Choosing Quality Bar Stools

You don’t have to own a local pub or tavern to enjoy the beauty, comfort, style and functionality of bar stools. Once relegated to the dark corners of a seedy bar, bar stools have come front and center to become one of the most versatile pieces of furniture in your home.

Part of the reason is their versatility. Bar stools can be used in any number of rooms in your home, from seating at a pub-style table in your kitchen and breakfast bar to being used in an outdoor covered patio near the barbecue. In between, you’ll find them in your family room, game room and even your home theater.

This renaissance in popularity is in large part due to the wide selection of bar stools that are on the market these days. They can be found in every major furniture style, including modern, contemporary, transitional and traditional.

When selecting bar stools for your home, you want to take a few things into account.

First, you need to decide on the style. Since this has probably already been determined by the other furnishings or decor that share the same space, this should be relatively straightforward.

Next is features. Yes, bar stools have features. You can opt for a very basic stool that has a fixed seat, no padding, no back, or you can get ones that have all these features and then some, including the ability to swivel. If you want your guests to be comfortable, you probably want to go with stools that have backs on them. However, this may not be ideal if you want to tuck them away when not in use, such as under the pub table or breakfast bar. A back, especially one that is curved or has arms, can greatly affect how you store them.

That said, guests will appreciate the additional comfort of a back, especially one with arms. They also may enjoy a padded seat. Thankfully, manufacturers make bar stools with a wide range of fabrics and many retailers, especially those online, allow you to order the fabric of your choice to match your décor.

Another nice feature to have is a foot rest. With many bar stools, the bottom supports provide guests with a place to rest their feet. With others, a special bar is added for feet. Just be sure that the foot rest isn’t too high up or too low for your average family member.

Bar stools come in several heights, from 24″ to 32″, though you can find them a bit higher or lower as well. You want to make sure that you get a stool that isn’t too high or low for your counters. Just measure your counter top and understand that the height refers to the height of the seat portion, not the overall height of the bar stool.

Finally, you want to consider the material. Stools come in nearly any material imaginable, from sleek stainless steel for a more modern look, oak, maple or pine for a more traditional look or even bamboo and wicker for a tropical feel. Some stools, especially those for outdoor entertaining, may look like bamboo but be made of metal instead, adding strength and durability while being all weather.

When shopping for quality bar stools, expect to pay $50 and up. While more inexpensive stools may be tempting, you may find that they won’t last. A good place to shop for stools is online. Online retailers often have a fantastic selection and with free shipping the prices can be very competitive. Best of all, you can shop easily for different styles since you can use a built-in search engine to narrow your options. Some models come in different heights so you want to double check your selections before finalizing your order.

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