide and 13 in tall; about 38 liters inside; folds to 1.6 in
- Holds
- Up to 300 lb, per the listing's title
- Faux leather over an engineered wood base
Lower and narrower than a cube, so it slides beside a chair or under a desk. Folded, it's thin enough to slip under a bed.
See it on Amazon: AmasSmile 17 Inch Folding Storage Ottoman
Round ottomans
Good for: A spot next to the sofa for your feet or a drink
- Deposit Risk: Low
- Landlord Permission: Not usually needed
- Take It With You: Yes
A round ottoman softens a room full of square furniture. Many have a lid that flips over into a tray, so it works as a side table as well as a footrest.
Check before you buy
Check the width against the gap beside the sofa, and whether the lid flips into a tray if you want one. Legs can mark a wood floor, so add felt pads where there are none.
At move-out
Empty it and carry it out, or stack a set together. Nothing is attached to the apartment, and it goes with you.
Examples on Amazon
Amazon Basics Round Storage Ottoman
Button-tufted round ottoman on wood legs
- Fits
- 20 in across and 17 in tall
- Holds
- Up to 300 lb
- Linen-look fabric; dry clean only
- Wood frame and tapered legs
A classic tufted footstool with storage inside. The fabric is dry clean only, so keep drinks on a tray, not on the top.
See it on Amazon: Amazon Basics Round Storage OttomanCOLAMY Round Storage Ottoman with Reversible Tray Lid
Fabric ottoman with a lid that flips into a tray
- Fits
- 25 in across and 15 in tall; about 31 gallons inside
- Holds
- Up to 250 lb
- Polyester fabric over an engineered wood frame
The widest of the round examples, with a tray big enough to stand in for a small coffee table. Its rating is the lowest here, so it's better as a footrest and table than as an everyday seat.
See it on Amazon: COLAMY Round Storage Ottoman with Reversible Tray LidRoyal Windsor Round Storage Ottomans, Set of 2
Two velvet ottomans with reversible tops
- Fits
- 15.4 in across and 17.7 in tall, and 12.6 in across and 14.6 in tall; they stack together
- Holds
- Up to 300 lb (the listing doesn't say whether for each one)
- Non-slip silicone pads underneath
- No assembly needed
Two small ottomans that stack, so you can pull out a second seat or side table for guests and put it away after.
See it on Amazon: Royal Windsor Round Storage Ottomans, Set of 2
Storage benches
Good for: The foot of a bed or a wall in the living room
- Deposit Risk: Low
- Landlord Permission: Not usually needed
- Take It With You: Yes
A long, low box with a padded top that seats two and holds blankets, shoes or seasonal things. The examples here fold flat and come with dividers.
Check before you buy
Measure the depth as well as the length: in a small room, the walkway in front of it matters most. Check the rating if two people will sit on it.
At move-out
Empty it and fold it flat for the move. Nothing is attached to the apartment, and it goes with you.
Examples on Amazon
SONGMICS 43 Inch Folding Storage Ottoman Bench
Folding bench with a removable divider
- Fits
- 43 in long, 15 in deep and 15 in tall
- Holds
- Up to 660 lb
- Linen-look fabric over MDF panels; wipe with a damp cloth
- Metal corner guards on the lid
- Sets up by inserting the bottom panel
Long enough to seat two at the foot of a bed or along a wall, and it folds flat for a move. The listing gives three different storage volumes, so go by the outside size.
See it on Amazon: SONGMICS 43 Inch Folding Storage Ottoman BenchB FSOBEIIALEO 43.3 Inch Oval Storage Ottoman Bench
Folding oval bench with two removable dividers
- Fits
- 43.3 in long, 15 in deep and 15 in tall; about 110 liters inside
- Holds
- Up to 330 lb
- Plush cream fabric over MDF; wipe with a damp cloth
Rounded ends and a soft, light fabric for a bedroom or a cozy corner. The listing calls the fabric sherpa, teddy and boucle in different places.
See it on Amazon: B FSOBEIIALEO 43.3 Inch Oval Storage Ottoman Bench
Pouf covers you fill
Good for: Spare bedding or out-of-season clothes you rarely need
- Deposit Risk: Low
- Landlord Permission: Not usually needed
- Take It With You: Yes
A pouf cover ships empty and zips closed once you've filled it with spare blankets, pillows or clothes, so they turn into a floor cushion or a footrest.
Check before you buy
It's storage for things you rarely need: getting them out means unzipping and unstuffing it. Fill it firmly so it keeps its shape, and follow the maker's list of what not to put inside.
At move-out
Unzip it, take the bedding out and pack the cover flat. Nothing is attached to the apartment, and it goes with you.
An example on Amazon
Thgonwid Unstuffed Moroccan Pouf Cover
Faux leather pouf cover with a zipper, unstuffed
- Fits
- 21 in across and 13 in tall; about 2.6 to 2.8 cu ft inside
- Holds
- Not listed
- Faux leather; wipe with a damp cloth
It ships empty: the maker suggests throw blankets, pillows or seasonal clothes as filling, and says not to fill it with small, loose items.
