Call it what you will - pouffe, ottoman, cube or even over-sized cushion, the humble footstool has the noblest and most ancient of origins. In fact, along with the table and chair, it counts among the earliest of furnishing essentials known to man. An integral part of the history of seating, the footstool was used by the early Egyptians to mount their fashionably high chairs some 3,000 years B.C., and also by the ancient Greeks several thousand years later. Although changing and evolving with fashions and styles of the times, the footstool has consistently remained with us and today has become a decorative essential in its own right.

Never has so much footstool style and variety being available. Whether you go for Ottoman (traditionally made to fit in exactly where it is needed), vintage, leather, mid century, flat top, upholstered, synthetic, ergonomically optimised, today's footstools are highly versatile and come in a wide range of materials, colours, sizes and styles.

And you can use the footstool for so many different things: in addition to putting your feet up, you can throw your magazines on it, hide something in it, use it as storage, use it as a substitute coffee table or as extra seating, cushion it or upholster it!

The beauty of the footstool is that it doesn't confine itself to one room - a footstool can look great in the bedroom, the bathroom, the living room or even the hall! Carefully chosen, it is surprising how one small footstool can make a big decorative and practical contribution to a room.