Soft tool so appropriate for small items of furniture (10)

I believe the answer is:

footstools

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'furniture' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'soft tool so appropriate for small items' is the wordplay.
'soft tool so' can be anagrammed to 'FOOTSTOOLS'.
But, I'm not sure how this is indicated.

'of' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for footstools that I've seen is " furniture".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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