See it on Amazon: Thgonwid Unstuffed Moroccan Pouf Cover
Compare them side by side
Every size and rating is the maker's own. Swipe sideways on a phone to see every column.
| Product | Kind | Fits | Holds | Deposit Risk | Permission | Take it with you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SONGMICS MAZIE 15 Inch Storage Ottoman | Small cube ottomans | 15 in on each side; about 11 gallons inside | Up to 660 lb | Low | Not usually needed | Yes |
| AmasSmile 17 Inch Folding Storage Ottoman | Small cube ottomans | 17 in long, 13 in wide and 13 in tall; about 38 liters inside; folds to 1.6 in | Up to 300 lb, per the listing's title | Low | Not usually needed | Yes |
| Amazon Basics Round Storage Ottoman | Round ottomans | 20 in across and 17 in tall | Up to 300 lb | Low | Not usually needed | Yes |
| COLAMY Round Storage Ottoman with Reversible Tray Lid | Round ottomans | 25 in across and 15 in tall; about 31 gallons inside | Up to 250 lb | Low | Not usually needed | Yes |
| Royal Windsor Round Storage Ottomans, Set of 2 | Round ottomans | 15.4 in across and 17.7 in tall, and 12.6 in across and 14.6 in tall; they stack together | Up to 300 lb (the listing doesn't say whether for each one) | Low | Not usually needed | Yes |
| SONGMICS 43 Inch Folding Storage Ottoman Bench | Storage benches | 43 in long, 15 in deep and 15 in tall | Up to 660 lb | Low | Not usually needed | Yes |
| B FSOBEIIALEO 43.3 Inch Oval Storage Ottoman Bench | Storage benches | 43.3 in long, 15 in deep and 15 in tall; about 110 liters inside | Up to 330 lb | Low | Not usually needed | Yes |
| Thgonwid Unstuffed Moroccan Pouf Cover | Pouf covers you fill | 21 in across and 13 in tall; about 2.6 to 2.8 cu ft inside | Not listed | Low | Not usually needed | Yes |
Before you buy
Measure the floor first. Mark the ottoman’s outside size on the floor with painter’s tape and walk around it. In a small room, the walkway matters more than an inch of storage, and a bench needs its full length plus room for your knees in front of it.
Match the rating to how you’ll use it. A footrest needs little, but a seat for guests needs a rating that covers an adult, and a bench may seat two. Every example lists its maker’s rating where there is one.
Check how it sets up and packs down. The folding examples here go together by setting the bottom board in place, and fold flat again for a move. Ottomans on legs are sturdier but don’t fold, so measure doors and stairs before a bigger one arrives.
Pick a fabric you can clean. Faux leather wipes clean, while linen-look fabric and velvet need more care, and some are dry clean only. Read the care label in the listing before you buy for a room with kids, pets or drinks.
At move-out
Empty it first, then fold it flat or carry it out whole: nothing is attached to the apartment. If it has legs, look at the floor where they stood, and use felt pads under them in the next place.
Before a bigger piece arrives, measure the doors and the turn into your room. The will it fit calculator checks furniture against doorways, hallways and elevators, and the rug size calculator helps plan the layout around the sofa.
Storing more blankets than an ottoman holds? Vacuum storage bags shrink bedding and off-season clothes for a shelf or under the bed, and an over-the-door organizer adds storage on the back of a door. For shoes by the door, the shoe storage guide compares racks, boxes and slim cabinets, and in a studio, a room divider splits the sleeping corner from the seating area.
How we chose the examples
- Stores things inside and works as a footrest or a seat, so one piece does two jobs in a small room.
- Dimensions and a weight rating published by the maker, so you can check the fit and how you'll use it.
- A mix of shapes and sizes: cubes, rounds, benches and a pouf, in fabric, faux leather and velvet.
- Easy to move: folds flat, stacks or is light enough to carry.
Each kind shows three badges: Deposit Risk, whether you'll usually need Landlord Permission, and whether you can Take It With You. They're general guidance, and leases differ, so check yours. We describe products from the makers' own specs and instructions. Unless this page says otherwise, we haven't tested them ourselves.
The links to Amazon are plain links: we earn nothing when you buy, and no brand pays to be here.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can a storage ottoman hold?
It depends on the model, and each example here shows its maker's rating. Use one as a seat only if the rating allows it, and don't stand on it to reach a shelf.
Do storage ottomans fold flat?
Many do: the sides fold once you lift out the bottom board, which helps when you move or need the floor back. Ottomans with a wood frame and legs don't fold, and each example says which kind it is.
What size storage ottoman fits a small living room?
Leave a clear walkway around it, and match its height to your sofa seat if it'll be a footrest. A footstool-size cube or a small round ottoman suits a tight corner; a long bench needs a free wall or the foot of a bed.
Can a storage ottoman be a coffee table?
A firm one with a flat top can, with a tray for drinks. A round ottoman whose lid flips into a tray does the job on its own. Soft, button-tufted tops aren't steady enough for a full cup.
How do you clean a storage ottoman?
Follow the maker's care label. Faux leather usually wipes clean with a cloth, while some fabrics are dry clean only, and each example here notes its material.
Next step
Rug Size CalculatorPick a room, sofa, bed or dining table and get the standard rug size that fits, using the spacing guidelines rug makers recommend.
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