A footstool is a small, low piece of furniture designed to rest your feet on while you're sitting. Picture a padded cushion on short legs, just tall enough to prop up your feet when you're reading in an armchair.

Footstools serve a practical purpose: they help you sit more comfortably by supporting your legs and improving your posture. In a library, you might see wooden footstools that also help people reach books on high shelves. Some footstools are fancy and upholstered, matching the furniture in a living room, while others are simple wooden boxes or stools.

You might also hear people call it an ottoman, especially if it's larger and cushioned. A footstool can double as extra seating when guests visit, though that's not its main job. Kings and queens historically used elaborate footstools as symbols of their status, but today they're just a comfortable addition to a chair where you want to kick back and relax.