Home Bar Seating: Choosing the Right Bar Stools

Some home bars include matching bar stools, but most home bars are sold without barstools and leave it up to the consumer to purchase the type of barstool that would best go with their new home bar. Bar stools are available in a wide range of materials, finishes and colors, suited to a wide range of décor styles, personal tastes and any theme dreamt up by the imagination.

Barstools or counter stools or are they the same thing? Bar stools are taller than counter stools, typically standing about four inches higher to accommodate the height of home bars and pub tables or pub sets. When purchasing bar stools separately for your home bar, ensure that the space from the chair's seat to the counter's underside edge is between 10" to 12". This will guarantee that you and your guests are comfortable and have enough room for knees while sitting at the home bar or pub table. Generally, bar stools have a seat height of 30 to 32 inches.

Types of Bar Stools

Backless bar stools take up less room than other types of barstools since they have no backs and/or arms, which is especially useful for hide-a-bars or portable home bars. Backless barstools are ideal for adding additional seating to pub sets. They are extremely adaptable to a number of décor styles or home bar themes. When available space is an issue, backless barstools are a good choice. They also typically weigh less, are easier to move around the room to where additional seating is needed and come in a variety of materials and combinations, including wood or metal legs with an upholstered seat.

Barstools with a back provide you and your guests with additional support and comfort. They are available in a wide range of styles and materials designed for any budget and décor. Features can include upholstered backs and seats or ones made of wood with lattice splats or carved top rails. They are great companions for longer, freestanding home bars.

Barstools with a back and arms use the most space, especially if they have an adjustable or swivel base. This might be something you'll need to keep in mind when purchasing bar stools for a smaller-sized console bar or straight bar. Barstools with arms are the ultimate in comfort, especially if the seat and back are upholstered.

Adjustable barstools allow you to change the height of the stool, making them a very practical choice, particularly if you would like to use the barstools in other places of your home, like in the kitchen at an island or a counter. Barstools that are adjustable can even be lowered to dining chair seat height (18"), making them handy to have around during family or holiday dinners. Depending on the brand and manufacturer, the range of adjustability can be 10 to 15 inches.

Swivel barstools are practical and versatile, because they allow the person sitting in them freedom of movement. They are two basic types of swivel stools, standard and memory. All of the types of bar stools are also available with a swivel base.