This Bold IKEA Ottoman Is the Room Upgrade I Didn’t Know I Needed (It Totally Changed How I Use My Space!)

It’s hard to overstate the value of multipurpose furniture in a dorm room or college apartment. Every inch of space matters, so finding pieces that are both functional and stylish is beyond exciting. That’s why I was so pumped when IKEA sent me their FÖRLUNDA Pouf, which won the title of “best storage ottoman” in the 2026 Dorm Therapy Awards. 

After weeks of using this ottoman in my room, I can attest that it’s as cute as it is practical. Whether I’m getting ready to go out, cleaning my room, or having friends over, this pouf always comes in handy. It provides extra seating, hidden storage, and even a bit of extra surface space that somehow makes my room feel just a little bit bigger. Here’s my honest review of the IKEA FÖRLUNDA Pouf.

The IKEA FÖRLUNDA Pouf is a round, upholstered storage ottoman with wooden legs that raise the base off the ground. It measures about 16 inches tall by 17 inches wide — the actual storage space is a little less than that since some of that height includes the legs — but don’t let its compact size fool you. It’s the perfect fit for a dorm room or apartment, and it offers much more than just a place to sit. The padded lid lifts off to reveal hidden storage inside. Of course, you can also use it as a seat for yourself or friends that come over to hang out in your room — it was tested for a weight limit up to 242 pounds, according to the product description.

Depending on your style and budget, you can get the Vissle Beige version with natural legs for $59.99 or pay $69.99 for either the Tonerud Grey (also with natural legs) or, my personal favorite, Tonerud Red (with painted red legs). I love how the ottoman’s  rounded beechwood legs give it a fun, modern look while maintaining its sturdiness — and painted legs on the red ottoman are so bold! 

The ottoman comes with an easy-to-follow, pictures-only instruction manual, all of the necessary tools, and just a few pieces to assemble. All I had to do was attach the four legs using two screws for each leg, and it was ready to use in well under 30 minutes. It also comes with furniture pads that prevent the legs from scratching the floor, which I appreciated.

I was genuinely excited to try this ottoman, and it ended up exceeding my expectations. Assembly was quick and the bright red color added so much personality to my room without taking up too much space.

I have found myself using it for something different almost every day! My first instinct is usually to pull it over as a footrest when I’m reading in my floor chair or lounging at my desk. I also use it as a seat while organizing my room or putting on my shoes before heading out the door. Because it’s so lightweight, I can easily move it around. Lately, I’ve loved placing it in front of my full-length mirror, so I can sit on the ottoman while I do my makeup or hair.

The hidden storage is an obvious bonus. Right now, my FÖRLUNDA Pouf is filled to the brim with bathing suits, but once winter rolls around, I plan to swap them out for scarves, mittens, and hats. I think it’s best for clothing, but it could just as easily hold things like craft supplies, school supplies, a blanket, or college snacks.

One unexpected use I discovered is that it makes the perfect stand for my laptop. I use it whenever I’m doing yoga in my room — it’s the ideal height for streaming a workout video. I also find myself setting things on top of it to keep them out of the way whenever I’m cleaning or organizing my space. It gives me just enough extra surface space to keep everything within reach without making my room feel cluttered.

The IKEA FÖRLUNDA Pouf is one of those pieces that quietly makes everyday life a little easier. It fits seamlessly into my space, and I know it’s something I’ll keep finding new uses for throughout the school year.