How to Style an Ottoman in a Small Indian Living Room

A small living room punishes bulky furniture. A centre table takes floor space and gives nothing back; a second sofa blocks the walkway. An ottoman is different: it sits low, moves easily and changes its job depending on the day. Here are seven ways to style one, with the colour pairings that work for the sofas most Indian homes actually own.

1. Replace the centre table

Put a framed ottoman chair where the coffee table would go, and set a wooden tray on top for the remote, a candle and a chai cup. When guests arrive, lift the tray and you have a seat. Velvet in a deep colour such as the bottle green ottoman chair hides the odd tea ring far better than glass.

2. Two stools instead of one big piece

Two square ottoman stools side by side make a bench, and split into two seats when the family grows for a function. They also tuck under a console when you need the floor clear. Match them, or pair a solid with a print: the cream velvet stool with the Jaipuri print stool is a combination we use often.

3. The window seat

A single ottoman stool under a window, with a cushion behind it against the grill, becomes the most fought-over seat in the house. Choose a print or a colour that picks up the curtain, and legs that match the window frame.

4. Anchor a reading corner

An accent chair plus an ottoman stool in front of it is a classic pairing, and it takes only about 3 by 3 feet. Keep the two in the same fabric family so the corner reads as one piece. See the accent chair range and match a stool in the same velvet.

5. Colour pairings for common Indian sofas

• Beige or cream sofa: bottle green, mustard, rust or maroon velvet. Any of these becomes the focal point.
• Grey sofa: blush pink, mauve or peacock blue. Warm colours stop grey from looking cold.
• Brown leather or teak-framed sofa: olive green, camel or a Chanderi print; avoid black.
• Printed or floral sofa: one solid ottoman in the darkest colour from the print.

6. Mind the legs and the floor

In a small room the floor is part of the design. Legs lift the ottoman so you see floor under it, which makes the room feel bigger than a piece that sits flat. Golden metal legs bounce light around; wooden legs feel grounded. Whichever you choose, the fabric stays dry when the floor is mopped.

7. Keep the scale honest

In a 10 by 12 room, one ottoman chair (about 60 by 60 cm) or two stools (about 40 by 40 cm each) is enough. More than that and the walkway disappears. Leave at least 45 cm between the ottoman and the sofa so knees and feet have room.

One rule to remember

Buy the ottoman in the colour you wish your sofa was. The sofa is the biggest, safest choice in the room; the ottoman is where the personality goes.