Footstools & ottomans

Choosing the right footstool or ottoman

A footstool or ottoman does more than provide somewhere to rest your feet. Placed at the centre of a seating arrangement, it anchors the room and adds an opportunity to introduce fabric, texture, and personality that a coffee table may not match. As our design director Fred notes, an upholstered footstool is one of the most effective ways to bring pattern and warmth into a living room without committing to a larger piece.

Neptune's collection spans three distinct approaches. For those who want a footstool that doubles as a practical surface, the Arthur's tufted top and crisp tailoring work equally well as a coffee table alternative, with the large format offering generous space to display books and objects. The Milo takes a similar approach in a contemporary circular form, softening the straight lines of architecture and furniture around it. The Ophelia goes further still, concealing two solid oak trays beneath its cushioned frame that lift out to create a surface for drinks, display, or board games: a footstool that genuinely earns its place at the centre of the room.

For simpler footstool use beside a sofa or armchair, the Rupert offers a modern silhouette versatile enough to work as a bench, while the Long Island's removable loose linen slipcover and kick-pleated skirt bring the same Belgian-inspired relaxed character as the Long Island armchair and sofa. The Alex stands apart as the only solid oak footstool in the collection, its cross-legged Curule-inspired silhouette allowing the fine joinery of the timber to take centre stage.

For bedroom use or hallway storage, the Eloise ottoman's pared-back design and recessed hinges provide a discreet storage solution that suits the end of a bed, beneath a window, or in a hallway. The Montague Lloyd Loom blanket box takes a different approach, its woven exterior and painted tulipwood framework offering storage with the character of a standalone piece.

Upholstered with care, built to last

Neptune's footstools and ottomans are built on natural timber frames throughout, with no MDF or chipboard in the construction. The Ophelia and Alex both use solid oak, while the wider collection is built on tulipwood frames chosen for their structural reliability and smooth surface. The designs are expertly upholstered using traditional joinery techniques, with each piece built to hold its form and character through years of daily use rather than softening over time.

The fabric range spans natural linens, Harris Tweed, cotton velvet, leather, and boucle, with most designs offering a broad choice across the collection. Each fabric has been chosen for how it performs on upholstered furniture as well as how it looks. Every footstool and ottoman in the collection carries Neptune's lifetime guarantee, reflecting the same founding commitment to solid materials and considered construction that runs through the wider furniture range.