Need a little guidance in the best furniture for your needs? Our handy articles will talk you through everything from the different frame finishes available, to bar stool maintenance. Offering expert advice and a little inspiration too, they’re sure to help you on your way.
Inspiration and Advice
Get the Most Out of Your Bar Stools
Follow our ten tips to get the best out of your bar stools, both practically and visually
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How To Fix A Wobbly Bar Stool
Got a wobbly bar stool? Take a look at our very quick and easy solutions
Wood Care Guide
Keep your wooden furniture looking its best with our wood care guide
How To Remove Dents & Creases From Seats
Learn how to remove dents and creases from your seats with our handy guide
Different Styles of Dining Chairs
No doubt you have various preconceived ideas about the style of dining chairs you wish to buy. These will be based on your current kitchen or dining room décor, to ensure your purchase suits the overall feel of your home, but will also stem from your own personal tastes. Or it could be that you’re after something radically different. It’s likely that if you’re undertaking a complete makeover, you could be looking to introduce that totally different style you’ve always admired. Either way, furniture can have a huge influence on its surroundings and can enhance the overall look of a room if chosen wisely. "Are you looking for a funky statement piece to stand out? Or more classic models that will compliment your interior? Whatever you decide, you’re certain to find the right chairs for you in our extensive range of kitchen and dining furniture. Read on for a breakdown of the four main styles available..." Clementine Chair Classic Designs Turn your house into a home with a classic dining chair. Graceful and dignified, their timeless designs bring a sense of occasion to the sparsest of settings, infusing their surroundings with the warm glow of nostalgia. Structurally simple and conventional in shape, the four legs and supportive mid to high backrest make them robust yet attractive. Highly adaptable and characteristically versatile, their enduring familiarity make them a solid, welcoming choice and a firm favourite with all ages. Crafted from traditional materials like wood, neutral leathers and natural shades of fabric, the Chicago is a classic example that's full of character. Many possess buttoned panelling or stitching in the backrest for a lavish quilted effect, whilst models such as the Carlo (pictured below) exhibit a stylish scroll top and elongated backrest, cutting a timeless silhouette. Carlo Oak Chair Cream Leather Elegant & Luxurious Chairs Delivering traditional charm with a real wow factor, luxury designs are perfect for creating a sense of opulence in your home. Plush crushed velvet and lavish fabric upholstery gives them a sumptuous appeal, with velvet shimmering softly as it catches the light. Many have a quilted button design in the backrest as well as a sprung and belted seat edged with ornate chrome studs, providing both quality comfort and exquisite decorative touches. Some models, like the Ascot (below) feature a chic chrome ring on the rear of the backrest for a stylish accent. Wooden dining chairs often display the grainy glamour of solid oak or a sleek oak finish, but many of our luxury designs boast a chic black satin finish, creating a truly sophisticated look. Perfect around the dining table for a grand aesthetic, or even alone as a stunning statement piece. Ascot Dining Chair Black Leather Modern Styles Inspired by the past but moving forward with the fashion, modern dining furniture recycles former trends by utilising the latest manufacturing processes and new materials available, to produce stunning fresh designs. Leaving behind the heavier, more ornamental designs of the 19th century, modern dining chairs embrace glittering simplicity with light and airy shades and tones. Favouring slick mirrored chrome or sophisticated brushed steel metalwork with chic fabrics and leathers, contemporary models feature clean lines and minimalist shapes. A prime example is the Faith, its polished finish and innovative streamlined design exude a clean, contemporary feel. To make a statement choose translucent acrylic or high gloss ABS plastic, certain to rejuvenate their surroundings through their bold, striking colours. Some models such as the Candy are stackable for compact storage, and increasing numbers operate gas lift mechanisms and 360 swivel, bringing the technical prowess of the bar stool to dining height. Cosmo Chair From the rustic to the revolutionary, we have it all. So take your time to browse our site - with so much on offer, you’re bound to find the right style of dining chair for you. To get started, click the button below to browse the full collection.
