Bar stools have become a standard in homes today. They are ever present in our kitchens, bringing families in to join the cooking fun or keeping the chefs in their family company. Bar stools and kitchen counters have long been a great spot for homework, ensuring time together on most evenings.

Types of barstools offered

Barstools come in three basic heights that are called counter, bar and spectator, or stadium height. They are all designed to pair with the three most common heights of counters.

A standard height counter is 36 inches, so a counter stool’s height could range anywhere from 24-26 inches.

A typical bar height is 42 inches high, so a more appropriate bar stool height can be 30 inches.

Spectator or stadium stools are usually 34 to 36 inches tall and are designed for a counter that is 48 inches tall.

Unfortunately bar stool height requirements change drastically from house to house, which is why most stools are now being created as adjustable stools. By making them adjustable, usually one size of stool can fit all types of homes, counters or bars.

Swivel stools are also growing in popularity, but they tend to be heavy and can harm your floors, and be a hassle move in and out of the counter. You can choose barstools with no backs, full backs or partial backs depending on the fit for your kitchen. The addition of a footrest to a bar stool can save your back, so it’s important to consider.

Some people like to keep a theme in their home, and choose to go with barstools similar to their dining room table furniture.

Wood and metal barstools

Metal barstools can be much more affordable and offer an easier clean up. A popular metal barstool look is stainless steel, as it seems to go with the decoration in most homes. Chrome is a great looking option for more contemporary homes and kitchens. Metal barstools can be a great choice for a kitchen featuring a lot of wood cabinetry.

Some metal stools feature a mesh wiring look, that can be accented with different colored seat pillows to soften up a harsher metal look. The choice between metal and wood bar stools can be between dark and light or balancing the other features in your kitchen.

Wood barstools can work in many different styles of kitchens, including rustic or country, or traditional and modern kitchens. In industrial neutral colored kitchens wood can be used as a pop of color, with cherry wood or yellow maple. The light color of distressed or treated wood can also serve as a lighter change.

Sometimes the decision to go between wood or metal can be a hard one, so a great alternative can be to go with stools that feature both.