Ottomans in the hallway: convenience and functionality

The entrance hall is the first room that we see when we come home. Therefore, it is very important that it is furnished exactly as we like, so that a good mood appears immediately after coming home. The ottomans in the hallway will help you with this: this is convenience and functionality, as well as simply an authentic piece of furniture worthy of any interior.

In order not to be mistaken in choosing an ottoman in the hallway, you need to carefully study each of its subspecies, decide on the material from which your pouf should be made, and, of course, familiarize yourself with the options that can be offered to you in the store.

One of the most popular types now, which, however, was widely used in antiquity, which makes it suitable for interiors in the style of antiquity - baroque, classicism, rococo or gothic. As a rule, it differs significantly in appearance from its "brothers", since it is a soft seat on forged legs. The main highlight of such designs is, of course, forging.

These patterns and curls of metal, stunning in their sophistication, attract the eyes of buyers to this day, and the soft "pot-bellied" cushions in place of the seats only complement the picture. Of course, such an item is not suitable for every interior, therefore, before you buy such a luxurious-looking pouf, take a few more rounds of your hallway. Regarding forged ottomans, there are several of the most commonly used designs.

• Forged pouf with a round cushion. As a rule, such poufs are voluminous and instantly eye-catching. They are comfortable to sit on and have an association with 19th century French aristocratic furniture.
• Forged pouf with a flat cushion of any shape. It resembles a chair, looks much less pretentious of its first "brother", but no less elegant. Due to its external and physical lightness, it is suitable for minimalist rooms. As a rule, it has thin legs, "slender" silhouette.

As a rule, in the case of poufs-boxes, poufs-chests or any other ottomans with compartments for storing something, it is wood that is used. It, one way or another, acts as a basis, a frame, and can be upholstered with fabric or leather.

Conventionally, there are several types of such poufs:

• Hard and very hard types of wood: larch, birch, oak, elm, ash and hornbeam, walnut, yew and boxwood.
• From soft woods: spruce, cedar, pine, aspen.
• Functional poufs, that is, combining several functions, for example, storage of furniture and a seating area.

Rattan is a type of liana - rattan palm. The main difference of this material from the classic wood is its "filling": the top layer is a strong bark, the middle layer is soft and porous, a hard core inside. It should also be understood that rattan furniture is wicker furniture, and this must be taken into account when buying a pouf, because this style is not suitable for all hallways. Can be artificial and natural.

So, artificial rattan has the name "polytang" and is highly resistant to fading and moisture, is easy to care for and is produced in a wide variety of colors (while natural rattan, although it is white in nature, is painted only in four classic colors - honey, cognac, coffee and olive). However, polirotang is not as durable as natural, therefore, a metal or wooden base is often used with it - a frame.Poufs made of natural natural rattan are, first of all, environmentally friendly. They last longer than conventional wooden furniture, are durable and hygroscopic, easy to clean and last about 20-25 years. It should be noted also the low weight of the entire structure.

Leather ottomans have been equally popular over the past decades. Made of genuine leather, eco-leather or leatherette, ottomans look presentable and stylish both in the hallway and in any other part of the apartment. Thanks to the developing field of design, they began to be decorated with various patterns (painted or embossed), dyed leather in various, even the most flashy colors, thus creating truly amazing pieces of furniture.

Customers can choose - the range is huge. Leather poufs are now considered the most demanded and popular, therefore they are produced in huge quantities. When choosing, it is very important to pay attention to the material from which they are made, therefore, leather ottomans can be subdivided into such categories.

Perhaps this is one of the most expensive options. The skin looks gorgeous, natural and very presentable - it has a soft sheen, elastic texture. It does not cause allergies, since the tanning process takes place using natural plant impregnations. This material is necessarily dyed with aniline dyes, therefore, when choosing furniture made of aniline, pay great attention to the quality of the coating: if the dyeing is done incorrectly, the leather will quickly fade.

It is this type of leather that is inherent in antique design - both artificial and caused directly by the age of the material, because it ages very beautifully. It has a good relationship with water, but it is better not to leave aniline with it for a long time: if dirt or something else is mixed in with the water, the skin can accidentally absorb it, which will undoubtedly affect the cleaning process. Care, by the way, is not particularly difficult, but you will need to necessarily purchase a special product with a moisturizing effect, which will additionally clean the product from the very dirt and dust that can penetrate inside along with water. Easily gives in to scratches and other mechanical damage. Costs according to its appearance - quite expensive.

