Choosing the Right Bar Stool

Adding a set of bar stools to any room in your house can be a great seating addition. Even though they were typically only found at your local bar or pub, bar stools are the new fashion statement in contemporary decor. Finding a spot in your decor for barstools is not hard, as they are at home in the kitchen, basement bar, deck, and dining nook.

Once you have decided upon what room might suit the addition of a bar stool you must apply your mind to what type of bar stool might be appropriate. There are many different styles and designs to choose from. Your choice of bar stool will depend entirely on the d?cor of the room in which it is intended to be placed and upon your own personal tastes.

The number one decision is of course the size of bar stool that you will get. Of course you will want to make sure to select a height that suits the bartop or table that you are matching. You will also want to keep the size of the table and room in mind so that you also choose an appropriately scaled stool. Heights range from vanity sized 24″ stools, all the way up to extra high 36″ heights. The standard height is 30″, which is designed to suit the typical bar height of 42″.

With the height of your table or bar determined you will have a final barstool height that you can go shopping with. Now you just need to browse the almost infinite number of styles and colors to find the perfect choice for your theme. A few key characteristics which will help to narrow down your options are 1) back or no back, 2) swivel or fixed, 3) wood or metal 4) cloth or leather upholstery 4) round or square shaped seats. Aside from style, one of the biggest factors for me is comfort, and having a back on my barstools is definitely the option that I tend to choose.

Last but not least you should narrow down the materials that the bar stools will be made of. There are a lot of lightweight metal stools available today, and they make very good modern alternatives to the standard hardwood highback swivel seat stools. The other major material to consider is whether to pick an upholstered version, and if so whether you want fabric or leather. Nothing beats the luxury and ease of maintenance that leather offers, but upholstered versions will be available in an almost infinite number of color and pattern options.

The bar stool options available these days is so great that I don’t think you could think of a bar stool style that isn’t already available. If you are looking for a change from the standard dining table and chairs, a bar height table and bar stools might just be the change you are looking for. Make sure you figure out a height that suits you, and from there your choices are limitless.