If you’ve never stopped to consider what to put at the foot of your bed, you could be overlooking one of the most impactful design opportunities in the space.
The right bedroom furniture piece at the end of your bed can anchor the room, introduce texture or color, and add practical bedroom storage without disrupting the calm, restful feel a bedroom needs. And yes, this is even true in small bedrooms.
The key is choosing something intentional rather than filling the space for the sake of it. Ahead, designers share the styles they most often recommend for the foot of the bed, along with the smartest options to shop if you want to make this often-ignored spot work harder and look better.
What to Put At the Foot of Your Bed
In well-designed bedrooms, the end of the bed is rarely an afterthought.
Instead, it should be treated as a purposeful styling spot that brings much to how the room works and feels day to day. Whether that means providing extra seating, integrating storage, or simply creating a more layered scheme, what you place here can shift a bedroom from good to great.
Here, interior designers share their favorite ideas for styling the foot of your bed.
1. Ottomans and Benches
A bedroom storage bench or ottoman is one of the most obvious and accessible options available to you for good reason: it’s practical, versatile, and visually grounding.
Placed at the end of the bed, it creates a natural finishing point that makes the whole room feel more considered. 'I am a big proponent of a chic bench at the foot of the bed,' says designer Kathy Kuo.
'Try a woven leather bench or a more traditional wooden one to reinforce your design style and add visual interest to a bedroom design,' she advises. 'Plus, a bedroom bench at the foot of the bed makes for a great place for placing decorative pillows and throw blankets at night when you're not using them.'
'The end of the bed is the perfect place for a low bench, which can be useful to sit on when putting on your shoes,' agrees designer Bethany Adams.
For bedrooms that need to work a little harder, an upholstered ottoman is one of the smartest choices you can make. It delivers hidden storage to help keep extra bedding, pillows, or seasonal layers neatly tucked away while maintaining a calm, uncluttered feel.
'An upholstered ottoman is always a favourite – practical for storing cushions, throws or linens, and a lovely way to add softness and shape,' adds designer Lauren Gilberthorpe.
The handwoven natural texture of this water-hyacinth bench brings warmth and tactility to your room, while the lift-off link opens up to a spacious trunk. A hardworking piece that's ideal for relaxed or coastal style spaces.
A sleek, Italian-inspired silhouette meets romantic pattern in this floral-upholstered bench, whose slim legs and tailored shape make it feel equal parts delicate and architectural. It’s the kind of piece that adds personality without looking bulky.
A tailored pleated skirt and plush cushioning give this storage bench a polished appearance, while the lift-top design keeps spare throws and linens neatly tucked away. It’s practical, comfortable, and timelessly classic.
2. A Cozy Seating Area
If your bedroom has the square footage, designers say the foot of the bed is the perfect place to introduce a mini seating vignette.
'If space allows, I like to get a little more inventive and place lounge seating – think two chairs, a small sofa, or even a chaise lounge – at the end of the bed for a luxurious reading or private television watching area,' Bethany suggests.
Soft, lounge-style bedroom seating works especially well here because it adds comfort without interrupting the calm flow a bedroom needs. Upholstered pieces, curved silhouettes, or plush cushions help this area feel inviting rather than formal, and create a spot designed for rest as much as style.
Designers also often turn to a pair of chairs at the foot of the bed. The symmetry instantly creates balance, visually widening the space and giving it a layered feel.
Designed by Heidi Caillier to feel like an antique find, this tailored armchair blends vintage-style shape with a playful plaid pattern. The rounded arms, ball feet, and plump upholstery make it the most inviting bedroom seat.
Slim, sculptural metalwork paired with striped upholstery gives this ottoman a light, airy feel. It’s a subtle statement piece that adds pattern, structure, and a hint of vintage charm without overwhelming a seating vignette.
.A sculptural fluted shade and soft sheen finish make this enamel cordless lamp feel decorative as well as functional. Perfect for an end of bed seating moment, it adds ambient glow exactly where you need it - no outlet required
3. A Small Settee
If you want the foot of your bed to feel more indulgent, like a luxury hotel bedroom, a small settee is a beautiful choice. Unlike a backless bench, a settee introduces height and structure, helping to anchor the room while offering genuine comfort.
Kayleigh Eppinger of Epp Interiors recommends: 'Something soft that you can take a seat on. A bench, settee, or small pair of chairs is great. If you have the room, get something with a back so you can use it as a place to relax before jumping into bed – a nice reading or meditation spot.'
'Tip from a very clumsy person – opt for something soft so when you're walking around in the dark, you aren't bumping into anything that hurts,' she adds.
Lauren Gilberthorpe agrees, adding: 'A tailored two-seater with a coffee table can create a quiet spot to sit with a book or a morning cup of tea. We often design bespoke pieces for this purpose, making sure they sit just right in the room.'
A compact, upholstered settee or small couch design can soften the end of the bed while creating a relaxation moment within the bedroom layout.
Traditional yet contemporary, this settee designed by Shea McGee strikes the perfect balance between polished and relaxed thanks to its elegant profile and playful fringe trim detail.
Curved lines and the richly textured, botanical-meets-tapestry print chenille lend this settee a romantic, vintage-inspired feel. It’s compact enough for smaller rooms yet statement enough to feel like a real focal point.
Designed in collaboration with renowned design duo Pierce & Ward, this vintage-inspired loveseat is a characterful piece that adds warmth, shape, and gentle curves to the end of your bed.
That being said, restraint can be just as powerful as adding something new. Lauren Gilberthorpe explains that 'Sometimes the best decision is to leave the space empty. There’s no need to add furniture for the sake of it, especially if the room is on the smaller side.'
So whether you opt for a bench, a storage-savvy ottoman, a pair of chairs, or nothing at all, the key is making sure the end of your bed feels intentional. Get it right, and this often-overlooked spot might just complete your bedroom.
