I t’s the underappreciated living room staple that’s back in the limelight this autumn. Why? An ottoman can function as a coffee table, a place to display knick-knacks or a surface for a cheerfully clinking drinks tray — but crucially it is a comfortable place to rest the legs after a long day, far preferable to a sharp-edged glass table.

An upholstered footrest is a brilliant way to add textural and patterned fabrics to a living room. And many models offer storage. Ottomans were introduced in Europe in the late 18th century from Turkey, where they were traditionally arranged along walls and piled with cushions.

The modern design classic that springs to mind is the ottoman that accompanied Charles and Ray Eames’s lounge chair. Designed in

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