How The 24″ Bar Stool Evolved

I believe that 24 inch bar stools are a fairly modern development in the area of bar stools. Historically, there were only 30 inch bar stools. The 30 inch bar stool dates back hundreds of years. The standard height was set based on sitting at old English style pubs. When I first got into the bar design business all of the stools were generally standardized. They were the same heights, and for the most part one of only a few styles and designs. You would walk into just about any pub and not be able to tell them apart if you only had the bar stools to go by. Now there are hundreds of different types of bar stools that are manufactured and commercially available.

For the most part there are now two standard bar stool height: there are 24 inch bar stools and 30 inch bar stools. The higher 30″ bar stools are found in commercial venues such as pubs, night clubs and restaurants. Both the 24 inch and 30 inch bar stools models are commonly found in residential settings. With hundreds of different models to choose from you can make your bar area as unique as you want.

Historically, the use of bar stools in private homes was generally limited to basement family rooms or possibly the main floor at the edge of a large living room. Often if used on the main floor the bars were portable. Those stools used in the basement tended to be wooden and were stained a natural color. The whole concept was to recreate an old English pub in your basement and these bars needed pub style bar stools. Those stools found in the more formal areas of the residence tended to be made out of chrome or resin. All of these older style bar stools were designed for use by adults. The stools were invariably 30″ high to suit a standard 42 inch bar.

Then a transformation happened. It no longer was about women getting out of the kitchen. This transformation was about the family getting back into the kitchen. Lifestyle shows were being set in the kitchen. The kitchen was a place to live. The kitchen became the most important room in the house. These days kitchens are about lifestyle. This new kitchen reflects a redistribution of domestic labor. Making food now includes communicating and socializing. Todays kitchen is about stainless appliances, talking, cappuccino makers, chatting, reading, writing, and breakfast bars. With this new type of bar came a new type of bar stool - the breakfast bar stool, or what are generally known as 24 inch bar stools.

New ways to use the kitchen as a family or a meeting area were created. At some point it became obvious that a breakfast bar was the perfect place to accommodate the modern eat and run lifestyle. This realization occurred at the same time that families were trying to maximize counter space. More counter space was needed if the kitchen work was to be shared. And so, the breakfast bar became the ideal place to read the paper or do homework while someone else prepared a meal or did kitchen chores.

There are a number of good reasons the 24″ bar stool was created. Not the least of which was that the older taller chairs seemed too big for the kitchen. However, likely the most important reason was child safety. If children were to use these stools then the standard height stools were simply too high and posed a danger to children. The shorter 24″ bar stool was perfect as it blended into the kitchen and was safe for use by children.

Look for more information about barstools: 24″ and other short sizes by visiting this site about counter stools and other bar stools.