How to choose a bar stool: 5 useful tips
If you are faced with the question of how to choose a chair for a bar counter, use useful tips and be creative in the process. For inspiration, think about how your home will be transformed by quality original furniture.
Important points:
- Pay attention to the materials;
- Evaluate how comfortable the chair you like is;
- Consider whether the new furniture will be combined with other interior items;
- Imagine how the products fit with the design style;
- Do not forget about the quality of the furniture, because you are buying it for a long time.
There is an unspoken rule - for each person sitting at the bar counter there must be at least 60 cm of free space. Before buying furniture, measure the length of the table - this indicator will allow you to calculate the optimal number of chairs. If you have not yet purchased a bar counter, then a guide to choosing a product and proper zoning of the kitchen will help you decide.
Bar stool height
How to choose the height of a bar stool? This is one of the first questions that comes to mind on the path to purchase.
There are low, high and very high bar stools. When choosing, you need to start from the parameters of the rack. Individual preferences can also be taken into account, but relying only on them is irrational.
To calculate the height of a chair, subtract 25-35 cm from the height of the table, bar counter or island. If you use this rule, you can easily choose the model on which to sit as comfortably as possible. You won't have to tower over the bar counter and worry about where to put your elbows.
Optimal chair height
| Bar counter height | 110-115 cm | 105 cm | 85-90 cm |
| Chair height | 80-85 cm | 70-75 cm | 55-60 cm |
If people of different heights will sit on the chair, you can purchase models with a height-adjusting mechanism. These are chairs with sliding legs or lifting seats. You can set comfortable parameters and not worry that the product will not fit the bar counter.
Examples of sizes of bar stools for the kitchen
Standard sizes according to GOST
GOST is important when determining the dimensions of furniture. For example, if the tabletop on the client side is 110 cm, then a chair height of 75 cm is suitable. If the bar counter is installed at home, then you need to pay attention to the position in which the owners usually sit, their average height. If this happens in a bar, then you should take into account the position of the bartenders during work. Experience in using such structures made it possible to calculate the standard height of a bar stool in cm:
- for a bartender – 90;
- for clients – from 115 to 135.
For bartenders
For clients
For public catering establishments, interstate regulations are established in two meanings:
- 85 (Bh) – suitable for counters (from 110 to 115 centimeters);
- 95 (Th) – preferred for tall structures (from 120 to 130 cm).
If the furniture is made to order, then other values are possible.
The remaining parameters depend on the specific place where the furniture will be located and who plans to use it. Standard bar stool dimensions correspond to a certain fixed height. This type of seat usually has a strong frame made of metal or wood, four legs and a crossbar for the legs. There are a great variety of design options, so it will not be difficult to choose an interior item to match the design of the room and create the perfect set.
Choosing bar stools for the kitchen: design features
A bar stool is, at first glance, a simple and uncomplicated design consisting of a base and a seat. Sometimes basic elements are combined with additional ones: footrest, armrests and backrest. It is worth knowing all the possible variations of products and the nuances of their operation.
Support
The legs act as support. Their number varies depending on the designer’s ideas. Products with one wide leg are considered classics. However, they are significantly inferior in stability to models with four legs.
Chairs with four legs are the most comfortable and practical option. Often, such specimens do not have a footrest, but are equipped with a backrest. Such models rank first in terms of sustainability and are considered favorites among buyers.
There are products on sale with two and three legs. It is difficult to say how stable these chairs are. If you like this option, choose furniture with rigid metal supports.
Chairs for a bar counter in the kitchen can also have non-standard supports made of geometric shapes. In the photo you can see a similar version of the usual furniture.
Bar stools on one leg
Bar stools on two legs
Bar stools with four legs
Bar stools with custom legs
Seat size and shape
Size refers to the width of the seat. The parameter starts from 35 cm - these are the narrowest chairs. If you don't plan to sit at the counter for a long time, you might consider this option. For full meals and regular get-togethers with friends, it is better to give preference to products with seats from 40 cm.