Different Locations to Use Accent Chairs
Designed to make a statement, accent chairs are sure to be the focal point of any room. For this reason you may be mistaken in thinking that they’re somewhat limited in where they can be used, restricted to particularly daring or retro themed interiors. This, however, is not the case. Versatile by nature, our accent chairs are made to enhance a wide range of interior settings. Available in a spectrum of striking styles, shapes and sizes, as well as colours and materials, they’re marvellous multi-purpose pieces than can be found in more places than you might think. In the Home Not to be ignored, our accent chairs are sure to help you wave goodbye to boring home décor. Ideal for livening up plain or neutral kitchen spaces, they’re also great if you want to add a unique touch to your dining table. Ideally suited to complete a retro themed bedroom, they’ll work just as easily clustered round a coffee table or home cinema in the lounge. Making fabulous feature pieces in whichever room you choose to use them, stylish comfy chair designs are perfect for filling a corner or alcove space in the living room. With its encompassing shape and ample cushioning, it makes for a cosy reading nook or chair to relax in whilst watching TV. Hollis Accent Chair Lobby & Reception Areas The importance of a good first impression cannot be valued highly enough. The term “dress to impress” can apply as much to interior design as it can to fashion, with commercial establishments wanting to impress customers/clients in order to generate more business. The first room a customer sees when they walk into the building might seem insignificant, but it can tell a lot about a company and their attention to detail. Especially important are waiting areas, where clients have time to absorb their surrounding environment. It comes as no surprise, therefore, that accent chairs are the ideal addition. For example in hotel foyers and atriums, it's key to create a comfortable and relaxing area for guests to wait in. Whether waiting for the rest of their party to arrive or their room to be prepared, a sumptuous seat is key to ensuring a happy customer who’s likely to return. Other commercial venues such as concert halls and art centres also make use of striking seating in lobby areas to enhance the experience they give their visitors. Designing imaginative, creative spaces, these often seek to inspire and engage people before they enter the main show or exhibition. Upmarket theatres and opera halls will typically go for plush designs with an emphasis on luxury and elegance. Conversely, family friendly art galleries may prefer artistic yet practical models like the Cali, which has a comfortable modern feel. Byron Accent Chair Coffee Shops & Bars From busy internet cafes to trendy espresso bars, each establishment will have its own style and audience. Great for adding a touch of character, our collection of accent chairs include designs to compliment a wide range of venues. Cosy cafes often prefer comfortable armchair-style seats like the Hampshire, ensuring their customers can sit back and relax as they spend long afternoons catching up over coffee. Meanwhile, chic retro bars may favour the nostalgic look, seeking out iconic models to enhance their trendy designer aesthetic. Clementine Chair White Shops After hours of traipsing round the shops in search of the perfect purchase, stores are fast catching on to the fact that sometimes customers just need a sit down. Often found outside of the fitting rooms, accent chairs make the ideal waiting spot for friends and family whilst others try on clothes. Not only does the addition of seating show a company cares about the comfort of their customers, but they also entice them to spend a few extra minutes inside their store before moving on somewhere else. A prime example is the Gigi Chair, its cushioned seat providing quality comfort. Hemingway Accent Chair Libraries and Study Spaces Think libraries are boring, stuffy places full of dusty old books? Think again! Aiming to create safe, welcoming spaces where people can browse at leisure, public libraries now commonly feature an array of comfortable accent chairs that users can curl up in with a good book. Especially popular in the children’s and teen sections, their colourful fabrics and fun shapes create a playful aesthetic to help make reading fun. A similar tactic is also employed in university study spaces and “learning zones”. Creating a less formal feel than the typical study hall, quirky seating is a clever trick to make working more enjoyable. Thanks to their cool, casual look and spectrum of vibrant colours, our accent chairs are frequently found to help students relax, resulting in greater productivity and less stress. Pairing fashion with functionality, modern designs like the Clementine are perfect. Not only will its encompassing shape and ample padding keep users supported as they sit, but 360 swivel lets them rotate with ease. As Seen on TV With a versatility like no other, it comes as no surprise that many of our popular designs have been featured on TV over the years. Found on a wide variety of television shows – including in studios, sets and on-location shoots - their signature style always sets them apart from the rest. So what are you waiting for? Browse our stunning collection of fabulous accent chairs and begin to explore where you could use them – be it at home, work or elsewhere.
