The Smart Way To Use An Unstuffed Pouf For Extra Storage

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Generally, the best coffee table ottomans come with multifunctional storage and help round out your sofa or couch. They can even double as a seater and footrest when needed. However, they're kind of a permanent solution. This is because you can't exactly compress or fold them and put them away when you don't need them, or need the space they occupy for something else (like your Christmas tree). Fortunately, a unique Amazon find will keep your house organized and meet your flexibility goals: the unstuffed pouf.

A cousin of the ottoman, such poufs are true to their name and come without any stuffing. So, basically, you get a sewn piece of fabric (or other material) and have room to fill the interiors with whatever you want. This way, your clutter will stay out of sight, but be still within your reach. When you don't need them, simply take out the items, fold the cover, and store them away for next time. Easy-peasy. Although they would make for a poor coffee table, you can still use the stuffed pieces as a seater or footrest around your house. Plus, they're relatively cheaper than their pre-stuffed counterparts. In other words, you get to hide your mess and save money along the way. Win-win! But to make the most of your pouf, you must stuff it the right way.

The first step is to get an unstuffed pouf. Go for a neutral cover, like HOMBYS Cotton Knitted Pouf, to ensure it matches the rest of your decor without much effort. Or, you could pick something particular. For instance, if your home decor leans more toward mid-century modern or rustic, go with an artificial leather cover, like Thgonwid's Handmade Moroccan Round Pouf. Remember to keep your design scheme in mind when picking a cover, or it might stick out like an eyesore. Another alternative is to grab an extra rug (or two), cut it up into four pieces, and glue the seams together to DIY a pouf cover on a budget.

Once you have your cover, determine how you want to use it. This is important because this will guide your stuffing process. To illustrate, if you want to use the pouf as a storage alternative and nothing more, you can throw in items randomly (but ensure it doesn't stick out too weirdly on one side). On the other hand, if you plan on using it as a seater or footrest, too, you must use an old pillow as the bottom most layer. This will give it a cushiony base. Then, add the items you want to store and fill the gaps around them with old towels, blankets, or thin rugs to keep them in place and comfortably seat or rest your feet on your stuffed pouf. In case you don't have these handy, crumpled newspapers work too.

After you finalize your pouf's purpose (decor vs seater), it's time to fill it up. Gather your old clothes, worn bedding (think along the lines of sheets, thin duvets, blankets), and rough-looking towels. But you don't have to stick to items you no longer use or need. Seasonal clothes, like sweaters, scarves, chunky socks, jackets, and blankets are also a good choice. In case you have kids and are running low on storage options, use these fillable covers to house their stuffed toys. Don't forget to pad the pouf with a pillow and some other textiles if you or your child plan on sitting on it, or the toys might lose their decorative details, like stuck on eyes and buttons, under pressure.

Avoid putting anything sharp or fragile inside since such items might harm the cover or sustain damage when you drag the filled pouf around or sit on it. Things you wouldn't normally sit on or would make it difficult to drag the pouf, such as books and magazines, are a no-go as well. Moreover, don't put in anything that's dirty or wet (even textiles that are slightly damp are a no-go) to avoid compromising the cover. Take care to only store the amount of items it can comfortably handle. While you don't want to leave any gaps because it would interfere with its firmness, you don't want to overstuff your pouf either.