Now let's move on to the shape of the seats. It can be round, square and even triangular. Chairs with seats in the form of a bowl or semicircle are very popular. These bar stools are good for a small kitchen or narrow living room.
Bar stools with round seat
Bar stools with square seat
Step
The footrest is simply necessary to sit comfortably on the chair. Almost all tall products are equipped with this element, and in some cases the position of the footrest is also adjustable. Furniture with this design will be optimal if there are children in the family.
Bar stools with footrest
Back and armrests
The back can be of absolutely any shape - from semicircular to square. It is better to choose the height of this element based on your own ideas about convenience.
The same applies to the armrests - they can be either minimal or wide. If you like classic chair models, it is better to choose a product without this element.
Bar stools with backrest
Bar stools without backrest
Which bar stool is better: materials and their combinations
The chair is a complete harmonious design. Each element carries important functions, so it must be made of high-quality materials. Let's figure out what the frames, bases and seats for bar stools are made of.
Tree
Products made from this material are good for styles such as classic, Provence, rustic, eco, classic, modern, country. Wooden chairs for a bar counter in the kitchen are distinguished by exquisite luxury, noble shades, and durability.
Different types of trees are most often used to make chairs: pine, beech, ash, oak. The strength and durability of products directly depends on the type of wood. Pine furniture is considered the most budget-friendly in this product segment.
For convenience, the wooden chairs are complemented by soft seats. Polyurethane foam or foam rubber is most often used as a filler. Some more expensive models are equipped with a seat that can be deformed to fit the shape of the body and then return to its original state.
Wooden bar stools with backrest
Wooden bar stools without backrest
Metal
Choosing bar stools with a metal frame is the choice of people who prefer reliable, durable products. If you want something in this spirit, pay attention to steel furniture. Such models will complement the modern interior and enliven the room.
If you prefer timeless classics, consider purchasing forged products. They are quite massive and heavy, so they will look good only in spacious rooms. Small and narrow rooms are best furnished with chairs made of chrome steel.
In combination with a metal frame, soft seats made of leather, eco-leather and fabric look excellent. The photo shows just such options.
High bar stools made of metal
Metal bar stools with soft seat
Plastic
You can find products on sale that are entirely made of high-quality plastic, polycarbonate or acrylic. However, more often there are models with a plastic seat and metal legs. This is an organic combination for small rooms decorated in modern styles.
Disadvantages of plastic products: susceptibility to scratches and chips, not the longest service life. But such furniture does not require careful maintenance, is lightweight and easy to move.
Bar stools made of plastic
Plastic bar stools
Rattan
If you are thinking about how to choose the right bar stools for an interior in Provence, eco or rustic styles, check out rattan products. The main advantages of such models: elegance, interesting appearance, strength and lightness.
The line of rattan furniture has options with hard and soft seats. The former are cheaper, but you are unlikely to be able to sit on such chairs for a long time. A soft seat filled with polyurethane foam is much more comfortable. Upholstery options: leather and durable fabric.
Rattan bar stools
Bar stools - a classic of minimalism
Stools are high chairs without a back. Another feature of such furniture is the presence of a footrest. The seat of such specimens is quite narrow, so they are not intended for long gatherings. But in order to comfortably enjoy coffee or your favorite cocktail, they are simply ideal.
A stool can have one, two, three or four legs. The first and last options are the most popular. Products with one leg always have a round support and a swivel seat. And specimens on four supports have maximum stability. The photo shows what these and other stool models look like.
Designer bar stools with hard seat
Bar stools for the kitchen
Wooden round bar stools
Advice! Such a bar stool in the kitchen interior looks good only in the company of other similar specimens. It is better to buy 2-3 stools at once and place them at the counter at approximately the same distance from each other.
GOST requirements for a bar stool
Despite the fact that the range of bar furniture today is very large, and many companies make it according to individual orders, manufacturers still try to adhere to existing standards.
