Choosing a new piece of furniture is not only about finding a fabric you love. It also needs to suit the way you use your room, the amount of storage you have and how much space is available.
Some homes need every piece of furniture to provide useful hidden storage. Others have plenty of cupboards but need a beautiful feature to bring the room together. You may be looking for a large coffee table ottoman for the centre of a living room, a compact stool that can move between rooms or a bench that provides extra seating at the end of a bed.
To make choosing a little easier, here is a guide to the different Homeleigh Designs furniture styles and the homes they suit best.
For a Large Footstool with Plenty of Storage
The Letchworth Storage Ottoman
The Letchworth is a great choice when you would love a generously sized footstool but also need to make the most of the space inside it.
Its lift up lid provides useful hidden storage for blankets, cushions, toys, books or anything else that tends to collect around the living room. When closed, it becomes a comfortable footstool and an upholstered focal point for the room.
The Letchworth works particularly well in homes where storage is limited, as it allows one piece of furniture to perform several jobs without making the room feel cluttered.
Choose the Letchworth when you are looking for:
• A large upholstered footstool
• Generous hidden storage
• A practical alternative to a traditional coffee table
• A piece that can sit in front of a sofa
• Somewhere to store blankets, cushions or everyday items
A bold patterned fabric can turn the Letchworth into a statement piece, while a plain velvet or neutral woven fabric will help it blend more quietly into the room.
For a Statement Footstool Without Storage
The Winton Footstool
When storage is not a priority and you would rather make the upholstery the main feature, the Winton is an ideal choice.
The Winton has a softer, more traditional upholstered footstool shape, finished with self piping around the centre. Without an internal storage compartment, the focus is entirely on its shape, proportions and fabric.
It works beautifully as a large footstool or coffee table ottoman in the centre of a living room. It is particularly suited to patterned fabrics, stripes and designs where careful pattern placement can really be appreciated.
Choose the Winton when you are looking for:
• A feature piece for your living room
• A large footstool without storage
• A softer alternative to a wooden coffee table
• A design that showcases a statement fabric
• A made to measure centrepiece for a larger room
The Winton is also a lovely option for homes that already have plenty of storage but need something special to bring the colours and patterns of the room together.
A tray can be placed on top when you would like to use it as a coffee table, then removed when it is time to put your feet up.
For a Practical Coffee Table with Hidden Storage
The Otley Storage Coffee Table Ottoman
The Otley is designed for the centre of the living room and combines the proportions of a coffee table with the softness of an upholstered footstool.
Its lift up lid provides discreet some storage while the broad upholstered top creates a generous surface for a tray, books or decorative accessories. It is a particularly useful choice for family living rooms where furniture needs to be both attractive and practical.
Choose the Otley when you are looking for:
• An upholstered coffee table
• Hidden living room storage
• A lower piece to sit in front of the sofa
• A softer and safer alternative to a hard edged coffee table
• A central piece that can be styled with a tray
The final height depends on the leg option selected, allowing the Otley to be adapted to suit the height of your sofa and the proportions of your room.
For a Versatile Stool That Can Move Around the Home
The Marlow Stool
The Marlow is one of the most versatile pieces in the collection.
Its compact round shape means it can be moved easily between rooms and brought out whenever an extra seat or footstool is needed. It can sit beside an armchair, underneath a dressing table, in a bedroom corner or in the living room as occasional seating.
The Marlow is available with or without storage, depending on whether you would prefer a fixed upholstered top or a lift off lid.
Choose the Marlow when you are looking for:
• A compact and versatile stool
• Extra occasional seating
• A dressing table stool
• A small footstool beside an armchair
• A piece that can easily move between rooms
• Optional hidden storage
The Marlow is particularly helpful in smaller homes because it does not need to remain in one fixed place. It can be used every day at a dressing table, then brought into the living room when guests visit.
For a Round Pouffe with Useful Storage
The Rowan Storage Pouffe
The Rowan combines a soft round shape with a practical internal storage compartment.
It is slightly more substantial in appearance than a small occasional stool, making it a lovely standalone pouffe for a living room, bedroom or reading corner. The rounded design also helps soften rooms containing lots of straight furniture, such as square sofas, cabinets and shelving.
Choose the Rowan when you are looking for:
• A round storage pouffe
• A compact footstool with hidden storage
• A softer shape for a living room or bedroom
• Occasional seating
• A practical piece for a smaller space
The Rowan works particularly well in plain velvets, bouclé fabrics and smaller scale patterns that can wrap naturally around its curved shape.
For Storage and Seating at the End of a Bed
The Montague Ottoman Bench
The Montague is well suited to spaces where you would like the elegance of a traditional upholstered bench.
Its bench proportions make it especially suitable for the end of a bed, although it can also work in a hallway, dressing room or living space. The lift up lid provides storage for bedding, throws, cushions, shoes or seasonal items.
Choose the Montague when you are looking for:
• An upholstered storage bench
• Seating at the end of a bed
• Additional bedroom storage
• A hallway bench
• A taller piece that is comfortable to sit on
In a bedroom, the Montague can be upholstered to coordinate with curtains, cushions or a headboard. In a hallway, a more durable fabric can create a useful place to sit while putting on shoes.
