Footstools – comfort and style for your home
A footstool is far more than just a practical seat: it serves as a versatile storage solution, a footrest in front of an armchair, an extra seat for unexpected visitors and a design feature in your living space. In our range, you’ll find stools in various sizes, materials and shapes – from a small upholstered stool in the hallway to a generous velvet pouffe in front of the sofa. With this overview, we’d like to help you discover the right stool for you and show you what matters when it comes to selection, materials and intended use.
High-quality stools to suit every need
Anyone looking for a footstool often thinks first of a simple upholstered stool to place in front of the sofa. In fact, the range is much wider: from the classic stool with a solid wooden frame, through the soft pouffe, to the cube-shaped seat with clearly defined edges. Each variant has its own advantages—whether as additional seating, a comfortable spot to rest your feet, or a subtle design accent in the room.
At Möbel Ehrmann, we take great care in our curation: sturdy frames, high-quality upholstery fabrics and padding that retains its shape even after several years of use. The result is stools that are durable enough for everyday use whilst complementing the rest of your home décor. As a family-run business with over 30 years’ experience, we offer personalised and thorough advice – either in person at one of our showrooms or over the phone, as you prefer.
More than just a place to sit: stools with storage space
A stool with storage combines two functions in a single piece of furniture: a seat on top and storage inside. This is particularly useful in smaller rooms, where every bit of space should serve a dual purpose. The models with a hinged lid offer space for blankets, magazines, toys or remote controls. Anyone who values a tidy living room but doesn’t want to add an extra sideboard might be well advised to opt for a storage stool.
When making your selection, pay attention to two details: the weight capacity of the seat and the quality of the hinge. Stools with high-quality soft-close fittings open and close quietly, which makes them noticeably more pleasant to use in everyday life. Depending on the model, the interior offers a capacity of between 20 and 40 litres – enough to store an extra woollen blanket and a few cushions. This practical dual function makes the stool a quiet helper in the room.
A variety of materials – velvet, wood and more
The choice of material not only determines the look of your stool, but also how comfortable it is to sit on and how much care it requires. Sturdy woven fabrics are ideal for high-traffic living rooms, elegant velvet adds elegante a touch of luxury, and natural wood finishes create a calm, timeless character. Combinations are also popular: an upholstered seat on a slender wooden frame looks light yet cosy.
Velvet footstools
A velvet footstool adds a soft, slightly lustrous sheen to the room and harmonises particularly well with understated wall colours such as greige, sage or warm beige. Velvet upholstery looks inviting and conveys a certain air of elegance without being over the top. Regular, gentle maintenance is important: dust and fluff can be easily removed with a soft brush, brushing in the direction of the pile. Spilled liquids should be dabbed up immediately, rather than rubbed. If you have pets at home, you’re often better off with easy-care microfibre or textured fabrics.
Wooden stools
A A wooden stool stands out for its durability and a clean, often minimalist look. Solid wood – whether oak, beech or walnut – ages beautifully and develops its own patina over the years. Oiled surfaces can be touched up locally to repair minor scratches, whilst varnished versions are particularly resistant to stains. Wooden stools are ideal as accent pieces, for example next to a reading armchair or as a side table beside the bed. They look particularly striking in Scandinavian or naturally styled rooms, but also work well in modern interior designs as a contrasting material.
Design meets function: stools for your home décor
Stools are small, but make a big design impact. A modern footstool can be used as a deliberate splash of colour – in mustard yellow, rust red or petrol blue, for example – to add more interest to a sofa arrangement in neutral tones. Customers who prefer a more understated look can opt for tone-on-tone solutions, which help the piece blend visually into its surroundings. Shape also plays a role: a round footstool softens hard edges in a room, whilst a square cube emphasises clean lines.
Footstools for the living room
A A living room footstool often serves several purposes: as a footstool for an armchair, an extra seat for guests, and a surface for a tray or a book. Make sure the seat height matches that of your sofa – usually between 40 and 45 centimetres. If you mainly use the footstool to rest your legs, you should opt for a slightly lower model, around 38 centimetres, so that your legs can rest comfortably. A matching footstool combines perfectly with our sofas and armchairs – whether colour-coordinated or deliberately contrasting.
Footstools in hallways and small rooms
In the hallway, a small stool proves invaluable: for putting on shoes, setting down bags briefly, or as discreet storage for scarves and hats. Models with a seat width of 40 to 55 centimetres also fit well into narrow entrance areas. In open-plan flats, a stool can also serve as an extra seat at the dining table, provided the seat height is suitable. Those who regularly entertain guests appreciate stools that can be stacked to save space or slid under the coffee table when needed.
Pouffes, upholstered stools and cube stools – the differences
In everyday language, the terms are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences. A pouf is usually softly padded, often without a solid wooden frame, and can easily adapt to your sitting position – ideal as a relaxed floor option in front of the fire or in a reading corner. An upholstered stool has a solid frame and a firmer upholstered seat, making it appear more stable and able to withstand heavier loads. A Seating cube , on the other hand, stands out for its clean, geometric shape and fits particularly well in modern, minimalist interiors.
A fabric footstool made from high-quality woven fabrics is a popular choice, especially if you want the stool to match the sofa’s upholstery. Do have a browse through our selection of lounge furniture if you’re looking for stools with a relaxed feel – perhaps for a conservatory, reading corner or open-plan living areas.
Ergonomics and seat height – what you should look out for
The seat height plays a key role in determining how comfortable you are when sitting on a footstool. For classic dining tables, the ergonomically ideal seat height is around 45 to 47 centimetres; for sofas, it is between 40 and 45 centimetres. If the footstool is used primarily as a footrest, a height of 3 to 5 centimetres below the sofa cushion is recommended, so that your legs can rest comfortably with your feet stretched out. Seat size also plays a role: 40 by 40 centimetres is considered the minimum comfortable size for prolonged sitting.
The firmness of the upholstery is also important. Firmer upholstery with a density of 35 kg/m³ or higher retains its shape even after years of intensive use. Softer foams are comfortable but can sag more quickly. If you use the footstool every day, you should opt for a medium-firm version – it combines seating comfort with durability. Our interior design consultants will be happy to explain the differences to you in detail and help you find the model that’s right for you.
Personal advice at our showrooms
Buying furniture is a matter of trust – especially when a new stool needs to match your existing furnishings in terms of colour and style. At our showrooms in the Palatinate, Baden and Trier, you can try out the stools at your leisure, feel the fabrics and check the colours in natural light. Our team of interior design consultants takes the time to understand your living situation and your ideas. On request, we’ll take your existing furniture into account when making your selection, so that your new stool blends in perfectly.
Would you like to know which brands we stock, or visit a store near you? You can find an overview of our manufacturers under our brand portfolio; all our furniture stores are clearly listed on our store locator . We’d be delighted if you popped in, and we’d be happy to advise you on choosing your new footstool – in person, at your leisure and on equal terms.