The Kitchen Furniture Guide to Kitchen Bar Stools
A bar in a modern kitchen it a meeting place. It is where the kids sit work on their homework, usually while one or both of their parents prepare a meal. The bar is where you dump the mail when you come through the door. The bar is where you drink coffee and catch up with your best friend. The bar is where you sit down for a snack or a quick meal. It is where you do all of the prep work for your culinary creations. It truly is the hub of a busy kitchen.
It just makes sense that you want your kitchen bar stools to be comfortable, yet still match the design and the overall feeling of your decor. If you have small children, for example, you would choose a very different stool from someone who only invites adults over for formal dinner parties. If you have a casual kitchen, your bar stools should reflect that. If your kitchen is techno-modern, there are bar stools made with you in mind.
One of the first things you should know before you begin shopping for bar stools is the height of your bar. This will determine the height of your bar stool, so be sure to measure before you leave home and take a tape measure with you, if possible. Not all stools are created the same height and it would be a shame to get your new stools home and find out they just won’t work.
Typically, for bars that range from 41 to 43 inches high, you want to look at tall bar stools. They usually range from 29 to 31 inches high. A counter stool is between 24 and 26 inches high. They are sized for bars 35 to 37 inches high. If your bar is not in either of these common heights, you may want to look for adjustable height bar stools, or possibly have some custom built.
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Wood and metal are the most common materials for bar stools to be made from. Those with metal frames almost always have some type of cushion for the seat. Wooden bar stools may or may not have a cushion. Also keep in mind that there is a entire industry dedicated to bar stool cushions in case you really like one that doesn’t come with cushions. You can always add them later. In fact, some people look at this as a plus. It gives them the opportunity to change the color or design of their cushions as often as they wish. Whether the cushion is part of the stool, or a separate purchase, you’ll find dozens of choices in fabric, vinyl and leather.
Whether you want swivel bar stools, or not, is a personal preference. One type is not better than the other, and both can be found in a large range of prices, so decide which one fits your kitchen decor and go with that.
Arms are another personal preference feature. Some people love them, some say they are always in the way. Whichever way you feel, be sure that your choice will fit at your particular bar. On some models, the arms are designed so that the stool can’t be tucked up underneath the bar when not being used. If walking space is limited around your bar, this may well be the determining factor in whether you go for arms or not.
One last thing to think about before you go shopping is how many bar stools you’ll need. You can eyeball it and guess, but a better way is to take time to measure first. In general, you should have 26 to 30 inches between your stools, measured from the center of one stool to the center of the next. Also leave at least 14 inches from a wall the end of the bar to your first. These measurements will give you plenty of room for getting to your bar stool without jostling the person next to you and you’ll both have room to eat without bumping elbows.
Now begins the fun part – shopping for new kitchen bar stools. Armed with your bar height and length, soon you’ll find the perfect stool that fits all of your criteria, plus looks great with your existing kitchen decor.
Here are some great buys to get you started: