Let's be real. Calling a masterfully crafted Verellen ottoman a simple 'footstool' is like calling a diamond a shiny rock—it just doesn't do it justice. In the world of high-end interior design, upholstered ottomans and benches are far from being afterthoughts. They are the versatile power players that anchor rooms, introduce rich layers of texture, and solve everyday problems with a whole lot of grace.
The Unsung Heroes of Luxury Interior Design
Think of upholstered ottomans and benches as the ultimate design secret weapon. For Atlanta’s leading interior designers, from Buckhead mansions to sprawling Alpharetta homes, these pieces are simply non-negotiable. They’re the chameleons of the furniture world, effortlessly changing their role to fit whatever a space needs.
A perfectly scaled ottoman placed before a Wesley Hall sofa can serve as a sophisticated coffee table. Likewise, a single elegant bench from Lee Industries can take an empty Roswell entryway and transform it into a grand, welcoming statement. It's all about merging flawless function with impeccable form.
More Than Just a Pretty Seat
These pieces do so much more than just offer an extra place to sit. They’re foundational elements that build a room's entire personality.
Just imagine:
- A Statement Piece: A bench with bold, custom upholstery can be the perfect vehicle for color and pattern, acting as a piece of functional art.
- A Storage Solution: Many Ambella ottomans come with hidden storage, offering an elegant way to tuck away everything from extra blankets to board games.
- A Textural Layer: The right designer fabric adds that crucial layer of softness and visual interest, making a room feel truly complete and thoughtfully curated.
These versatile pieces are proof that the most functional items in our homes can also be the most beautiful. They are the quiet workhorses that pull a whole design together, delivering comfort, style, and utility in one elegant package.
For members of our Lewis and Sheron Trade Program and for discerning homeowners across North Georgia, understanding the power of a well-chosen ottoman or bench is crucial. It’s about investing in a piece that not only looks beautiful but works hard, elevating a room from simply decorated to truly designed. This is exactly why our Atlanta fabric showroom is such an essential resource for finding that perfect textile to bring your vision to life.
Finding the Perfect Proportions for Your Space
You wouldn’t buy a custom suit without a proper fitting, so why guess when it comes to your furniture? Picking the right size for your upholstered ottomans and benches isn't a minor detail—it’s the secret ingredient to a room that feels polished, intentional, and just plain right. Get it wrong, and a room can feel cramped or unbalanced. Get it right, and you create a harmony that’s both beautiful and functional.
It all comes down to relationships. An ottoman should complement the sofa it’s paired with, not compete for the spotlight. A bench in an entryway should feel generous but never block traffic. These aren't rigid rules; it’s about creating a visual balance that feels good, whether you’re styling a sprawling Roswell estate or a cozy reading nook in East Cobb.
Mastering the Art of Scale
For our clients in Marietta and the interior designers we work with across Forsyth County, a few key principles make all the difference. Think of your sofa as the anchor of the room. The ottoman is its sophisticated sidekick.
Here are a few professional guidelines we always follow:
- Height is Key: Your ottoman's top surface should sit about 1-2 inches lower than the seat cushions of your sofa or chairs. This keeps the sightlines clean and makes it the perfect height for kicking up your feet.
- Mind the Gap: Leave roughly 18 inches of space between your sofa and your cocktail ottoman. This is the sweet spot—close enough to set down a drink, but with plenty of room to walk through.
- Length and Width: As a general rule, a cocktail ottoman should be about two-thirds the length of your sofa. This ensures it’s substantial enough to be useful without overwhelming the main seating.
This infographic shows just how versatile a well-chosen ottoman can be.
As you can see, these pieces are true design chameleons, effortlessly shifting from coffee table to extra seating to a beautiful storage anchor.
For a quick reference, here's a simple guide to help you visualize the ideal proportions.
