Things to consider when buying bar stools

Things To Consider When Buying Bar Stools

If there's any one furniture item that is a reassuring mainstay of the bar, it is surely the bar stool. No matter what shape, height, material, fabric and finish are used for the bar stools in question, they are instantly recognisable and beckon you to sit down and order your favourite cocktail. But if you are the one refurbishing a bar and are in need of the best stools for the job, what should your priorities be?

Height will certainly be one essential factor. 26 or 30 inches is a good starting point when comparing bar stools, but of course, it all

depends on the height of the associated bar, table or counter. In the case of a 36" high surface, for example, a 24 or 26 inch stool will be necessary. If the eating or drinking surface is between 40 and 42 inches high, however, you will need to consider stools 30 inches high.

Feel free to contact our experts for advice tailored to the bar dimensions in your particular establishment.

There is also the question of whether your chosen bar stools should be armed or armless, and for that matter, backed or backless. Both arms and backs are ideal if you expect people to be sitting on the stools for a long period of time, due to the benefits that this has for back and shoulder comfort. However, given how much arms add to a bar stool's overall width, you may prefer armless if you only have limited floor space. Meanwhile, backless stools are good for open plan settings where you don't want the view across the room - and potentially out of the window - to be obstructed.

You will also need to decide on the appropriate number of bar stools to order. For a busy bar where stools could be damaged or even stolen, or where additional numbers may be needed for special oneoff events, it doesn't hurt to have a few spares handy. But as a guideline when considering how many stools are suitable for your space, it's a good idea to allow 24 inches between the centre of one seat and the centre of the next. Depending on the exact measurements of the stool that you have in mind, a six foot long bar

will generally accommodate three stools and an eight foot bar, four stools.

Remember that although there are example bar stools to browse through on our website here at Design & Contract Furniture, we don't have a standard stocked range and can therefore work with you to source the bar stools that best match your specific requirements. Please get in touch today if you would like to take advantage of our acclaimed bespoke service.