The smartest people I know only buy furniture that's multi-functional – Martha Stewart designed an ottoman that embodies this ideology

City living makes you strategic with every inch of space – thankfully, Martha makes it simpler with an essential furnishing that's under $303

Martha Stewart
(Image credit: Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty Images)

Living in a tiny urban apartment forces you to think about space intelligently, and investing in multi-functional furniture should be your first port of call. Everyone I know who lives in the city has the same ideology, prioritizing furniture that doubles as storage or extra seating, and it would seem Martha Stewart also has these principles down to a T.

Despite Martha Stewart's property portfolio spanning a Bedford farmhouse and Hamptons retreat, the lifestyle guru proves she understands the need for multifunctional furniture, starting with her Cedric Tufted Round Ottoman (available at Wayfair).

As you would expect from a well-designed ottoman, this piece serves as both an ultra-comfortable seat and a footrest, but it's also a hidden storage savior. Below the gray upholstery sits a veneer shelf, offering discreet storage space for your living room or bedroom essentials. It's the perfect place to store TV remotes, books, and matches for your nearby candles.

It's currently hiding deep on Wayfair with 37% off, meaning you can get a new seat and storage for under $303.

To utilize this storage space, I suggest investing in a rattan tray (much like the ones below) that creates a stylish zone to keep your essentials neat and tidy. It's an ideal solution for my small living room, but as designers explain, you shouldn't overlook the bedroom.

'Incorporating an ottoman into the bedroom is a smart and stylish way to enhance both the functionality and aesthetic of the space. It provides additional seating or storage, while also adding a touch of luxury and comfort,' comments Cristina Rugo, the creative director at Greyciane.

If you're bringing your ottoman to your bedroom, Cristina recommends positioning it at the front of your bed to create 'the perfect focal point, balancing practicality with elegance.'

She continues: 'Layering furniture is an effective way to elevate any room, and an ottoman is the ideal example of how the right piece can introduce texture, colour, and sophistication to your bedroom.'


Megan Slack
Head of Celebrity Style News

Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens, where she leads the celebrity/ news team. She has a history in interior design, travel, and news journalism, having lived and worked in New York, Paris, and, currently, London. Megan has bylines in Livingetc, The Telegraph, and IRK Magazine, and has interviewed the likes of Drew Barrymore, Ayesha Curry, Michelle Keegan, and Tan France, among others. She lives in a London apartment with her antique typewriter and an eclectic espresso cup collection, and dreams of a Kelly Wearstler-designed home.

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