Guide to Bar Stool Heights and Styles

Whether you are looking for home bar furniture, or you want to update your kitchen with some new seating, shopping for bar stools isn’t as simple as you might think. There are a lot of things to take into consideration, both practical and aesthetic. Make sure you are well-informed before you jump into a purchase!

Heights

When it comes to the bar stool height you choose, you must factor in how tall the counter or table it will be placed beside is. Here are the most common heights of bar stools and the counter heights they match best with:

It is essential to measure your counter or table first, as you can see. That way the bar stool you pick will look and feel natural beside it.

Another important factor is the amount of leg room available. A good rule of thumb is that there should be 9 to 12 inches between the top of the stool and the bottom edge of the countertop.

Finally, you should decide the quantity of bar stools you want. This is easy enough if you know how long your counter is. It is standard to leave 26 to 30 inches between the center of each stool, so your guests will have enough space to eat and socialize comfortably.

Styles

Once you know the specs you need to keep in mind, you can start exploring different styles to see what would work best in your home. What is the design scheme of the room they’ll be used in? How do you want them to add to the space?

If you are looking for something formal, traditional bar stools would be a good choice. They are often made of darker woods and feature ornate details. Rustic bar stools are more casual, with distressed wood, chipped paint, or two-tone finishes. They’d look right at home in your basement bar or country kitchen.

Contemporary and modern bar stools are sleek with clean lines, creating eye-catching silhouettes, and they are often made of metal, plastic, or molded wood. Or, if you want to keep it simple, transitional bar stools go well with nearly any home décor.

Features

A few other details will come into play when you shop. Bar stools are constructed with durability in mind, so you’ll be picking the frame materials primarily based on appearance. For example, metal bar stools look modern, while wooden bar stools are more traditional.

Seat materials come with a different set of considerations. Upholstered or leather bar stools may look attractive, but if they are going to be getting a lot of use, you may want something that’s easier to clean, like metal or wood.

Bar stools may or may not have arms, and there are multiple backrest styles out there. Bar stools with backs offer comfort and support, and backless bar stools are quite casual. Some specific back types include the ladder back, the mission back, the cross back, and the Windsor back.

A couple of special features are swiveling and height adjustment. Swivel bar stools can be moved back and forth easily and rotated. They are more fun to sit on, and you won’t feel so restricted. Bar stools with adjustable heights help children and adults alike sit comfortably. Use the lift to get the stool at just the right position.

Here is a list of more bar stool styles and features:

• Wicker/Rattan Bar Stools
• Stone Bar Stools
• Cottage Bar Stools
• Storage Bar Stools
• Adirondack Bar Stools
• Hand Painted Bar Stools
• Nailhead Detail Bar Stools
• Stackable Bar Stools
• Tufted Bar Stools
• Armless Bar Stools
• Butterfly Leaf Bar Stools
• Corner Bar Stools
• Extension Bar Stools
• Reclaimed Bar Stools

At Goedeker’s, we carry a huge selection of bar stools from top furniture brands, like Fine Mod Imports, Safavieh, and Signature Design by Ashley. Outfit your kitchen or home bar at a price you can afford thanks to our daily savings.