At a Glance:
How to Choose the Right Bar Stools
Styling a Home with Bar Stools
Bar stools with backs offer a comfortable place to sit, sit back, and relax. They can be placed in a variety of places like bar tops, kitchen tables, islands, and even around outdoor bars. To find the best bar stools with backs for your space, we’ve put together a guide that covers the benefits, designs, and how to choose a bar stool for your home’s setup. Inside, we list three product reviews for the best bar stools with backs to give you an idea of which bar stools are currently trending on the market.
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What Are Bar Stools Good For?
Bar stools with backs are great for providing comfortable seating options for counters and bars both indoors and outdoors. Bar stool seating can be used in addition to dining table seating in larger dining rooms and kitchens, so guests have more places to rest. For smaller rooms and apartments, bar stools offer dining seating up at a bar top without taking up too much space.
Another benefit of bar stools is their tall seat height. Traditional chairs sit at 17 to 19 inches whereas bar stools sit at 28 to 30 inches. Because bar stool seats are much higher than traditional dining room chairs, bar-height stools offer a convenient place for people to sit who may have trouble standing up from a shorter chair.
How to Choose the Right Bar Stools
First, let’s address what’s the difference between a bar stool and a counter stool? The main difference between a bar stool and a counter stool is the height of the seat. Bar stools are made for bar tops—typically 40 to 42 inches tall—and counter stools are made for countertops—around 35 to 37 inches tall. Bar stools usually measure about 28 to 30 inches from floor to seat to accommodate sitting at a bar stop. On the other hand, counter height bar stools measure about 23 to 28 inches tall to accommodate sitting at countertops.
Should I get bar stools with backs or backless bar stools?
While both types of bar stools are stylish, bar stools with backs are more comfortable and allow the body to completely lean back and rest. Bar stools with backs are also safer for children and adults to sit in who have limited core and back support. On the contrary, backless bar stools can become uncomfortable quicker since the core and back cannot rest.
Bar Stool Materials
Bar stools with backs come in a variety of materials including metal, solid wood, and fabric. Some bar stools include upholstered seats and backs for extra comfort whereas others may include vinyl seats or solid wood seats. Bar stools with upholstered fabric seats and backs are more comfortable than bar stools without, but they may not be the best choice for families with small children as the fabric can become easily dirty.
How many bar stools do I need?
Determining how many bar stools you need depends on how long your bar space is. A general rule is that bar stools should sit about 24 inches apart from each other. To figure out how many bar stools you need, take the length of your bar top and divide it by 24. For example, an 82-inch bar top would be best fitted with three bar stools.
✓ Tip: When choosing bar stools with backs, make sure to check how many bar stools you will be getting with your purchase. Some bar stools are sold as single chairs whereas some are sold in sets.
Styling a Home with Bar Stools
Bar stools with backs can easily be added to any home design where they will provide additional seating and character. To easily style your home with bar stools, you’ll want to know where you want to place them and what home design style you’re aiming for.
Tip #1: Determine Your Location
Bar stools are frequently placed in dining rooms, kitchens, bars, islands, and outdoor bar areas. Depending on where you want bar stools, that’ll help determine what style you should aim for. Indoor bar stools with backs tend to match the style of the room they’re placed in, whether that’s rustic, modern, or another style. Outdoor bar stools tend to be made with durable and weather-resistant materials.
Tip #2: Determine a Design Style
What’s the style of your room or home overall? Knowing this will help you choose a similar style of bar stool for the space. Design styles include (but are not limited to) casual, contemporary, farmhouse, French country, industrial, rustic, traditional, or modern. For example, if you design your home with modern furniture, table lamps, and decor, adding modern bar stools will complement your space well. Of course, mixing designs can sometimes be a fun change to your space too.
3 Best Bar Stools with Backs
Bar stools come in a variety of materials and designs to fit your room’s style perfectly. Whether you’re looking for comfort, practicality, or a whole bunch of both, there are plenty of bar stools with backs to choose from. Here are three of the best bar stools with backs that add elegance and style to any space.
1. Best Modern Barstool with Back: Steve Silver Co. Westover 30” Bar Stool
The Steve Silver Co. Westover bar stool is a modern seating option that can styled to be chic or masculine. Designed with a tufted buttonless seat in charcoal leatherette that replicates the look and feel of Nubuck leather, this black bar stool is all-around comfortable. With a steel frame and metal footrest, this bar stool is sturdy and offers a good place for resting feet. It is the perfect height for 42-inch countertops.
- Size: 41” x 19” x 21” (H x W x D)
- Seat height: 30”
2. Best Modern Farmhouse Barstool: International Furniture Direct Stone 30” Barstool
Engineered with 100 percent solid pine, this bar stool features a lower back compared to other bar stools on our list. Because of its weathered wood and original marks of craft, the International Furniture Direct Stone barstool would look great pulled up to a casual bar or rustic dining table. The distressed two-tone look also gives off a vintage vibe and could easily be paired with farmhouse-style furniture.
- Size: 34-½” x 18-¼” x 18-¼” (H x W x D)
- Seat height: 30”
3. Best Traditional Barstool: New Classic Furniture Manchester Antique Grey 29” Barstool
The New Classic Manchester barstool is elegant with an open-back design and antique grey color. With an upholstered seat and partially-upholstered back, it is also a comfortable bar stool seat. Grey-brown tones bring warmth to any room and would make the perfect bar stool for formal and casual dining areas.
- Size: 44” x 18-¼” x 18.38” (H x W x D)
- Seat height: 29”
Nothing is better than gathering around for a casual meal surrounded by loved ones. Bar stools with backs are the perfect accompaniment to your countertop eating area or as extra seating when you have a full house.
Why Trust Great American Home Store?
Boasting the largest selection of in-stock home furnishings in the Mid-South, the Great American Home Store is your one-stop shop to find all the furniture and décor items your home needs. Our buying team is constantly searching across the globe for the next hot style in home fashion products. We go to several markets a year comparison-shopping to ensure you’ll be able to find everything from formal living to casual comfort at the lowest prices. Since our business is backed by the manufacturer, we can promise that we bring you all your furniture needs at prices that are far below our competitors’.
At the Great American Home Store, we also understand the importance of offering a vast selection for any-size budget. We offer many flexible financing options with approved credit so that you can find the perfect furnishings to reflect your unique style.
Shop Bar Stools at Great American Home Store
The home of your dreams is closer than you think. Shop dining room furniture online or visit us today at one of our furniture stores in Memphis, TN and the Mid-South. Check out our website to shop local furniture sales and subscribe to our email list to be the first to learn about our special offers. Our experts at Great American Home Store are always happy to help you find just the right bar stools with backs — whether you call us at 800-260-4898 or use our online chat feature. Contact us today!
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