SONGMICS 43.3 Inches Folding Storage Ottoman Bench, Load 660 lb

Why it's worth it

A 43-inch folding bench with a 35-gallon interior, a removable divider, and a rated load of 660 pounds. It assembles by dropping in the bottom panel, and it flattens for storage when you don't need it.

This is the rare storage ottoman that's actually rated for people to sit on it. SONGMICS lists a 660-pound static load, backed by metal corner guards on the lid and MDF panels underneath. Most folding ottomans quietly rate themselves for storage only. If you want a piece that handles two adults perched on it during a party, this is the one in the lineup with the specs to say so.

The interior is 35 gallons, which is genuinely a lot. That's a comforter and two pillows, or a season's worth of kids' toys. A removable divider splits the space in half, so books stay on one side and blankets on the other. Pull it out and you've got one long cavity for bed sheets or bulky winter coats. At 43 inches wide, it also spans the foot of a queen bed without looking undersized.

From our review of 6 storage ottomans

What we like

• +This is the rare storage ottoman that's actually rated for people to sit on it
• +The interior is 35 gallons, which is genuinely a lot
• +Assembly takes seconds
• +The linen-look surface with tufting reads as more expensive than it is

What to know

• –It's a box, and it looks like one
• –The lid lifts off rather than staying propped on its own