Choosing the right ottoman is like choosing the right housecoat or slippers. While style is always a factor, comfort and practicality trump all. 
I became acquainted with ottomans as a child admiring my grandmothers' mid-century modern and Victorian era furniture. I don't think either of them was trying to be stylish; I am not even sure if either used the word "antique". But the pieces made an impression on me.
My grandmother Mimi tended to like the girly curved lines of turn-of-the-century America, and throwing one's legs on an ottoman was a reminder that we'd come a long way, baby. For her mother, a garment worker in New York City who'd fled Russia in her youth, probably never had time to put her feet up. Mimi would become an avid reader and she impressed upon me the value of both self-education and self-care. That self-care would involve putting my feet up.
In my adulthood I began writing about interior design and architecture, and learned much from the designers and other professionals with whom I spoke. I soon realized that it wasn't the fancy beds or dining tables or kitchen islands that drew my attention: it was the ottomans.
So choose the just-right ottoman for you. If you are single, have one in the living room and one in the den, both matching your style. In the den, I recommend a an ottoman that opens, so you can stuff your knitting, magazines, and odds-and-ends (quickly when company's coming). If you are married, ask your husband which one he likes and then pick the one you want (lol).
I like West Elm ottomans, but there are many other sellers you should check out including less expensive ones from Overstock.com, or higher end R.J. Jones, whose Cabaret is devine.
PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons Images: By moDecor Furniture Pvt Ltd; Miles Barcelona chair, February 3, 2007
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