Barstools have become a staple in most homes today. Most people have breakfast bars in their kitchens, or bars in other areas of their home that lend themselves well to a higher chair. With the trend of eat-in kitchens and breakfast nooks, barstools are a great way to add an eating area to your kitchen. Barstools have also become a great way to help make the kitchen a central place of the home.
Adding barstools to the end of your counter in the kitchen, could prompt your kids to sit down and do their homework while dinner is being cooked. They also present a great place for someone to sit, and help prep dinner.
Types of stools
Barstools come in three different heights. Counter, bar and spectator/stadium height stools are designed to pair well with the three most common counter heights. Standard height stools are anywhere from 24-26 inches high, as standard counters are 36 inches. Typical bar height is 42 inches, so most barstools come in at 30 inches high. A spectator or stadium stool is 34-36 inches tall, and meant fr counters around 48 inches.
Because counter heights can vary so much in homes, some stools are being sold as adjustable height to accommodate any counter height. Swivel stools have always been popular, but they tend to be heavier, so it’s something to take into consideration if you move often or if you’re concerned about your floors.
Barstools come in many styles in addition to heights. Some come without backs, or with partial backs or with full backs. It’s up to you to choose the best style for your kitchen. Something to consider when choosing a stool, a footrest can make or break the long term comfort of a barstool, so try to find stools with foot rests.
Finish
It depends on the style of your home, and what sort of finish you’re looking for. Barstools come in many finishes, but the two most common is metal and wood. Metal tends to be more affordable and easier to clean. It also lends itself well to a more industrial look. Wood barstools tend to work well in lots of different styled kitchens. The neutral look of wood goes well with almost anything. If the choice to go between metal and wood is a hard one, try finding a stool that features both.
The Right Barstool
Finding the right stool takes a lot of consideration. You have to consider how often it will be used, and for how long, how comfortable you want it to be, and what it’s level of functionality will be. If it’s going to be the central hub of your home, go with something more comfortable and encourage someone to sit at the kitchen counter for longer.