How to Disassemble a Bar Stool
Learn how to take apart your bar stools in just three simple steps
Office Chairs for Bad Backs
From time to time we’re all susceptible to developing back pain. Due to the nature of your job or perhaps even a hobby, you’re likely to find yourself sat at a desk or workstation for long periods of time. As we get older we all experience varying amounts of arthritis, including spondylosis and spondylitis. Nevertheless, choosing the right office chair and knowing how to use it not only ensures you’re as comfortable as possible when seated, but they can also work to prevent back problems in the future. Selecting a Good Quality Chair First of all, you should look for an office chair with good padding and sufficient lumbar support. As well as the overall cushioning of the body for comfort, it’s crucial that the backrest supports the right areas of the spine. A chair that fits into the curve of the lower back (the lordosis) is vital. Encouraging a good posture, this will lessen existing back pain as well as preventing it from developing in the first place. Padding can also be employed higher up the backrest to support the upper section of the spine (the kyphosis) as well as the neck, as seen in the Bradgate. Creating correct posture is key. Sitting with bad posture puts unnecessary strain on areas of your spine, applying undue pressure on the discs, joints and muscles. This not only causes pain in the back and neck, but it can also lead to headaches and a string of other health problems. Yet just as important as choosing an office chair with the modern features is the way the chair is set up for you, and tailoring it to suit the height and size of your body. Adjusting the Ergonomic Features You can have the best chair out there with the latest features and functionality, but if you don’t adjust it to your personal requirements it won’t do you any good. The key to a pain-free back is setting your chair at the ideal position for you, and therefore it’s key you tailor it to your individual measurements before use. This will dramatically reduce the chance of developing a bad back, or if you already experience pain it can be adjusted as often as needed to find the most comfortable position. All good office chairs should have the following functionality: Comfortable padding Backrest with quality lumbar support A gas lift mechanism for variable height A tilt mechanism Adjustable seat depth Two adjustable armrests 360 swivel A nylon caster base We have covered all these features in detail in our Office Chair Buying Guide, but let’s look at them now in terms of how they affect the back. How to Set Up Your Chair First of all you need to adjust the height of the seat to the ideal elevation for your workstation. Being sat too high or too low at a desk can lead to bad posture as you have a tendancy to hunch or slouch, and can hence put strain on the spine. Ensure your eyes are level with the computer screen and your feet are flat on the floor. If your feet struggle to reach it, then invest in a footrest, as seen in the diagram above. Next, adjust your backrest and seat pad to find a comfortable working position. We’re all guilty of slouching, but this can actually result in a curvature of the spine. The pressure of this can cause pain down the line, and therefore you should set your chair to an upright position that will encourage you to sit up straight. Tilt the seat pad so your thighs are roughly at a 90 to 95 degree angle to the body, and fix the backrest to about 100 to 110 degrees. A tilting mechanism is recommended to allow flexible movement. Aches and pains can build when the body is fixed in the same position for too long, and thus a tilt function can aid good circulation as well as reducing tension and discomfort. Seat depth should also be adjusted to maintain good posture. Make sure you’re sat firmly against the backrest, hips as far back in the chair as possible. The curve of the backrest should fit snugly in the small of your back, and there should be a slight gap between the backs of your legs and front edge of the seat pad. Armrests should also be modified for your own usage. Your forearms and elbows should sit slightly higher than the desk, inviting you to lean back into the chair with your arms supported by the armrests, instead of hunching forward. Providing that extra support, it lessens the pressure on the shoulders and thoracic spine, as well as reducing the chance of developing repetitive strain injury (RSI) in your forearms. We’d also advise a 360 swivel function. This ensures that the chair rotates with you when you turn, the rotation going through the seat and not your back. Sat in a stationary chair you can put stress on your spine when you twist your body round to speak to colleagues or reach a document. It’s not good for the spine to rotate in certain places, and hence a swivel mechanism is designed to prevent this. Whilst not absolutely vital, a nylon caster base can also help. Instead of putting strain on your back by attempting to lift or drag the chair around the room when needing to move it, the wheels allow ease of mobility. Yet whilst our stylish range of office chairs are highly ergonomic and designed to alleviate back pain when adjusted correctly, the fact is that the spine is not meant to be immobile for too long. Take regular breaks when working at a desk all day - preferably every 30 minutes - to get up, stretch and move around. Not only will this reduce the chance of back pain from developing, but it will ease the pressure on your muscles and joints, helping to keep them loose and ache free. Now that you know the ergonomic features to look out for in an office chair, why not browse our great range by clicking on the button below. Remember, if you have any questions about choosing the model with the right support for you, you can contact us here.
