Round Pouf vs Square Ottoman: Which One Fits Your Home?

Round or square — it seems like a minor decision but it shapes how the piece functions in your room and what it says aesthetically.

The Round Moroccan Pouf

The traditional form. The dome shape is specifically Moroccan — it's the silhouette that has been made in the workshops of Marrakech for centuries. The round form has several practical advantages: no sharp corners to catch on furniture or present a hazard, softens the visual line of rooms with a lot of rectangular furniture, easier to move and manoeuvre in tight spaces, and the dome shape distributes seating weight evenly. The standard ARTISANAHOUSE pouf is 60cm diameter and 30cm tall — proportions refined over generations to be functional as both footrest and extra seating.

The Square Ottoman

Square or rectangular ottomans are more formal and architectural. They tend to have a harder, more structured silhouette. Square ottomans with removable trays or lids are common — useful for storage. However, they are heavier and harder to move, the corners can be sharp, and they have less cultural character than the Moroccan dome form.

How to Choose

Choose round if: your furniture has a lot of straight lines and you want softening curves. You want something easy to move around. You want the traditional Moroccan aesthetic. You want a piece that works as footrest, extra seat, and side table equally well.

Choose square if: you have a very contemporary or minimal space where rounded forms look out of place. You want storage functionality. You're using it primarily as a fixed ottoman beside a sofa.

Our round poufs: Moroccan leather poufs at ARTISANAHOUSE — the traditional dome form, handmade in Marrakech, ships from Italy.