It should be illegal to manufacture a footstool that does not also open up for storage.  They are such great spots to stash stuff.  Here are seven essentials to store in a footstool or ottoman.

1.  Outgrown clothes.  We keep a footstool in the dressing area, and that’s where we deposit outgrown items that are headed for a charity.

2. Files. No space for a home office? No problem. Bring the file storage close to your favorite easy chair. http://www.potterybarn.com/products/allison-upholstered-file-cube/?pkey=cwhats-new-furniture-all

3. Baby supplies.  We’ve never had a changing table in our main living space, because we could fit the diaper supplies and such in the family room ottoman.

4.  Magazines, where the storage is the footstool.  http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/magazine-stack-stools-designer-149892

5.  Guest accommodations.  Have you seen the ottoman that’s really a bed?  http://www.plowhearth.com/fold-up-sleeper-ottoman-and-accessories_p9226.html  It’s a perfect solution if you need to turn a reading nook into a landing pad for a night.

6.  Shoes.  Have you seen these cute dressing room beauties?  The lining inside the round ottoman is really a set of pockets to hold pairs of shoes. http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Cordova-Zebra-Shoe-Storage-Ottoman/6808263/product.html?rcmndsrc=2

7.  Bags and totes.  Ottomans are naturally a good place to store things because they undeniably limit the space to a defined quantity.  When you place something like empty tote bags and duffels into a storage ottoman, you’re limited in a good way.

Right about now, you may be looking at your under-performing ottoman with new hopes for the piece.  Go get more out of your footstool space!

What else would you store in your footstool?