Choosing a Footstool: Size, Height and Placement

A footstool needs to work with the chair or sofa you already use. Compare its height, the space it takes up and where it will sit when you are moving around the room. Two designs can be the same height yet leave quite different amounts of floor space beside a coffee table or armchair.

Compare the full footprint

Dufftown is 10 cm wider and 7 cm deeper than Knowle, while both listings give a 36 cm height. Mark both outlines on the floor using paper or a floor-safe method. Include the base and legs in your plan rather than judging the size from the upholstered top alone.

Start with your seat, then check the height

Measure your sofa or armchair at the front of the seat and compare that with the footstool’s listed height. Notice how your existing seat cushion compresses when you sit down; a catalogue measurement does not describe every person’s sitting position. Use a comfortable arrangement you already know as a reference, and ask for further dimensions if the fit is close.

The two examples have the same listed height, so their width, depth and finish are the main differences to assess here. No height-adjustment range is given for either model. For the chair itself, our accent-chair guide explains seat dimensions, overall size and space for movement.

Plan two positions: in use and put away

Mark where the footstool will stand while you use it, then where you will move it afterwards. Keep the route between the sofa, doorway and other seats clear. With a swivel chair, check the space through its intended turn, including the footstool and any nearby side table.

Try this with the whole seating arrangement. A small footstool can still interrupt the route through a narrow room, while a wider one may fit comfortably in an open corner. Check that you can reach your side table without placing it beyond the footstool.

Choose the finish for your room and its upkeep

Knowle introduces a light fabric surface and timber base; Dufftown provides brown leather and ash legs. Compare current product photographs with your sofa, flooring and other timber finishes. Ask about available swatches or additional photographs where a close colour match matters.

Use the care instructions for the exact upholstery and finish. A leather description does not establish that a surface is waterproof, and a fabric’s colour does not establish stain resistance or whether its cover is removable.

Check any second job you want it to do

If you also want extra seating, storage or a surface for a tray, confirm that use for the particular model before ordering. These measurements do not establish a seating load rating, a storage compartment or a stable tabletop. For a drink, plan a suitable table within reach rather than assuming an upholstered surface will support a glass securely.

Browse our stools and footstools, or contact our team with the model name, your seat height and a sketch of the available space.