Choosing Black Bar Stools - Advice
By far our bestselling colour, black has enjoyed unrivalled popularity due to its matchless ability to fit any environment and décor. With a versatility that cannot be denied, it’s well known for going with anything and everything and is ideal if you have a mix of different colours in a room, tying them all together whilst complementing each to the full. Whether you’re after a sophisticated, elegant look or prefer a more simple, down-to-earth vibe, our vast array of stylish black bar stools cater for a wide range of styles meaning you’re sure to find the perfect match for you. "Whether your home’s a modern space, or a more traditional interior, black bar stools are a fantastic choice. Effortlessly chic and super stylish, they enhance almost any colour scheme, plus they're perfectly practical. In leather, faux leather, fabric or ABS, choose black bar stools for a fashion-forward look." Mimi Chrome Stool Black Timeless and Chic Whilst certain colours go in and out of fashion, black will always be in trend. With a timeless appeal, it will without doubt look just a good now as it will in five or ten years time. Whilst a vibrant purple or zesty orange may be a little “out there” for some people, this is a safe and widely accepted choice that won’t offend different people’s tastes. Versatile and adaptable, it will never clash with another colour, but will contrast nicely against a whole host of other shades. With the rising trend of matching kitchen seating to work surface colour, coordinating black bar stools and worktops creates a striking contrast against lighter cabinets. However it can appear overpowering in smaller spaces if not used wisely. When buying darker stools for a smaller kitchen or commercial environment, remember that less is more. Opt for low to mid-high backrests so that the dark colour does not dominate, but compliments its surroundings. Healey Kitchen Stool Black Practicality Infamously practical, black does not mark like lighter shades meaning it’s far more likely to last longer as it won’t need to be replaced. Not only is it great in commercial environments where heavy use makes it more susceptible to wear and tear, but it’s just as useful in domestic environments with sticky-fingered children or messy pets. Whilst new blue jeans can leave a tint on light coloured seating, black is renowned for hiding a multitude of sins. Materials Used Our bar stools are available in an assortment of different seat materials, each producing a slightly different yet equally timeless look. Choose real leather for that exclusive luxury touch, or faux leather for an inexpensive yet stylish alternative. For a modern funky vibe why not try high gloss ABS, or for striking style opt for state-of-the-art acrylic. Whatever seat material you select, black will produce a stunning contrast against a metallic steel frame for a bold statement. Sparkling mirrored chrome reflects the light and acts like a mirror, an effect that is heightened when set against a darker shade. This is great for bright contemporary settings such as exhibition spaces, where you want your stools to draw in the eye and stand out from the rest. The Duo is a great example, with decorative chrome edging on the seat for added contrast. Whilst having a more matte finish, brushed steel creates a similarly distinctive effect and is often chosen for its sleek and sophisticated chic, as modelled by the Rochelle. For a more traditional look, why not choose a wooden frame. The seat on a light oak or warm walnut will create an eye-catching contrast, or if you’d prefer a more uniform and consistent look, stylish designs such as the Charlotte use a painted satin finish for a modern take on a traditional design. With so much to offer, our range of exquisite black bar stools could be just what you’re after. To get started, why not take a look at the list above, or, use the button below to browse our entire collection of black bar stools. Shop Black Bar Stools
How to Fix a Squeaky Bar Stool
Got a squeaky bar stool? Discover our top tips for stopping the squeak
Stunning Dining Chairs to Match Your Table
