The Cutting Table · compared on the table
Can I add a backrest to the ottoman to make a chair or small sofa?
Also asked as:Can the ottoman become a small sofa?Is there a chair version of the modular sofa?
An ottoman is half a chair waiting for its other half. Give it a back and it starts pulling its weight in the room.
SaveThe quick answer
You can add a backrest to the modular floor sofa's ottoman and turn it into a lounge chair or a small L-shaped sectional. Choose an L-shaped corner backrest or a straight one; either is a separate, movable piece held from behind by metal bars, and it can be bought later through a custom link. The ottoman-with-backrest chair also lays flat or folds back.
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Three ways to put a back on an ottoman
| Option | What it makes | How it's built | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-shaped (corner) backrest | A small L-shaped sectional or corner lounge | Separate corner piece, held by metal bars from behind | The ottoman sits at the end of the sofa or in a corner |
| Straight backrest | A seat with a back along one side | Separate straight piece, held by metal bars from behind | The ottoman lines up with the sofa, or two pieces need bridging |
| Ottoman-with-backrest chair | A single-seat lounge chair | Connected layers that lay flat or fold back | You want a chair that also opens into a floor pad |
Key facts
- A backrest can be added to the ottoman to make a chair or a small sectional.
- Both L-shaped (corner) and straight backrests are made for the ottoman.
- The ottoman backrest is a separate, movable piece.
- Metal bars support it from behind, like the standard sofa backrests.
- The ottoman-with-backrest chair has connected layers that lay flat or fold back.
- A sofa bought with the extra ottoman includes a backrest cushion.
- A 39 in (99 cm) straight cushion can fill the gap between two corner pieces.
- The ottoman module is 39 x 39 in (100 x 100 cm) and about 14.5 in (37 cm) high.
- Adding the ottoman extends the sofa to about 118 in (300 cm).
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Why the ottoman backrest needs no wall
The ottoman backrest is its own piece. You can set it wherever you like, and it's held up from behind by metal support bars, the same way the standard backrests on the modular floor sofa are held. On the sofa itself, four bars do that job, two at the sides and two at the back, so it doesn't need a wall.
That's why you can buy the ottoman plain today and give it a back next season through a custom link. Nothing about the ottoman has to change. Give the color in your order note so the back matches, in corduroy or whatever your sofa wears.
Closing the gap between two corners
When a layout has two corner pieces with open floor between them, a straight 39 in (99 cm) cushion set between the corners closes it. A straight backrest between two sofas does the same job along the back line.
If you buy the sofa with the extra ottoman, a backrest cushion is already included, so check your set before you order another. The modular layouts Pattern shows how the pieces combine. How does your room want to be sat in, my friend: one long seat, or a corner to fold into?
An ottoman with a backrest is a lounge chair whose connected layers lay flat as a floor pad or fold back into a seat.
Harlan
Buyer questions
- A common question
Can I add a backrest to the ottoman to make a small sofa?
The workshop's answerYes, with an L-shaped (corner) backrest or a straight one; the straight one costs less. If you buy the sofa with the extra ottoman, a backrest cushion is included.
- A common question
Do you make a single-seat chair version of the modular sofa?
The workshop's answerYes. The ottoman with a backrest works as a lounge chair. Its layers are connected, so it lays flat or folds back into a chair; give the color in your order note.
- A common question
Can the ottoman get a backrest so my sofa becomes an L-shaped sectional?
The workshop's answerYes. The ottoman backrest is made to order and sent through a custom purchase link.
- A common question
Is the ottoman backrest detachable, and is anything holding it up?
The workshop's answerYes, it's a separate piece you can place wherever you like, and metal bars support it from behind, like the standard sofa backrests.
- A common question
Can I add an L-shaped backrest later, or a straight piece between two corners?
The workshop's answerYes. An extra L-shaped backrest turns the ottoman into a small sectional and can be bought later through the same link. A 39 in straight cushion between two corner pieces was quoted as a custom item.
Questions buyers ask next
Do I need a wall behind an ottoman with a backrest?
No. The backrest is held from behind by metal bars, like the sofa's own backrests. On the sofa, two side bars and two back bars hold the back cushions, which is why it can float in the middle of a room.
What color are the support bars?
The bars are silver chrome. They stand behind the back cushions, so from the front of the sofa you mostly see fabric, with a glint of metal at the sides.
Will a backrest bought later match my sofa's fabric?
Give the fabric and color code from your first order. Fabric stock is kept, so later pieces can be made in your original fabric, and the custom link is set up from those codes.