It costs less than its "brother", looks a little less natural, however, has increased strength. In general, it resists external influences very well. Perfect for hallways in high-traffic apartments or reception areas in offices.

One of the elite materials, made from reindeer calf, short-tailed sheep hide, adult deer. It is extremely difficult to care for her, and if you have animals in your house, it is not recommended to buy products from this material. Suede very easily attracts dirt, be it dust or wool, and you have to clean it almost every day. Of course, thanks to modern production, now this process has become much easier - even in production, the material is treated with special solutions, and in everyday life you can buy their small counterparts for the care of poufs. Suede looks very presentable, and if you understand how to care for it, it fully justifies its price.

Perhaps one of the most inexpensive and at the same time durable options. This is a really hardy and durable material that is not sensitive to abrasion and temperature changes. Formulated with cotton and vinyl for a leather-like texture. Eco-leather poufs also do not absorb liquids, water, allow air to pass through, do not heat up, creating a greenhouse effect. Keeps warm in the cold and cool in the heat. It is considered an environmentally friendly material, it is convenient to take care of it, and the color range is striking.

It is very important to distinguish between eco-leather and artificial leather - these are two completely different materials with completely different characteristics. So, leatherette is made of PVC and is a film that is applied to a fabric or knitted base. Leatherette has quite good characteristics, it is durable and resistant to environmental influences, but it cannot be called environmentally friendly and breathable. Resistant to deformation, but prone to scratches, bleach, mildew, sunlight and abrasions.

Leatherette poufs will last a long time. This is, so to speak, the "oak version". However, there are also disadvantages here. After several years of service, leatherette will begin to let water through a little. Few people know, but poufs made of this material should not be placed next to heating devices, batteries or stoves - when PVC is heated, the release of volatile dioxin begins, the presence of which in living quarters is very undesirable. Leather poufs can be found in the form of cubes or squares, less often - cylinders or asymmetric designs.

The box-shaped pouf differs in that it has a soft folding top, and inside there is an empty space that can be filled with anything. As a rule, such a design has the form of a cube or rectangle and is somewhat similar to a curbstone or chest. The chest poufs also have a top lid.

The ottoman can rightfully be called one of the most functional - it combines, unlike the others, as many as three properties: it can be used as a table due to its flat surface, as a place to sit and, surprisingly, as a full-fledged bedside table. Under the seat of such a pouf, there are shelves in a row on which books and sundries can be placed, and they are often combined with another additional compartment with a door. This pouf is perhaps the most complete of the “brothers”.

In general, puffs often take on some additional role, and they are not limited to storing things. For example, there are designs that combine a pouf and a hanger. They are sold as a single piece, most often forged, and are inseparable from each other. They just need to be supplemented with baskets (wicker or from the same rattan), pillows, and put the right clothes on the hanger, and then they will play with all their beauty.

The corner pouf has a triangle design. It is very convenient if there is not much space in the hallway, but a seat is definitely needed, and it is often placed against the wall in the corner, which makes it possible to use all the free space as conveniently as possible. The seat, by the way, is often folding, and some things can be stored inside the pouf.

Elongated pouf-benches will allow several people to sit on them, which is especially important for families with children or homes that often host children. As a rule, such a bench has drawers or pull-out shelves inside, which is also convenient for storing shoes. There are also ottoman chairs - as a rule, they are a rectangular or square soft base with a back that you can lean back on. They are really comfortable, especially if you have to sit on the pouf for more than a few minutes. As a rule, such a structure is upholstered in leather and resembles really small armchairs without armrests. Puffs-chairs with a semicircular back look very original. The same applies to miniature poufs with high legs - they resemble bar stools, but not so high and quite versatile, they are also suitable for the hallway.

Separate mention is made of ottoman-couches. They are very similar to ordinary elongated poufs, but, as a rule, they do not have any hidden compartment - they are a long, soft seat with medium legs. Maximum - under the seat there can be an additional shelf for shoes or other items. Poufs-couches can be both forged and wooden or leather.However, they often win because of the upholstery: it can be very diverse, from plain knitted compositions to complex velvet or suede fabrics with colorful patterns.

The most classic form of a pouf is considered to be a cube - a square with the same sides. However, production and design do not stand still, so now you can find a huge number of geometric poufs. Of these, it is worth highlighting a cylinder or a half-cylinder, a truncated cone (a cone without a top, with a round base, "cut in the middle"), a trapezoid, a circle - meaning a pouf with round bases and rounded sides, and a ball - a shapeless product.