Quick Sizing Guide: Ottomans vs. Sofas and Chairs
| Ottoman Placement | Ideal Height | Ideal Width or Length | Spacing Guideline |
|---|---|---|---|
| With a Sofa (Cocktail Ottoman) | 1-2 inches below sofa seat | Approx. 2/3 the length of the sofa | 16-18 inches from sofa |
| With an Armchair (Footstool) | Equal to or 1-2 inches below chair seat | Slightly narrower than the chair's width | Close enough for comfort |
| In an Entryway (Bench) | 18-20 inches (standard seat height) | Fit the wall space without blocking traffic | At least 36 inches of clear walkway |
| At the Foot of a Bed (Bench) | A few inches below the top of the mattress | Slightly narrower than the bed's width | 12-18 inches from the footboard |
Remember, these are starting points. The most important thing is that the final arrangement works for your home and your lifestyle.
Pairing with High-End Furniture
When you're investing in the kind of luxury furniture Atlanta designers adore—like a gorgeous Wesley Hall sofa or a classic Lee Industries chair—getting the proportions right is critical. The goal is to highlight the incredible craftsmanship of these pieces, not hide it.
An improperly sized ottoman can make a magnificent sofa seem smaller, while the right one enhances its presence and invites you to sit down and relax. You're aiming for a curated look, not a cluttered one.
This is where a visit to our Buckhead showroom really makes a difference. Seeing a piece in person gives you a true sense of its scale in a way that photos just can't capture. Our design team can walk you through our collections from vendors like Verellen and Ambella, helping you find the perfect custom upholstery and proportions for an impeccable fit. It’s the difference between buying furniture and truly creating a home.
Selecting Upholstery That Defines Your Style
If the frame is the bones of an upholstered piece, the fabric is its soul. This is where quality speaks, transforming a simple ottoman into a genuine style statement. Think of fabric as the couture gown for your furniture—it sets the tone, tells your story, and defines the whole experience.
It’s the difference between a piece that just looks good and one that feels extraordinary.
Our Atlanta fabric showroom is where that story begins. Forget judging fabric from tiny digital swatches. Here, you can run your hand over sumptuous performance velvets that feel like silk but can stand up to real life. You can feel the rich, organic texture of a hand-woven Belgian linen or see the intricate details of an exclusive print up close. It’s about finding a textile that not only looks incredible but is perfectly suited to the way you live.
Beyond Pretty Patterns: Performance and Practicality
For a bustling family home in Milton, durability is just as crucial as design. But for a chic Buckhead high-rise, the focus might be all about luxurious texture. The beauty of modern textiles is that you no longer have to choose between the two.
High-performance fabrics have completely changed the game. They offer incredible stain resistance without that stiff, plastic-like feel of older materials. These aren’t your grandmother’s fussy fabrics; they’re engineered for life.
When you're looking at designer fabrics, think about these key factors:
- Lifestyle: Do you have pets or children? A performance fabric is pretty much non-negotiable.
- Placement: Will the piece sit in direct sunlight? You’ll want fade-resistant options.
- Texture: Are you picturing something soft and cozy, or sleek and modern? The feel is every bit as important as the look.
The demand for furniture that is both beautiful and durable is a massive global trend. The market for upholstered ottomans and benches was valued at around USD 4.5 billion in 2023 and is growing fast, fueled by a collective desire for unique, custom-tailored pieces. You can learn more about the market growth for upholstered benches and explore the trends driving this industry forward.
Your Atlanta Interior Design Resource
Choosing the right fabric can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. For our Trade Program members and homeowners from Roswell to East Cobb, our team is here to be your guide. We can help you navigate our exquisite collections of fine fabrics in Alpharetta and beyond.
Fabric is the single most powerful tool for expressing personality in a room. It adds color, pattern, texture, and emotion. Don't play it safe—choose a fabric you absolutely love.
Whether you're hunting for the perfect solid to complement a Wesley Hall sofa or a bold pattern to make a statement on an Ambella bench, we have the textile to bring your vision to life.
