Outdoor Footrests & Ottomans

Outdoor Footrests & Ottomans - FAQs

1. What is the difference between a footrest, a pouf and an ottoman?

   They overlap, and the difference is mostly about how you use them. A footrest is sized to sit in front of a lounge chair and take your legs, so its height is matched to a particular seat. A pouf is a soft, usually backless form that works as a footrest or as extra perching space when people are standing around. An ottoman is typically firmer and larger, so it doubles as occasional seating or as a low surface for a tray. This range covers all three, from the Nardi Poggio resin footrest through the Nardi Komodo pouf module to the Hairpin ashwood timber ottoman.

2. How do I match a footrest to my existing lounge chair?

   Match the height first. A footrest that sits too high pushes your knees up and a footrest that sits too low leaves your legs unsupported, so measure the seat height of the chair you are pairing it with and look for a footrest within a few centimetres of it. Depth matters next: a deeper lounge chair with a reclined back needs a footrest you can reach comfortably without sliding forward. If you are pairing with a NOON or Komodo lounge, the matched piece from that range is designed to the correct height already. Tell us which chair you have and we will confirm the pairing.

3. Can these stay outside all year round?

   It depends on the material. The Nardi Poggio and the Komodo pouf are resin pieces built for full exposure, so they handle sun and rain without being packed away. The Hairpin ashwood ottoman is timber and is better suited to a covered patio, balcony or alfresco area than to a spot with no shelter at all. Upholstered pieces and any cushion elements last considerably longer if they are stored or covered through a wet winter. Whatever the material, moving a piece out of standing water and off constantly wet ground makes a real difference to its life.

4. Can a pouf or ottoman be used as extra seating?

   Yes, and that is often the reason people buy one. An ottoman is the most comfortable of the three to sit on because it is firmer and has a flatter top, which is why the Hairpin ashwood piece works well pulled up to a low table. A pouf is softer and suits perching rather than a long sit. What none of them offer is back support, so they work as the flexible extra seat you bring out when more people arrive rather than as the chair somebody sits in all evening. If you need genuine additional seating for a full dinner, an outdoor chair is the better answer.

5. Is the Komodo pouf part of a larger system?

   Yes. The Nardi Komodo pouf is a module from the Komodo range, which is built as a modular system rather than as fixed settings. That means a Komodo layout can be added to or reconfigured later without replacing the pieces you already own, so a pouf bought now can become part of a larger corner or L shaped arrangement down the track. It also means the pouf sits at the correct height and in the correct finish alongside the rest of the range. If you already own Komodo pieces, tell us which ones and we will make sure the finish matches.

6. How do I clean and look after them?

   Resin pieces are the easiest. Warm water, a mild detergent and a soft cloth or brush will lift most marks, and a hose down handles dust and pollen. Avoid solvents, bleach and abrasive pads, which dull the surface permanently. Timber needs a little more: wipe spills promptly, keep it out of standing water, and re oil or treat it as the manufacturer recommends so the surface does not dry out and grey off. Fabric elements should be brushed clean and allowed to dry fully before being stored, because packing damp fabric away is what causes mildew rather than the rain itself.

7. Do they arrive assembled?

   Most pieces in this range arrive ready to use or need only minimal assembly, because a footrest or pouf has few parts. Resin pieces are generally supplied complete. Timber pieces may need legs fitted, which is a short job with the fixings supplied. Where a piece is part of a modular range it may ship as separate components so it can be packed safely, and the instructions cover how it goes together. If assembly matters to your timing, ask us before you order and we will confirm what a particular piece involves and what is in the carton.