For a More Formal Upholstered Bench
The Alder Storage Bench
The Alder is a taller storage bench designed to provide both comfortable seating and a generous amount of hidden space.
Its taller height makes it useful as occasional seating, while its longer shape works naturally at the end of a bed, beneath a window or against a hallway wall.
Choose the Alder when you are looking for:
• A taller upholstered bench
• A more formal bedroom or hallway piece
• End of bed storage
• Additional seating
• A long furniture shape for an empty wall
• A design that can showcase a beautiful fabric
The Alder Bench can feel classic in a floral or traditional woven fabric, or more contemporary when upholstered in a bold plain velvet.
For a Dressing Table or Bedroom Corner
The Jesmond Stool
The Jesmond is a compact upholstered stool that works particularly well in bedrooms and dressing areas.
It provides a comfortable seat without taking up the space of a full chair and can be upholstered to coordinate with the rest of the room. It has a convenient lift-off lid with an interior storage compartment to help keep your room organised. When it is not being used at a dressing table, it can also work as occasional seating or a small footstool.
Choose the Jesmond when you are looking for:
• A dressing table stool
• Compact bedroom seating
• Additional storage
• A stool for a smaller space
• A piece to coordinate with bedroom fabrics
• Occasional seating that can be moved when needed
It is a simple way to introduce a favourite fabric into a bedroom without overwhelming the space.
For Soft Texture and Neutral Interiors
The Ashcombe Designs
The Ashcombe style is ideal for homes where texture is just as important as colour.
They work particularly well in bouclé and softly woven fabrics, creating a relaxed, tactile look that suits neutral, modern and Scandinavian inspired interiors.
Choose these designs when you are looking for:
• A soft and inviting upholstered finish
• A neutral piece with plenty of texture
• Furniture for a calm and contemporary interior
• A subtle alternative to a bold pattern
• A design that feels cosy without appearing overly traditional
Cream, sand, charcoal and warm neutral fabrics allow these pieces to sit comfortably alongside natural wood, soft paint colours and simple furnishings.
For a Bold and Colourful Feature
The Harlequin Ottoman
The Harlequin is for homes that are not afraid of colour.
Featuring contrasting velvet shades, it is designed to become a focal point rather than quietly disappearing into the room. It can bring together colours already used in cushions, artwork or curtains and is an effective way to make a neutral living room feel more personal.
Choose the Harlequin when you are looking for:
• A colourful statement ottoman
• Contrasting upholstery
• A playful and individual design
• A focal point for a neutral room
• A bespoke combination of colours
This style is especially effective when one colour connects with the sofa or walls and the contrasting shade introduces something unexpected.
For Pet Owners Who Need Practical Storage
The Lola Pet Den Storage Bench
The Lola combines a comfortable pet den with useful household storage and an upholstered bench top.
It is designed for homes where pet furniture needs to work with the rest of the interior rather than looking like a separate plastic bed, crate or exposed little tray. The enclosed compartment creates a cosy sleeping space, while the storage section can hold blankets, leads, toys and other pet essentials.
Choose the Lola when you are looking for:
• An upholstered pet bed that complements your home
• A cosy den for a dog or cat
• A hidden litter tray out of sight
• Storage for pet accessories
• A practical hallway or living room bench
• Furniture that performs several jobs in one
The pet compartment can be positioned on the left or right, helping the bench fit more naturally into your chosen space.
For a Round Statement Piece
The Belmont Pouffe
The Belmont is a lovely choice when you are drawn to a rounded upholstered shape but want the fabric and design to take centre stage.
It can be used as a footstool, occasional seat or decorative pouffe and is an easy way to introduce colour or pattern without committing to a much larger piece of furniture.
Choose the Belmont when you are looking for:
• A decorative round pouffe
• A compact statement piece
• Extra seating that does not dominate the room
• A way to introduce colour or pattern
• A soft addition to a bedroom or living room
It can sit beside a sofa, in a dressing area or in an unused corner that needs a little more character.
Which Style Is Best for a Small Home?
For a smaller home, look for furniture that can perform more than one job.
The Marlow is a useful option because it can move between rooms and provide a seat, footstool or dressing table stool. Choosing the storage version gives you somewhere to hide smaller items too.
The Rowan is another compact option when you would like a soft footstool with internal storage.
For living rooms that need a larger central piece, the Letchworth or Otley can replace both a footstool and coffee table while providing valuable hidden storage.
Finding the Right Piece for Your Home
The best choice is the piece that solves a practical need while still making you happy each time you walk into the room.
Choose the Letchworth when you need a generous footstool with useful storage. Choose the Winton when you have enough storage and would rather create a beautiful feature. Choose the Otley when you need a practical upholstered coffee table, or the Marlow when flexibility and easy movement are most important.
For bedroom and hallway seating, consider the Alder, Montague or Jesmond. For a round shape, explore the Rowan, Marlow or Belmont. Pet owners looking for something designed around both their home and their pet may find the Lola is the perfect solution.
Every Homeleigh Designs piece is handmade in our Dorset workshop and can be upholstered in a wide selection of fabrics. Bespoke sizes and customer supplied fabrics may also be available, allowing your furniture to be made specifically for your home.