Understanding High-End Furniture Construction
What separates a disposable piece from a genuine family heirloom? It’s not just what you see. The secret is the masterful engineering hidden underneath the beautiful designer fabric. When you invest in a high-end ottoman or bench, you're investing in a legacy of craftsmanship.
For us, and for the elite vendors we partner with, quality isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a promise built from the inside out, evident in every joint, spring, and stitch. This is the difference between furniture that lasts for a season and furniture that stands the test of time.
The Foundation of Quality: Kiln-Dried Hardwood Frames
The journey to an exceptional piece starts with its bones—the frame. At Lewis and Sheron, the luxury furniture Atlanta designers trust is built exclusively on kiln-dried hardwood frames. Think of this as the skeleton. It absolutely must be strong, stable, and built to withstand decades of life.
Why is kiln-drying so critical? This meticulous process removes moisture from the wood, which prevents it from warping, cracking, or bowing as the years go by. It’s a non-negotiable step for makers like Verellen and Wesley Hall, ensuring the frame remains perfectly rigid and true.
The Art of the Eight-Way Hand-Tied Spring
Next is the suspension system, the heart of true comfort and support. Forget flimsy, machine-made coils that sag and squeak. The gold standard in high-end furniture construction is the eight-way hand-tied spring system.
This is a time-honored technique where skilled artisans tie each spring to the frame in eight different directions. The result is an interconnected web of springs that distributes weight perfectly, providing a uniquely comfortable seat that simply won’t bottom out. It’s an art form you’ll find in every Lee Industries chair and Wesley Hall sofa in our Buckhead showroom.
In an era of mass production, true luxury lies in the details that can only be crafted by human hands. The eight-way hand-tied system is a testament to that philosophy—it's why a twenty-year-old high-quality piece can feel just as comfortable as a new one.
This commitment to superior construction is also why reupholstery is such a worthwhile investment for these pieces. When the frame and springs are this good, giving the piece a new life with fresh custom upholstery is a brilliant way to update your style. For those curious, we have an excellent guide that explores how to reupholster furniture and preserve its incredible integrity.
Ultimately, understanding what goes into a piece of high-end furniture in Buckhead gives you the confidence to make a wise investment. It’s about choosing a piece from Ambella or our other partners not just for its beauty, but for the unseen quality that ensures it becomes a cherished part of your home's story.
Bringing Your Vision to Life with Custom Upholstery
Why settle for off-the-shelf when you can have a piece that's completely, uniquely yours? This is where the real magic of interior design happens. An off-the-rack ottoman solves a problem, but custom upholstery tells a story. It’s the difference between a house and a home—between simply filling a space and truly designing it.
This is where Lewis and Sheron shines. For designers in Forsyth County and discerning homeowners in Marietta, our bespoke process is the key to creating those one-of-a-kind interiors that feel deeply personal and perfectly curated. The journey from idea to finished piece is an experience in itself, and we're here to guide you every step.
From Perfect Frame to Flawless Fabric
The custom process starts with a solid foundation. You might fall in love with the clean lines of a Lee Industries frame or the timeless form of an Ambella bench. We partner with the best names in the business, like Verellen and Wesley Hall, to ensure every piece starts with an impeccable structure.
Once you’ve selected the perfect silhouette, the fun begins. Our Atlanta fabric showroom becomes your personal design playground. With thousands of exclusive textiles at your fingertips, you can find the exact color, texture, and pattern to bring your vision to life. This is the moment a piece of furniture truly becomes a reflection of your style.
The global upholstered furniture market is booming, expected to hit over USD 75 billion by 2030, and it’s fueled by a desire for custom-tailored pieces. You can find out more about upholstered furniture market trends and explore what’s driving this industry forward.
The Lewis and Sheron Custom Process
We’ve refined our approach to make creating your dream piece simple and inspiring. Our Atlanta interior design resources are at your full disposal, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.
Here’s how it works:
- Consultation and Selection: We start by talking about your vision, your lifestyle, and what your space needs. From there, you’ll select a frame from our esteemed vendors that meets both your functional and aesthetic goals.