The ottoman can be either long and elongated, narrow, or wide, "pot-bellied", in the form of a rook, unusual triangular or original semicircular. Modern production gives us a huge scope for choice. Also, when choosing the shape of the pouf, it is important to consider that it can be on legs or with a solid bottom. Unexpectedly, there is such a thing - puffs in the form of any objects or animals, for example, a rose flower or a hippopotamus. They are just gaining popularity, and, of course, children are the first to look at them.

The classic size for the seat of an ottoman can be considered 30x30 cm or 25x25 cm. This, as a rule, is enough for one person - in order to take off his shoes or sit "on the path". Of course, to store any things inside or on top, you will need a larger pouf, and here you need to take into account not the seat area, but the height and width of the product itself. Small ottomans, suitable for storing one or two pairs of shoes, should be from 50 cm in height and width.Large chests designed for storing more bulky items or acting as a box for rarely used gizmos, usually about 70x70 cm in size. also depends on the shape of the ottoman.

In fact, the ottoman is the most versatile piece of furniture. Depending on your desire, virtually any pouf can be used in several different ways at different periods of time, and sometimes even at the same time. So, for example, a widespread option is using a pouf as an additional seat, which is especially important in hallways, because there is not enough space there.

You can sit on it to take off your shoes, or temporarily throw a hat - which, by the way, perfectly illustrates an example of the versatility of using this piece of furniture. Poufs can also serve you as a drawer or shelf for storing something permanent, for example, shoes or scarves, which is equally important in a limited hallway space. As an extra shelf, a pouf does not cease to be a good place to sit.

Puffs are often used as a bedside table. It is especially popular to install it near the mirror, so that while putting yourself in order you do not have to run from room to room. This is especially true for women who use makeup. Having carefully folded everything you need on a pouf, you can calmly put yourself in order.

In fact, the color of the pouf you get for your home depends solely on your color preferences and on the color scheme and temperature of the hallway. Color temperature is generally a very important thing, allowing you to competently combine seemingly incompatible colors. Black and white are neutral colors by default, they can be combined with any others.

Cold shades are classically considered to be blue, green, purple, but this is not completely true. If warm red notes are visible in purple, it means that it is already warm; but if it gives off as ice, then it is cold. It's the same with the typically warm shades of red and yellow. Yellow, which is closer to light green, can be attributed to the representatives of the cold range, but red with fiery notes is already warm.Thus, it is easy to guess that warm purple will look better with fiery red than with cold yellow, and vice versa. This is very important, since recently the design of rooms in rather extraordinary shades or the presence of a bright accent in the room has been gaining popularity.

Puffs and furniture in general of light shades are considered to be a dubious option for the hallway. This is partly due to the high pollution of this room and the frequent contact of furniture with shoes, however, if you have a great desire to purchase a white or pastel pouf, then you should not abandon the idea. The main thing is to be prepared in advance for the fact that you will have to take special care of him. The most popular are beige and light gray shades.

The choice of a pouf for the corridor, in fact, does not differ from the choice of it in the nursery or any other room - the patterns are the same. First of all, decide on the size of the pouf: it should not take up much space and ideally fit into your niche in the hallway. To do this, measure this very niche in advance with a tape measure or a centimeter and go with your measurements to the store. Think about whether you want a movable pouf or not. The advantages of the first, undoubtedly, in the ability to easily change "place of residence", but perhaps you just do not need it. This piece of furniture can be moved with the help of castors or castors.

Be sure to pay attention to the seams - high-quality furniture should not only be glued with a special tool, but the seams on it should not be noticeable either. Eye-catching irregularities, scuffs, including torn seams and coarse threads, distinguish low-quality furniture against the background of others.

Choose an ottoman relative to the covering that you have in the hallway. So, for example, you cannot put weights on the laminate, so rattan light poufs or any poufs with a flat bottom would be ideal for it, so that the legs do not leave dents. For tiles, due to its rather slippery surface, poufs with heavy metal legs or rollers that could scratch it are not recommended. For carpets and carpets, in principle, any pouf design is suitable, however, rigid metal rollers should also be avoided. But for linoleum and boards, the choice is not limited.

If the choice of a pouf seems too difficult for you, remember that you can always make it yourself, for example, from wood, and then upholster it with foam rubber and fabric. Surely it will turn out no worse than in the case of a purchased designer product.

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