Best brown leather ottomans

Top pick: the Baxton Studio Sandusky storage cocktail ottoman in dark brown. It's the one here that's genuinely leather-look brown, and it earns its place by doing two jobs: a 48-inch top for trays and feet, plus a lift-off top with a 44-inch interior for blankets and remotes. Low and wide, so it suits a sofa front rather than a reading chair.

Who the others suit:

• Sagebrook Home leather-and-pine pair — if you want two smaller pieces to split between a sofa and a chair, or to use as a coffee table.
• SONGMICS folding bench — for a bedroom or hallway, where a long, light, foldable seat matters more than looks.
• GDFSTUDIO Rupert — if a hidden drawer beats a big open well for small clutter.
• Poly & Bark Ascot and Sequoia — the step up in leather quality and round shape, for a room where the ottoman is the centrepiece.

A note on honesty: several listings call themselves leather but are leatherette or don't state the material, so check the upholstery line on the card before you commit.