Uses for Footstools

The footstool started out as something practical, but over the years it has evolved into something simply "decor". For centuries, the theme of footstools seemed pretty consistent: small, made of wood, used as a foot-propper or a stair-stepper. The footstool is emerging as a separate class of furniture in its own right. It can now be used as something to sit on, place something on, hide something in, or as a decor piece for an entire room.

The very earliest examples of footstools in history were used to allow Egyptian nobles to ascend their thrones. Traditional Egyptian chairs were built large and tall to convey feelings of authority and power over all in attendance. Small wooden footstools were the vehicles whereby even the smallest Egyptian could look down upon the masses. Moving on from the Egyptians when the early tradesmen had to cross vast distances of desert they were required to carry not only their wares but also their homes. Consequently flexible, portable storage was an important consideration. After the heat of the day the evenings for these traders were for a time of relation and sustenance. This was when the lightweight storage boxes and ottomans were unpacked. Some were used to store expensive silks, others contained spices and figs. They now also had the use of a ready made footstool ottoman, many of which were decorated in intensely coloured fabric piled with cushions.

The simple idea of a footstool / ottoman as a storage device became popular with the Victorians who used such items for storing laundry and bed linens. Many families saw the value of the ottoman as a storage tool and many thousands were sold between the wars. After the Second World War storage footstools became “utility furniture” pieces and were assembled inexpensively and at a high speed.

Footstools have recently been adapted in their use as bench stools, table stools and seating cubes as discerning customers demand greater adaptability from their furniture. One bed room studio apartments do not contain the space of larger houses. Through necessity individuals have to be more inventive with their uses of space. A well designed storage unit from Foostools2u allows for the space saving features so important in 21st Century living.