Shea McGee Just Invented the Perfect Storage Ottoman for Small Spaces – and You Won't Believe the Price
Heard of a horseshoe ottoman? This vintage-inspired design might be the smartest thing to happen to small-space furniture in decades
The ’70s got a lot of things right. The mesmerizing swirls of burled wood being one. Storage ideas, a little less so. Not that they weren’t trying. This was around the time furniture discovered it could multitask. But between the slam-shut lids, pinched fingers, and seats that looked more comfortable than they actually were, there was room for improvement.
Which is why I’m fascinated by Shea McGee’s new storage ottoman for Target, a design that keeps all the charm of those retro pieces while correcting a few decades-old mistakes – large in part to a switch so simple: it's horseshoe-shaped.
This ottoman is burled wood-look plywood rather than the real thing (hence the very reasonable $120 price tag), but between the curved silhouette and convincing grain pattern, it could have had any of our editors fooled.
Not round. Not square. Not even one of those increasingly popular corner-loving triangles. A horseshoe. Which means this stylish ottoman has the look of a fully curved seat while still sitting flush against a wall. For anyone still working out the choreography of a small living room, this cosplay is kind of a revelation.
In fact, I'm beginning to suspect this is objectively the better storage shape. Why it took us several decades to figure that out, I couldn't tell you. Better late than never, I suppose.
Shea McGee’s latest storage solution brings all the romance of a vintage burl wood find, with none of the reasons it ended up on Facebook Marketplace.
And at roughly 18 by 18 by 18 inches, this unusual ottoman style is surprisingly spacious. Cords, throws, and other household eyesores disappear beneath its neat lift-top lid, while up top, a contemporarily comfortable upholstered cushion makes it somewhere you actually want to sit. Looking like the storied burl wood score you've been searching Facebook Marketplace for since 2022 (but will probably never find), this gem might even be better than vintage.
Humanity may not have flying cars yet, but in this Year of the Horse, at least Shea McGee has figured out the storage ottoman.
More Small Space-Friendly Storage Ottomans
Now that I've become a bit of an ottoman-shape enthusiast, it feels only right to share a few more contenders. Horseshoes may be the current favorite, but these three clever storage designs are equally adept at hiding living room or bedroom clutter while hogging as few precious square inches as possible.
If 2026 belongs to the horseshoe ottoman, 2025 was unquestionably the year of the triangle – a shape that finally made awkward corners useful. From the fringe to the pop of orange, this piece packs major personality into a pretty petite footprint.
Another Shea McGee creation we can’t resist: this skirted number, which, backed by an oddly specific 4.91-star rating, has seen a few cycles of sellouts. It’s deeply Nancy Meyers-coded, and unlikely to stay in stock for long.
For upholstery lovers in the mood for a splurge, it doesn’t get much better than this classically slipcovered square from The Inside. Available in more than 60 fabric options, it’s deceptively roomy, currently on sale, and very much a ‘forever’ piece (every living room needs an ottoman, after all).
Shea had me at horseshoe, but this isn’t the only horsey development happening this year. Tack on the warm burl finish, heritage-inspired upholstery, and the broader return of equestrian decor, this ottoman arrives at a time when we're all wannabe horse girls. (Ralph Lauren would probably approve.)
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