The Ultimate Counter and Bar Stool Roundup

December 7, 2017

By Suz

Counter stools seems to be a lot of people’s decorating kryptonite. Sometimes it’s mine as well! Its a piece of furniture that is prominent in your home and likely used non-stop so it has to be pretty AND durable while coordinating with your kitchen AND any other decor nearby if your space is open concept. So I find it helpful to do roundups of them often.

COUNTER STOOL BUYING TIPS:

Make sure you give enough space between each stool- don’t try to cram in too many- they will be uncomfortable and make your kitchen look sloppy.
Make sure the distance between the seat of the stool and the bottom of the counter is about 10″- this is ideal for comfort. Most counter stools will be 26″ because the average kitchen counter is 36″ high- but make sure you measure your counter before buying!
Measure the recess the stools push into- you want to give enough room for peoples legs while keeping their backs close enough to the counter itself. I have a shallow overhang so this is an issue- backless stools work best in this instance.
Make sure the material suits your lifestyle. Got kids? You’ll want to stick to wood, plastic, outdoor fabric or faux leather- easy cleanup and strong durability. Leather can go either way- its durable, but if someone sits on a blueberry on it- it’s going to stain.
If you have upholstered dining chairs in the same space, look for non upholstered counter stools and vice versa. Or instead of upholster look for woven styles.