A bar stool with a height of 950 mm or BarHocker is marked with the letter Bh, and with a height of 850 mm it is marked as Th (TresenHocker). These models are used for racks of 130 and 110 cm, respectively.
The distance from the floor to the top of the backrest is usually 110-120 cm.
To ensure maximum comfort, the difference between the height of the tabletop and the stool should be at least 30 cm.
Bar half-chairs - beauty and comfort
Half-chairs are comfortable products with soft backs and seats. For greater comfort, they are equipped with fairly wide armrests. They go well with kitchen islands and fit into interior styles such as American, fusion, modern, and country. There are also models for classical design trends.
The height of the products is 30-35 cm. The width of the seat varies, but most models have parameters of 40-50 cm. These half-chairs are ideal if you plan to spend a lot of time at the bar counter.
Bar half-chairs
Half-bar stool in the interior
Buying half-bar stools is not a problem. It is much more difficult to correctly select these kitchen furniture items to match the rest of the interior.
- wooden half-bar stools go perfectly with a classic kitchen (for example, Ingolf) or a country-style kitchen, a chalet made of dark or light wood;
- metal and steel chairs are the prerogative of kitchens in high-tech or modern style;
- plastic is usually used in country houses;
- A set of transparent chairs and a table will decorate a small dining room, adding light and visual volume.
Glass will suit almost any room design.
To harmoniously fit half-bar stools into the interior, you can change the upholstery or make leather or fabric covers in the desired color scheme.
Treating the fabric material with a special solution will make it impervious to liquids. The highlight of your kitchen can be beautiful cushions on the seats of chairs.
Folding bar stools - convenience and ergonomics
If you do not plan to use chairs regularly, you can purchase folding products with a convenient transformation mechanism. Products come in different heights, but they have one common quality - the ability to quickly come to “combat readiness”. The furniture unfolds in one movement and also folds quickly.
The base of such models can be made of wood and metal. Most copies are equipped with a comfortable footrest and a soft seat. We invite you to evaluate completely different stylish variations of folding products.
Bar stool dimensions depending on model
The classic “four-legged” is not always suitable for a stand. Sometimes space saving or unusual design is required. There are several models of bar stools: solid, adjustable, folding and half-bar.
Height plays a decisive role in the choice. If a person is much shorter or taller than average, it is better to purchase adjustable products with a lifting mechanism, especially for a home where there are children or frequent guests.
The disadvantages of the folding version are:
- the presence of only one leg, which does not guarantee ideal stability;
- the lifting mechanism will last about a year with frequent use (it is not advisable to use it while sitting on a chair);
- not all model sizes are suitable for overweight people;
- It is important that such a chair does not become entertainment for the child, otherwise it will quickly fail.
On average, the seats of folding furniture drop down to 51 cm and rise by 79 cm.
A comfortable folding bar stool is designed to save space; you can easily fold the structure and fit it into a narrow small niche. Even a child can cope with this. Such models cannot be adjusted in height, so when choosing, you need to focus on the tabletop. They are traditionally made from wood and metal using various inserts, such as plastic, plywood, rattan and wicker. These products come on one, three or four legs.
One-piece models are good in a family where everyone is approximately the same height, so there is no need to constantly adjust the height of the bar stool. If there is no zoning in the design, and the kitchen floor is the same level everywhere, then this is the best choice.
Semi-bar models are suitable for kitchens where there are no plans to focus on the food area. In order not to be mistaken in size, it is enough to make simple calculations. The seat should be slightly higher than the middle of the bar counter - this is an excellent option for eating, communicating and working. For a living space, a half-bar stool with a height of 60 to 70 cm is suitable if the tabletop is at a level of 90–95 cm from the floor.
The design of the backrest is also important. The right item will help relax your muscles and allow you to spend quality time with family and friends. Like any product with a back, you need to choose a chair individually, based on considerations of convenience.
One-piece
Adjustable
Folding
Half-bar
