Pouffe! There It Is

Little Miss Muffet has her tuffet; houses of the holy favor hassocks when it’s time to kneel for prayer; and no one truly lolls on a lounge chair without an accompanying ottoman. Its aliases may be many, but whatever you call it, the low-lying, legless cushion is an icon of taking it easy. And unlike lugging a sofa or easy chair around the room, putting your footstool in just the right place doesn’t require breaking a sweat.

Soft fabrics are safe bets for upholstery that feels plush on the tootsies. Donna Wilson covered the Ernest Zig Zag in a series of patterned wool 
panels, giving its geometric print slight variation in the round; the hand-done, chunky cotton garter stitch on CB2’s Knitted Pouf feels like an 
afghan from Grandma; and Ligne Roset opted for a smooth porcelain blue Alcantara microfiber for this version of Pierre Paulin’s Pumpkin. The textured patchwork that tops the Mangas Puff by Patricia Urquiola was originally introduced as a rug; this fuller, cushier incarnation is as comfy under heel as underfoot.

For a full-body experience, try the classic Sacco, designed by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, and Franco Teodoro for Zanotta in 1968. The original 
beanbag chair is stuffed with polystyrene pellets that reconfigure when you sink in, providing a solid headrest and encasing seat; Francesco Rota’s Play is also filled with the polymer pills. Sushi takes up the most floor space of the bunch and, at 4.5 feet in diameter, is just about big enough to curl up on for a nap in the fetal position.

Firmer, flatter pouffes can even be used as makeshift side tables. Place a serving tray over the polyester-painted cords of Kettal’s ZigZag and the flat-topped frame can become a surface suitable for holding a cold glass of lemonade.

Lest you think that putting your feet up after a long day is just a luxury, it feels blissful for good reason. “Veins do not have muscles in them. It’s easy for gravity to take blood down to the feet but very difficult for your body to get it back up again,” says San Francisco podiatrist Charles Starrett. The best way to facilitate proper circulation? “I recommend that everyone should elevate their feet in the evening, while watching TV or reading, raised just enough to get the swelling headed back toward the heart. Essentially, you should never sit with your feet dependent if you can help it.” In other words, sit back, relax, and use that pouffe­—–doctor’s orders!

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  Sushi Pouf

  • Designed by: Edward van Vliet
  • Made by: Moroso
  • Price: $5,401

  This. Pouffe. Is. Huge. Though Sushi comes in different sizes, this large round donut is more round mattress than circular ottoman. With that in mind, Edward van Vliet's statement piece would work wonders in a living room where space (or cost) is not an issue, but an emphasis on lounging around is essential.

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  Mangas Pouff MP2

  • Designed by: Patricia Urquiola
  • Price: $2,045

  We've been enamored of Patricia Urquiola's multi-knit Mangas since they were introduced as a series of rugs in Milan last year. This "pouff" takes those colorful, chunky designs and stuffs them, making more to love for the unique designs.

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  Ernest Zig Zag Pouffe

  • Designed by: Donna Wilson
  • Made by: SCP
  • Price: $542

  Donna Wilson does textiles like no other designer out there today. Ernest is one of a pouffe trio—Frank and Henry complete the threesome—that showcase the Scottish lass's take on a rotund wooly jumper.

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  Pumpkin Pouffe

  • Designed by: Pierre Paulin
  • Made by: Ligne Roset
  • Price: $1,135

  The famed French designer Pierre Paulin made pouffe magic in 1969 with his perfectly curvaceous Pumpkin. Ligne Roset reissued the icon in 2008, and it comes in a myriad of colors.

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  ZigZag Puff

  • Designed by: Emiliana Design Studio
  • Made by: Kettal
  • Price: $1,228

  Though this is perhaps the pouf least come-hither-appealing for feet, Kettal's ZigZag goes well both indoors and out. There are custom covers to soften the surface for your feet, or make it a perfect spot to rest a book and a icy beverage when you're cooling your heels.

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  Sacco Pouffe

  • Designed by: Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, Franco Teodoro
  • Made by: Zanotta
  • Price: $605

  Every beanbag chair slumped in the corner of a college dorm or kids' room owes its existence to a trio of mid-century Italian designers; Sacco is the first of its kind, and recently celebrated its 40 year anniversary. The polystyrene-pebble-filled pouffe will support your body like a chair, making it more-than-just-a-mere-footstool.

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  Knitted Pouf

  • Made by: CB2
  • Price: $89.95

  It's just pretty impossible to go wrong with a cotton-weave knit as thick as this. CB2's affordable option is the ideal size for a smaller apartment, where space might be an issue and putting your feet up is a necessity.

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  Play Pouffe

  • Designed by: Francesco Rota
  • Made by: Paola Lenti
  • Price: $877

  The Play collection from Paola Lenti comes in both indoor and outdoor models, but this pouf is strictly for the living room—not patio—set. Choose from a range of upholsteries, with a choice of fringe to spice things up a bit.