- Fabric Curation: Our experts will guide you through our vast collection of designer fabrics. We’ll help you find a textile that looks stunning and is perfectly suited to its intended use—whether that means a durable performance fabric for a high-traffic family room or a luxurious silk for a formal one.
- Artisan Craftsmanship: Once the frame and fabric are chosen, our skilled artisans get to work. They meticulously handcraft your piece, ensuring every seam is straight, every tuft is perfect, and the final product is nothing short of exceptional.
Custom upholstery is the ultimate form of self-expression in interior design. It’s a declaration that you value quality, craftsmanship, and a home that feels uniquely and beautifully your own.
For members of our trade furniture program and clients from Buckhead to Milton, this process is how truly memorable rooms are made. It’s an investment in a piece that you won't just live with, but one you will absolutely love for years to come.
Come Feel the Lewis and Sheron Difference
Reading about quality is one thing. Experiencing it is something else entirely. Step inside our Buckhead showroom on Collier Rd and you’ll understand why Lewis and Sheron has been Atlanta’s destination for exquisite furniture and fine fabrics for decades.
This isn't just a store; it's an Atlanta design resource built on generations of expertise. Here, you can feel the superior craftsmanship of a Verellen bench, see the perfect tailoring on a Wesley Hall sofa, and run your hand across thousands of exclusive designer fabrics. Our team lives and breathes this world, offering a level of personal service and insight you just won't find anywhere else.
An Unmatched Atlanta Design Resource
We've built our reputation by providing Atlanta with interior design resources that empower both seasoned professionals and passionate homeowners.
Our offerings for designers and discerning clients include:
- The Trade Furniture Program: Exclusive access and dedicated support for design professionals.
- Renowned Vendor Partnerships: Curated collections from Ambella, Lee Industries, and other premium makers.
- An Unrivaled Fabric Selection: A vast library of textiles just waiting to inspire your next project.
We believe choosing furniture should be an inspiring, tactile experience. It's about seeing the possibilities up close and having a trusted expert guide you to the perfect choice.
Then, come see the pieces that define the best of high-end furniture right here in our showroom. We can't wait to meet you.
Still Have Questions?
We get it—choosing the perfect piece can bring up a few last-minute questions. Here’s some straightforward advice from our Atlanta design experts to help you finalize your decision with confidence.
What's the Best Fabric for an Ottoman if I Have Pets and Kids?
For a busy home, we almost always point clients toward high-performance fabrics. Don't let the name fool you; these aren't the stiff, plastic-y materials of the past.
Brands like Crypton and Sunbrella have engineered textiles that brilliantly resist stains, moisture, and odors while feeling genuinely luxurious. Performance velvets are a fantastic option, giving you that rich texture and incredible durability. Stop by our Atlanta fabric showroom to feel them for yourself—you'll see you don't have to sacrifice style for peace of mind.
Should My Ottoman Match My Sofa?
Please, no. While it might seem like the safe choice, a matching set can make a room feel a bit dated and, frankly, a little flat.
The most sophisticated rooms create harmony through complementary colors, patterns, and textures—not by matching everything perfectly. Think of your ottoman as an opportunity to add visual interest. For instance, you could pair a neutral linen Wesley Hall sofa with a rich leather ottoman for a look that feels intentionally curated. Our designers are masters at this and can help you find the perfect counterpoint among our collection of fine fabrics in Alpharetta.
How Do I Care for My New Upholstered Bench?
Proper care comes down to the specific fabric you’ve chosen. But as a general rule, a little regular maintenance goes a long way.
Vacuuming with an upholstery attachment is your first line of defense. For the inevitable spill, the key is to blot immediately with a clean, dry cloth—never rub, which can set the stain. When it comes to a deeper clean for high-end designer fabrics, we always recommend calling a professional upholstery cleaning service. It's the best way to protect your investment for years to come.
Ready to find the perfect piece for your home? Explore the collections and experience the difference at Lewis and Sheron Textiles.