Living Room Poufs

Which type of pouffe should you choose for a living room?

The word pouffe covers very different pieces of furniture: a small 40 cm cylinder you can move with one hand, a square ottoman that extends the sofa, a giant pouffe you can stretch out in. Decide first what the pouffe will have to do in your living room.

General guidelines. The exact dimensions are given on each product page.

In the selection, the round shape is the most common, ahead of the square shape. Around fifteen models are modular and only a few include storage: if storage is your priority, start with that criterion.

What size of pouffe in front of a sofa?

Height matters more than width. A sofa seat is most often 40 to 45 cm from the floor. A pouffe higher than the seat forces you to lift your legs. A pouffe that is much lower no longer works as a seat for an adult.

With a three-seater sofa of around 200 cm, one pouffe of 60 to 70 cm or two pouffes of 45 to 50 cm keep the proportions right.

The most common sizes range from 50x35 cm and 55x55 cm for occasional pouffes to 68x68 cm for modules, and up to 100 or 105 cm wide for giant pouffes.

Fabric, wool, cotton or velvet: which material for a living room pouffe?

More than one in three living room pouffes in the selection is covered in a synthetic fabric, most often polyester. Wool comes second with nearly a quarter of the models, followed by cotton and linen, then velvet. Leather remains rare.

A comfortable pouffe that does not sag

The filling determines the lifespan as much as the cover does. Dense foam or a rigid frame keeps the seat flat: that is what you need for a footstool or a side table. Polystyrene beads mould to the body, which is what makes giant pouffes comfortable, but they compact over the years. To check the firmness, press down with the flat of your hand: the top should not sink by more than 3 to 4 cm on a pouffe meant to be used as a seat.

Designer pouffe: which style and which colour to go with your sofa?

The pouffes in the selection are mainly contemporary and Scandinavian in style: simple shapes, no base or a discreet one, bold or natural colours. Beige dominates, followed by grey and brown, then blue and green.

• Tone on tone: a pouffe in the same colour family as the sofa, one or two shades lighter or darker, makes the seating area look bigger.
• In contrast: a single pouffe in a bright colour, orange, red or blue, is enough to liven up a grey or beige sofa. Pick up that colour again on a cushion or a vase.
• Through texture: with a sofa in a smooth fabric, a pouffe in wool, bouclé or ribbed velvet adds depth without adding colour.

noo.ma and myfelt, the two most represented brands, work a great deal with wool. Fatboy offers its pouffes in sherpa and velvet. Hübsch offers wool pebble pouffes with a leather handle, Normann Copenhagen round velvet pouffes, Nobodinoz square ottomans in striped cotton.

A few living room pouffes from the selection

Fatboy Cider yellow sherpa pouf 40 x 70 cm Point - Fatboy €159,00 Hübsch Blue wool pebble pouf with leather handle - Hübsch €220,00 Normann Copenhagen Velvet pouf 46 cm blush pink Circus Blush - Normann Copenhagen €525,00 Design House Stockholm Beige recycled polyester pouf 50 cm Uno - Design House Stockholm €510,00

Which pouffe for which living room?

In a small living room or a studio flat

Under 20 m², stick to one pouffe 40 to 50 cm wide, light enough to be moved with one hand and slid under a console table when not in use. A storage pouffe adds storage without an extra piece of furniture. Avoid the giant pouffe, which takes up 1.5 to 2 m² on its own.

With children or pets

Go for a tightly woven synthetic fabric, in a mid-tone or mottled shade, which shows marks less than a pale cotton. Check on the product page that the cover is removable. Rule out loose knits and bouclé if your cat sharpens its claws. A pouffe with no corners or hard base limits knocks at child height.

In a large living room or a loft

Beyond 30 m², a single pouffe looks lost. Create a relaxation corner with a giant pouffe of 100 cm and over, or combine two to four modules of around 70 cm to form a low bench seat. Keep 60 cm of walkway around the whole arrangement.

On a tight budget

The median price of a living room pouffe in the selection is around €400. Nearly six models in ten are offered at under €500, and about one in five at under €200, mainly in small sizes in fabric or cotton. Pouffes at over €1,000 are large pieces in wool or leather.

How do you look after a living room pouffe?

• Every week: vacuum with the soft brush attachment, on low power, paying particular attention to the seams.
• Every month: rotate the pouffe by a quarter turn, to even out wear and the effect of light.
• If there is a stain: dab straight away with a clean white cloth, without rubbing, from the edge towards the centre. Test on a hidden area before using a cleaning product.
• Once or twice a year: wash the cover if the label allows it, generally at 30 °C, and leave it to air dry before putting it back on.

On velvet, brush in the direction of the pile to remove seat marks. Wool is cleaned with cold water, never hot water, which felts it. Place the pouffe more than 50 cm from a radiator and out of direct sunlight.