Today our huge range of bar stools have evolved into an array of styles to suit different environments and tastes. Our stools vary from; gas lift variable height mechanisms through to fixed seat height, and also stools with or without backrests/arms. Within this section we aim to try and give you advice on choosing the right bar stool for your needs. We also have a new section Bar Stool Articles, which contains numerous articles all about different types of bar stools or why not see if we have the answer to you question in Bar Stool FAQ's, found below.
5 Points Of Consideration When Choosing A Bar Stool
(1) Stool Location Firstly, consider which room you'll use your bar stools in - is it your kitchen? games room? or a commercial bar? as this will influence the design and materials you choose. Look for a design that will fit in with the theme and style of your room, such as a more traditional looking bar stool for a country kitchen or contemporary chrome for a modern breakfast bar.
2) Style of Stool Stools come in a wide variety of different styles and colours. The majority of the stools on the market have a gas lift variable height mechanism and have round or square bases. The seat however can easily change the style of the stool. Some stools have seats made from ABS resin such as the Coco's, Abyss and the Crescent Bar Stool which tend to give a more retro feel. Alternatively as walnut kitchens are becoming ever popular, stools with wooden seats are also becoming increasingly fashionable such as the Alpino. For a slightly softer look the stools covered in a faux leather are the ideal choice. If you prefer stools with a more traditional feel of 4 legs then we can also cater for that. Atlantic Shopping has recently launched the Nova Bar Stool which has a welded frame and a padded seat, which is the perfect height for your kitchen.
3) Stool Height & Seat height The height is probably one of the most important deciding factors on choosing the right bar stool. To be comfortable whilst sitting on your stool there needs to be enough room for your legs to go under the bar or kitchen work surface; you require a sizeable gap above, with the aim of giving you a similar posture as if you were sitting at a table. In a kitchen environment the standard height for a kitchen work surface is 90cm. This seems to be a standard within the industry. It may differ plus or minus 2cm however, depending on how the kitchen fitter was feeling on that particular day! If the dimension from the floor to the underside of the work surface is around 90cm then you need a stool which has a seat height of approx 65-68cm. This will give you about 22-25cm for your legs and it will be very comfortable to sit at. This is why a lot of the stools we sell are built around a gas lift mechanism. These stools are also very popular with families as they can raise the seat height of the stool to suit the smaller / shorter members of the family!
Within a commercial bar environment the seat height tends to be higher. Bars often have a height from the floor to the underside of approx 100 -115cm. With this in mind the seat height has to be a lot higher. Two stools we sell which would fit this criteria would be the Deluxe Casino and the Button Bar Stool. Owing to the extra height both these stools have heavy bases so as to make the centre of gravity lower and hence more stable.
Commercial bar stools are built like a battle ship and due to the increase in weight are often more expensive. With this in mind we offer some less expensive stools which have a seat height of 75cm, which are ideal for those working to a smaller budget, these stools are the - Oberon, Narrow Backs and Set of 2 Chrome Stools.
4) Bar Stool Width In order to determine the width of the stool you should be looking at buying; firstly,you need to measure the length of your bar or kitchen work surface. Most people know how many stools they require , so you need to divide the length of the kitchen work surface by this number. You obviously need at least 15cm between each stool i.e. so that they can spin round and you can get between them. Obviously if you have a gap to the left or the right, for example at the end of a kitchen island then you can get the stools slightly closer. The minimum width of bar stool is approx 38cm. Examples of these stools are; Mars, Gimp, Coco and Arc Bar Stool, all of these stools are backless stools. When you add a back to a stool the width increases to 40cm - 45cm such as in Kensington, High Backs, Linx and Crescent Bar Stools. When you add arms to the stool, the stool width grows again. This can be seen in such popular stools as the Pluto, Titan and the Padded Crescent. Stools with arms generally have a width of 52-55cm.
5) Stools With Backs When it comes to comfort many people prefer a stool with some form of back support. The heights of the backs vary from a small lip as found on the Mars and Linx, which give you that feeling of stability. The backs on Deluxe Crescent, Padded Crescent and Pluto Bar Stools offer good support through to the lumbar- thoracic junction. However if you require more chair like support then the Titans, High Back Stools and Kensington's are the ideal choice. 6) Conclusion The choice from our range of stools is quite extensive so we have team ready to help you make the right decision and point you in the right direction. We understand that it is not an easy decision so even if you have the smallest question please feel free to call us on 0845 520 0000 or 0121 230 1644 - or why not try our Live Chat. Either way we are here to help and advise you, and would love to hear from you.
