A footstool with storage earns its place by doing three jobs at once: a cushioned footrest for the end of the day, an extra seat when guests arrive, and a hidden compartment that swallows the clutter you would rather not see. Every piece in this collection is an upholstered storage footstool — lift the padded top and the whole base becomes usable storage. Because most of the lids sit flat and firm, they double as a compact coffee table too, which is why so many customers across the UK choose one handmade piece in place of a separate footstool, storage box and side table.
A storage footstool is an upholstered footstool with a hollow base and a lift-up padded lid, giving you a footrest, an occasional seat and hidden storage in one piece — and, on flat-topped designs, a small coffee table as well.
Can a storage footstool double as a coffee table?
Yes — and for a lot of UK homes that is the whole point. A flat-topped footstool coffee table gives you a firm surface for a tray, a book or the remote, then lifts open for storage underneath, so one piece covers what a coffee table and a blanket box would normally do separately. It is a particularly useful trick in smaller living rooms and flats, where floor space is tight and a single multi-tasking piece beats two single-purpose ones. If a low central table is your main goal, our storage coffee tables collection focuses on that shape, while larger ottoman footstool designs here work as a coffee table and comfortably seat someone when needed.
Footstool, pouffe or ottoman — what's the difference?
The terms overlap, and in practice UK shoppers use them interchangeably, so it helps to know how we use them here. A footstool is the everyday word for a low, upholstered rest for your feet. A pouffe tends to be softer and rounder, often without a hard lid, and is prized for comfort and portability — a storage pouffe simply adds a hollow base. An ottoman is usually the larger, box-shaped version built around storage, with a rigid frame and a hinged lid strong enough to sit on. Everything in this range sits somewhere on that spectrum, so whether you searched for a storage ottoman, a storage stool or a foot stool with storage, you are in the right place; the difference is mostly size, softness and how the lid is built.
What size storage footstool should I choose?
Size is the decision people get wrong most often, so measure first and match the piece to its main job. A small footstool with storage suits a bedside, a hallway or a compact flat, where it stores shoes, chargers or a couple of throws without dominating the room — our guide to storage ottomans for small UK flats walks through the tight-space measurements. A large footstool with storage or a full storage bench earns its footprint in a family living room, holding bulkier bedding and doubling as overflow seating. As a rule, leave enough clearance to open the lid fully and to walk around the piece comfortably; exact dimensions, internal litres and weight ratings are listed on each product page, since these vary by design.
Which colours can I choose?
Colour is where this range is deepest. Black storage footstools are the most-requested finish and the easiest to place, reading as smart and neutral against almost any sofa. Beyond that you will find navy and powder blue, forest and sage green, mustard gold, browns from tan to chocolate, blush pink, purple, grey, cream and white, plus a broad set of multicolour, damask and floral patterns for a statement piece. Buttoned Chesterfield footstools run through the collection if you want a more traditional, deep-tufted look. If you are matching an existing scheme, order a fabric sample before you commit — velvet in particular shifts noticeably between daylight and lamplight.
New to storage furniture and want the full picture before you buy? Start with our pillar guide, what is an ottoman storage bench, then browse the pieces below. Every item is handmade to order in the UK, with free nationwide delivery.
Storage footstool FAQs
How does the hidden storage in a storage footstool work?
The padded top is a lid. It lifts on a hinge or lifts off entirely, depending on the design, to reveal a hollow base you can fill with blankets, shoes, toys, magazines or seasonal bits. When the lid is closed the piece looks and behaves like an ordinary footstool, so the storage stays completely out of sight.
Can I use a storage footstool as a coffee table?
Yes, provided you choose a flat-topped design rather than a soft-domed pouffe. A firm, level lid takes a tray, drinks or a stack of books happily, and still opens for storage underneath, which is exactly why these pieces are popular as a footstool coffee table in smaller UK living rooms.
Are storage footstools with lids strong enough to sit on?
Most box-framed ottomans and storage benches in this range are built to take an adult's weight as occasional seating, with a rigid internal frame and a supported lid. Softer pouffe-style pieces are made for feet rather than sitting. Each product page states whether that design is rated as a seat, along with its weight guidance, so check there before buying it as extra seating.
What is the difference between a storage footstool and a storage ottoman?
Mostly size and structure. A storage footstool is typically smaller and lower, made primarily as a footrest with a storage base. A storage ottoman is usually the larger, box-shaped piece built around its storage capacity, with a sturdier lid you can sit on. Both hide their contents; the ottoman simply holds more and works harder as seating.
What can I store inside a storage footstool?
Anything you want kept tidy and to hand: throws and spare bedding, children's toys, magazines and remotes, shoes and slippers by the door, or seasonal items you only reach for occasionally. Because the lid closes flush, bulky, unattractive clutter disappears while the piece keeps working as a seat, footrest or surface.
Do you deliver storage footstools across the UK?
Yes. Every storage footstool and ottoman is handmade to order in the UK and delivered free to mainland addresses nationwide. As pieces are made to order, current lead times and any options for remote or island postcodes are shown at checkout and on each product page.
