Living Room Ottoman Eclectic Furniture Decor Ideas

A living room ottoman is more than just a place to kick up your feet—it can be a coffee table, extra seating, or even a statement piece in your living space.

I recently added a large, slip-covered ottoman from Four Seasons Furniture to our home, a brand I swear by for its universal furniture appeal and easy-to-wash fabric.

I chose crisp white for a bright, timeless look, layering it with a blanket and sheepskin rugs for that cozy, eclectic charm. The best part?

If I ever want a change, I can swap out the slipcover—no need to replace the whole piece!

All Things Ottoman

The Perfect Piece for Any Living Room Space

Can Ottomans be used in a living room?

A living room ottoman is one of the most versatile furniture pieces you can add to your home. Whether you’re styling a large ottoman as a coffee table, incorporating a small ottoman for additional seating, or using a storage ottoman to keep things tidy, these pieces bring both function and charm to any space.

Versatile Piece

Ottomans aren’t just for the living room—they make a great choice for a sunroom, bedroom, or even at the foot of a bed. A cocktail ottoman serves as the perfect perch for a vintage tray, while leather ottomans add a touch of sophistication. Love the layered look? Drape a sheepskin rug over an oversized ottoman or place one beneath it for extra texture.

And let’s talk customization—accent ottomans can be styled in endless ways! Opt for a custom slipcover to change up your décor or DIY one from a thrifted ottoman. Mix in different patterns for a playful touch, and top it off with a vintage bowl or tray to pull everything together.

In the next section, I’ll share ideas on how to layer, style, and decorate your ottoman to make it a standout piece in your home!

17 Stylish Types of Ottomans to Consider for Your Living Room

From classic leather styles to playful poufs and clever storage options, here are 17 stylish types of ottomans to consider for bringing comfort, charm, and function into your home:

Interior Design Tips: Styling a Living Room Ottoman

Living Room Ottoman Coffee Table

How do I make my ottoman a feature in my living room?

A living room ottoman coffee table can be stylish and functional, offering the perfect balance of practicality and charm. Whether creating a cozy setup for board games, adding a touch of elegance with vintage books, or curating a layered look with a decorative tray, the right styling transforms an ottoman into the centerpiece of your space.

How to Style a Living Room Ottoman with Ease

Styling a living room ottoman is more than just decorating—it’s about creating a whole experience that blends comfort, function, and personal style. Whether you’re working with a round ottoman, a cozy cocktail ottoman, or a vintage square piece, simple styling touches can make it the star of your space. From layered trays to playful board games and charming bowls, here are a few creative ideas to inspire your own unique look.

What’s in Your Ottoman Bowl? Style It Your Way

A decorative bowl on a living room ottoman coffee table is the perfect way to add personality and texture to your space—whether you’re styling small ottomans, a square ottoman, or something more significant. I styled my recent Goodwill red wooden bowl find with an assortment of vintage books, a spring bouquet, and colorful spring magazines for a layered, casual look that’s easy to change with the seasons.

What would you put in your living room ottoman bowl?

Game Night Ready: Styling Your Ottoman for Fun

Decorating board games or cards on a living room ottoman adds both charm and function to your space. A magnetic chessboard or card set placed on a flat surface—like our white slipcovered living room ottoman—creates a stylish setup that’s ready for play without the mess.

Storage ottomans make it easy to tuck everything away when the game is over, turning your ottoman into part of the experience of lounging, entertaining, and everyday living.

Layer on the Softness with Sheepskin

Draping a sheepskin rug over your ottoman is one of the easiest ways to add instant coziness while protecting the fabric underneath—especially if your ottoman is white like ours.

It’s perfect for spring: still warm and plush for chilly days but light and bright enough to feel fresh and seasonal. Whether you’re kicking your feet up, serving snacks, or setting up for game night, sheepskin has your ottoman covered—literally!

Shop cozy sheepskins

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Tray Chic: Decorating with Trays on a Living Room Ottoman

Trays are a simple yet stylish way to anchor your decor on a living room ottoman, keeping everything feeling intentional and tidy. Whether it’s a vintage find or a seasonal favorite, a well-styled tray adds charm and function and is a perfect spot for playful touches.

Ottoman trays are so important that I felt they needed their own living room ottoman section.

Shop Eclectic Ottoman Trays

10 Effortless Ottoman Tray Styling Ideas That Really Work

In the progress photos, you’ll see how I styled my living room ottoman for spring with a mix of vintage charm and personal touches—starting with a blue and white transferware platter layered on top of the soft white sheepskin rug.

I added two blue McCoy vases I recently found in Maine, filled them with blue and white hydrangeas, and tied a bundle of old paintbrushes (a quirky Vintage Market Days Vermont find!) with a bow for an eclectic and personal pop of color that feels just right for the season.

The soft white tulips tie in beautifully with our new white ottoman and cozy sheepskins, giving the whole setup an eclectic, layered look that feels fresh and collected.

Shop Vintage Style Living Room Ottomans

Styling with Coffee Table Books: Layered Looks for an Eclectic Vintage Home

Coffee table books are more than just reading material—they’re personal design statements, layered stories, and beautiful conversation-starters.

Whether you collect vintage hardcovers from flea markets or curated design tomes from local shops, styling with coffee table books adds instant depth and personality to your living room.

I love hunting for regional gems—like old Vermont guides and antique travel books—which connect our space to the place we call home. For this look, I layered a few well-worn Vermont volumes atop our sheepskin throw on our newly slipcovered ottoman.

Try stacking books by color, theme, or even texture, mixing them with a small object, candle, or seasonal floral stem for an inviting focal point.

Don’t limit yourself to just design books either—coffee table cookbooks, travel journals, or artist monographs are perfect for reflecting your unique interests.

Think of your ottoman or table surface like a curated shelf—one that tells a story in layers.

Room ottomans are one of the most versatile and stylish pieces you can add to your living space—they’re functional, cozy, and full of personality.

From choosing among 17 stylish types to making your ottoman a true focal point with trays, bowls, flowers, board games, and even decorative pillows, there are so many ways to style it beautifully.

So tell me—are you team coffee table, team ottoman, or, like me, happily team both?

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