It may be you already have a table and are after some chairs to match. Or perhaps you’re looking for both, but want more flexibility than a set offers. If putting together your own combination, we hope this handy article will help guide you in what to look for when pairing the two. Why is it important that they match? When done correctly, complementary furniture exudes a harmonious look that can enhance its surroundings and bring a room to life. Conversely, clashing styles or conflicting finishes can be distracting and off-putting. Complementary Style First and foremost, you should match your furniture to the overall look of the room as a whole. Once you’ve established the style, you should then choose a table and chairs with a corresponding appearance. For example, pair modern with modern, and traditional with traditional. The Sparta 90-135cm Extending Dining Table Grey and the Mustang Chair Grey are a great example of a successful match. Both exhibit trendy transitional style, their pairing of stylish grey tones with sleek black legs stylishly marries together with undeniable success. Conversely, the Eden 120cm Round Dining Table White paired with the Carlo Oak Chair Black Leather is an unsuccessful combination due to the dramatic difference in style. Whilst the oak wood and ornate shape of the Carlo displays a classical aesthetic, the Eden is a crisp, modern model with a light and airy vibe. Whilst both are stylish designs, they’re incompatible when placed together. Matching Frame Finish For a visually pleasing and unified look, we would also recommend you select the same material or finish across your furniture, as well as in your interior as a whole. For example, choose similar shades of wood; oak kitchen cabinets with oak chairs, and likewise walnut cupboards with a walnut table. The same is true with metallic surfaces; pair brushed steel appliances with brushed steel chair frames, and chrome kitchen fittings with chrome framed furniture. This is modelled by the Echo 100cm Chrome Dining Table Glass and Tempo Dining Chair Light Grey, a delightful duo that work well together due to their elegant polished chrome frames. With similar tubular legs, they enhance one another for a compatible and contemporary look. On the other hand, the different finishes of the Cleo 120-160cm Extending Oval Dining Table Oak and Chiltern Oak Dining Chair Beige mean when combined they will clash. The Chiltern's beige seat and oak finished legs combine into a traditional style, conflicting with the more modernised appearance of the lighter oak top and black satin frame finish of the Cleo, and hence they can look somewhat imbalanced when placed together. Similar Shape Corresponding shape is another factor to bear in mind when looking for a uniform and consistent looking interior. Round pedestal or central column tables will enhance tubular central column chairs, and vice versa conventional square or rectangular four-legged tables are ideal with four-legged chairs. A prime example is the Glacier Coffee Table and Clementine Chair White. Both are supported by smooth cylindrical single stems which, when paired together, produces a magnificently modern aesthetic. In contrast, whilst the Everest 120cm Round Dining Table Oak and the Ascot Dining Chair Black Leather both have four-legged frames, they will clash slightly due to their dissimilar forms. Not only does the Everest possess an oak coloured round top, but the four rounded legs are stylishly slimline which lend a lighter and more modern look. Conversely, the conventional four legs of the Ascot are more generous in width and give a visually heavier and more classic presence. Used together, they could create a rather asymmetrical appearance. Understand the basic principles? Why not browse our vast array of dining tables and dining chairs, then mix and match at your leisure. Or, for the perfect match, take a look at our stylish dining sets below.
Bar Stools With or Without Arms
Compact or comfort? A quick guide to choosing stools with or without arms
What Are Gas Lift Bar Stools?
Take a closer look at the clever gas-lift mechanism inside our bar stools