It’s been long since bar counters moved from the cafes and bars and gained their popularity as comfortable furniture pieces for your home. This is quite logical in a modern studio situation, especially in New York City. Thanks to their unique ability to zone a room without taking too much space, bar counters are frequently used in the separation of the kitchen, dining and living areas. Also, the bar counter will be an excellent way out when the kitchen is so modest in size than a full dining table simply is not an option.
To complement such a smart design you, of course, need to make equally smart decision choosing your stools.
Amazon alone offers a selection of over 2 000 bar stools. At Buschman Store, we sell bar stools of all sorts (16 live categories like vintage bat stools and metal bar stools; 15+ coming soon categories).
So, below we gathered a few tips to help you make this choice, so keep reading if you want to get an idea of how barstools differ from each other and get some pro insights regarding the quality and materials used.
Determine the height of the bar stools.
Of course, the first thing to consider is the height of the bar. Sitting behind it should be just as comfortable as at a regular table, so carefully measure the height of the seat that would be suitable for you.
To calculate the height of the chairs, you need to measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of the tabletop. From here, we can calculate the height of the chair. The space between the bottom of the table top and the surface of the seat should be around 10-14 inches.
According to experts, this is the most suitable distance. You may as well choose a stool with an adjustable height, in this case – don’t bother, you won’t have any problems.
Evaluate the style of the room
If your house has a classic design, you, of course, better go with classic stools. Most often they are made of hardwood, upholstered in genuine leather or thick textiles. The frame is mostly made with 4 legs and back, sometimes even with armrests.
If you are more fond of modern materials and the design of your apartment is modern as well, then any bar stools will suit you, except for classical ones. There are so many variations, but at this stage, just note that the choice is narrowed down to modern models, which may include anything from mid-century to industrial.
Select a design
Now think how often and for how long you will use bar stools, this will affect your choice of material. When choosing a material, pay attention to the fact that some of them – such as acrylic or plastic, for example, look very stylish, but they are not as reliable as steel or wood. Therefore, if you frequently have friends over or there are people in your family of different body types go for more durable materials. Also keep in mind that the footrest in an essential in your perfect barstool, so do not even consider the options without it.
Remember that a frame with four legs is the stablest of options. Yet, in case there is a big difference in heights in your family you may go with a barstool with height adjustment.
Then determine whether you need the stools with back and/or armrests. You can choose any design if bar stools are more of a decor element and are intended for short snacks or breakfasts. But when the bar stool and the counter replace the dining table, most likely you need a more comfortable place to hang out – here the frame may include the back and armrests.
As for the upholstery, ask yourself how frequently you will be using your barstools and decide whether you need one or it is better to set off to find right dining chairs. It is certainly much more pleasant to chill on soft padding than just a solid acrylic or wooden chair. Although some designs can make you take a moment and seriously think about what to invest in – a unique design or comfort. Here, set priorities for yourself.
Carefully consider the color scheme.
Start with the color of the frame – it should be in harmony with other elements in your house. It can be chrome, bronze, gold or patinated metal coating, the same of course goes for wood. But you can experiment with the color of the seat or upholstery. It is quite possible to tie it with the rest of the textiles in the house, such as sofa cushions or the color of the lampshade over the counter. Your imagination and taste will guide you to make the right decision. Just before buying, be sure to go through all the points described above once again.
Perform a comfort test
The last but definitely not least (in fact, the most important) – be sure to sit down and test the selected piece. Are you comfortable? If so, buy a chair with no fear. Nothing can be more important than your comfort.
These few simple tips will help you to approach the choice of bar stools with certainty. Although it does not have an impressive size, this piece of furniture is capable to impact the impression of the design of the entire room. Therefore, if you have doubts that the room is turning out to be somewhat boring or too conservative, bar stools are a great opportunity to change the situation by correctly setting the trajectory when choosing them.
To sum it up on bar stools
Shop bar stools you’ll love following our advice:
- Match bar stools selection to the style of the room
- Be picky about design (Amazone alone offers a selection of over 2 000 bar stools)
- Consider color scheme to match your other furniture
- Do a comfort test
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