Two of the most common options for designing a comfortable yet useful living area are ottomans and hassocks. Even though they may appear similar at first, knowing how they differ can help you choose the one that best fits your house.
What Is a Hassock and an Ottoman?
Simply put, a hassock is a low, upholstered footstool designed purely for comfort. It’s a soft, cushioned piece of furniture meant for resting your feet or adding a cozy touch to your living space.
In contrast, an ottoman is a more versatile piece of furniture, which can serve as a footrest, coffee table, storage unit, or even extra seating thanks to its practical design. Its multi-functionality comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and styles to match your taste and decor.
Differences Between a Hassock and an Ottoman
Below are the comparisons of a hassock vs. an ottoman. Each offers its own unique benefits, adding comfort and functionality to your living space in a different way.
1. Size and Shape
Just like comparing a footstool to an ottoman,you can notice the size of a hassock and an ottoman when they’re placed next to each other. A hassock is compact, which is a perfect option to enhance aesthetics in a small room since they don’t take up much space.
An ottoman comes in a wide range of sizes and shapes. You can find it on a small cube design or a large rectangular bench. Since it’s larger than a hassock, you can use it as extra seating, coffee table, or hidden storage.
2. Materials
As it’s fully covered in soft fabrics, a hassock usually has thick padding all around in cotton, wool, or leather, which is why it adds warmth and softness to any room, making it cozy to anyone.
Because an ottoman has many designs, it’s also available in more materials than a hassock. This answers why it’s common to find ottomans wrapped in velvet, linen, faux or genuine leather.
3. Versatility
Here, we can see the biggest differences between a hassock and an ottoman.
Since it’s small, lightweight and made with soft materials, a hassock is designed to make anyone comfortable. This is perfect for anyone who wants to relax after a long day. Its size also allows it to fit easily into smaller spaces.
Meanwhile, an ottoman can function based on its design. Need more space to place blankets, pillows, or magazines? You can use it as hidden storage. Tired of holding your coffee? Just turn it into a coffee table. Its versatility proves that an ottoman is one of the most useful and adaptable pieces of furniture.
Hassock vs. Ottoman: What to Consider?
So, which one should you buy? You need to start thinking about whether you need this in the first place, why you should buy one, and how you’ll use it. To make your decision easier, here are a few factors to consider before buying.
1. Space Size
A hassock fits perfectly in smaller spaces like bedrooms or studios thanks to its compact shape that makes it easy to move around and decorate, while an ottoman works best in larger areas, as it provides various functions with its versatility.
2. Functionality and Usage
It’ll be a waste of space if you buy furniture without knowing what you really need it for. If you need to relax at your home, stop considering buying a storage ottoman. But if you need a place to store your things, a soft hassock isn’t the option.
3. Design and Style Preferences
Furniture comes in countless designs, so do hassocks and ottomans. Before purchasing, you need to think about how you want to decorate your room and what style you’d like to create in it. Choose a fabric hassock for a cozy atmosphere, or go for an ottoman to bring a stylish statement into your room.
How to Style a Hassock or an Ottoman in Your Home?
Different rooms, different styles. To make the most of your hassock or ottoman, take time to understand the atmosphere of every room. Here’s some decor ideas with ottomans and hassocks.
1. Living Room
The living room is perfect both for a hassock or an ottoman. Just put an ottoman into it, and you can get a stylish tray to put your books. Meanwhile, you can add more ambience elegantly with a hassock.
2. Bedroom
An intimate space like the bedroom can be placed with a hassock for more personal touch, while bringing a small ottoman into the bedroom helps you keep blankets or pillows. Whether you choose an ottoman and a hassock, you’ll be more comfortable when you sleep and wake up with it.
3. Home Office
With more companies implementing Work From Home (WFH), it’s important to make your home office as comfortable as possible. With an ottoman or a hassock, your home office can ease tension during long work hours, while also keeping your space clutter-free.
Maintenance and Care
As you need to know what to choose, you also need to know how to care for a hassock or an ottoman. Each of them requires different maintenance methods depending on their materials, so you need to understand how to clean and care for them.
1. Cleaning Instructions for Different Materials
Understanding the materials is the first step you can take to keep a hassock or an ottoman stay beautiful.
To prevent dust from settling into the cotton, linen, or polyester blends, make sure to vacuum regularly. If you spill on it, blot immediately with a clean cloth, and make sure it’s dry completely. You can also use a mild upholstery cleaner made with a mix of warm water and soap.
For leather surfaces, you can remove dust by wiping the surface with a soft cloth. It’s recommended to apply a leather conditioner every few months to prevent cracks. To prevent damage, avoid harsh cleaners.
If the hassock or ottoman is covered with faux leather or velvet upholstery, you can simply follow the manufacturer’s care instructions on its label, you can simply visit our collection page for a washable ottoman that’s easy to clean with practical maintenance.
2. Preventive Measures
For fabric pieces, keep your furniture away from direct sunlight, as it can cause colors to fade and materials to wear out faster, or maintain humidity in the room to prevent the material from cracking for leather types.
3. Storage Recommendations
When not in use, it’s important to store your hassock or ottoman properly. Use a dry area with air circulation to prevent mold and unpleasant odors. Otherwise, it can lose its shape, which affects its quality.
Conclusion
When talking about hassock vs. ottoman, you can see that the differences lie in function and flexibility. While hassock offers soft comfort, the ottoman provides multi-use design. Now that you’ve understood between a hassock and an ottoman, it’s important to understand your aesthetic preferences and daily habits as well.
If you’re ready to purchase one, explore our collection of washable and pet-friendly ottomans at the best prices. Make every room more comfortable and functional with us.
