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Ottoman

The ottoman is a commonly used piece of furniture in many homes. The term "ottoman" originated as a means of providing a support platform for elevation of the feet from the floor, thereby allowing a more relaxed position for leisure time as, for example, reading or watching television. This remains its primary use. Ottomans and coffee tables are typical features of the modern living room. The ottoman is useful as a support for the feet and legs of a person sitting in close proximity thereto. Ottomans are generally used to support the feet of the occupant of a nearby chair, on some occasions an ottoman may be used to support a seated occupant. To improve the comfort of the participants, separate ottomans or footstools may be provided which are associated with individual chairs and provide increased comfort, particularly for extended meetings. Additionally, such ottomans may be provided with storage areas for documents and the like. While originally intended to be used for a support for the legs of a seated person, they also are occasionally used as seats in and of themselves. The use of an ottoman by a seated occupant is particularly prevalent when the ottoman includes castors that enable it to be rolled to other parts of the room.

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