The time was when you could only find swivel bar stools in the local pub or a corner watering hole. As the kitchen became more important in the modern home, more dining and gathering was done in or near the kitchen. While the formal dining room is still an important part of most homes, the kitchen is being used more and more as a casual dining area and gathering place for family and guests. Conventional dining furniture and seating are great for the formal dining room. However, it is just not appropriate for the more casual needs of today’s 36", 42" and even 48" tall counters and extra tall bars.
Bar stools are available in several heights today to accommodate any height bar and counter top. They are now available in a variety of materials and in many different finishes. Wrought iron, wood and metal stools are available for the kitchen, bar or billiards gaming areas. Many local dealers will now have a selection of these once hard to find items. You can even purchase casual swivel seating at the local home improvement store as well the vast number of online resources available through the internet. Shipping can be a factor when ordering online. However, with today’s multiple shipping options available with small parcel carriers, the cost of shipping is more than offset by substantial savings of buying your stools online.
Bar stool heights vary depending on the height of the table, bar or counter top where they will be used. A good estimating method of determining what height seat you need on your bar stools is as follows. Generally speaking, the seat height should be from 11-12 less than the table or bar surface height. For example: A 42 inch tall bar needs stools that are about 30 inches to the top of the seat. Counter tops are 36 inches tall generally and require a stool that is 24 inches in seat height. This is generally referred to as a “counter stool.” Dining tables are 30" inches tall and standard chairs are generally 18 inches in seat height.
Many homes today are being built with very tall bars and counters at a height of approximately 48 inches. While these were rare in the past, they are becoming more common place. This is a good standing height for a bar and the seating required here must be extra tall at a seat height of 34 - 36 inches. These extra tall bar stools are not normally sold through all outlets so you may have to search to find what you are looking for. Again the online retailers are a huge resource here and you can normally find these speciality items with a little searching.
Bar stools come with a swivel are a very handy feature and really make for very comfortable and functional casual seating. The swivel makes it very easy to get in and out of the stool while at a bar or counter without even moving the stool. The ultimate feature on a swivel stool is one that has a memory return swivel. This mechanism allows the user to swivel freely entering or exiting but a special spring loaded mechanism “returns” the bar stool to the center position which really create a very neat look on stools that have backs. This ensures that all of the stools are facing in the same direction.
Fabrics and finish choices on bar stools vary dramatically from no option to many options. Just take your time and try to fit the look of the bar stool to match the decor of the room. When in doubt, black is a good choice with wrought iron and natural is a good choice for wood. Try not to get too busy with fabric choices unless you have a specific theme you are working with in the room like billiards or fruit etc. Also, since bar stools are generally used in areas where drinks are served you may want to consider a waterproof fabric for the seat. Some of the modern vinyl fabrics from the mills are so close to leather that the only danger to cows is in the local steakhouse.
No matter what style you choose, the right bar stools can fill a casual seating niche that no other seating product can. Get creative if you like and make a real statement or go for a basic and subdued look. Any way you choose to go, bar stools are no longer for just the local pub and solve the problem of “Standing Room Only” in the Kitchen.
