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
Padded Breakfast Bar Stools
Choose a comfortable cushioned stool from our expansive padded range
Bar Stools for Beauty Salons
The perfect addition to any hair salon, nail bar or beauty parlour are bar stools, offering practical functionality as well as high-end style. Often purchased in multiples, the correct bar stool can bring your business to life and rejuvenate the salon environment. It’s important to remember that the comfortable type of seating you choose for your clients will differ from the more practical models you may prefer for your stylists. Yet whilst differing in purpose, style is crucial for both to ensure your business stands out from the rest. With a wide range of striking styles, shapes and materials on offer - including retro, contemporary, classic and artistic designs - you’re guaranteed to find the ideal bar stool for your salon. Salon Stools for Clients Comfort is key when selecting the correct salon stool for your clients, especially for those longer treatments and styling sessions. Invite clients to sit back and relax by choosing a cushioned seat, high backrest and padded armrests for optimum support. A comfortable, restful session will result in a happy customer, enticing them to come back and recommend friends. Vice versa, a model with minimal support and little padding will leave them dissatisfied, uncomfortable and unlikely to return. A stable, stationary base is also recommended, ensuring your clients remain still for those crucial styling moments. Stools for Stylists, Beauticians and Technicians However it isn’t just your clients that deserve the special treatment. We offer a range of practical and versatile stools perfect for stylists, beauticians and technicians alike. For hair stylists we recommend roller wheels with nylon casters on a 5 spoke base, much like those on an office chair. These allow ultimate mobility and enable you to manoeuvre into the perfect styling position, gliding over any type of floor to grab the essentials from your shelf or storeroom. Plus, many designs are backless for easy accessibility. For stationary beauticians and technicians we recommend non-roller models which value comfort over mobility. Designs such as the Monza, Mint and Lush offer support as well as practicality, the padded backrest providing added comfort for a full days work. Additional Factors Affecting your Choice For clients and stylists alike, choose stools which operate a gas lift mechanism for adjustable height. This will enable you to effortlessly raise and lower the client according to height, allowing you to work with ease. The 360 degree swivel lets you rotate your client; complete accessibility and perfect positioning ensuring you deliver that killer look. Furthermore, swivel capabilities allow you to inspect all angles, including those hard to reach places, whilst maintaining a comfortable position for both client and stylist. Seat material should also be taken in to account. If you’re looking for a touch of luxury, real leather will deliver the unmistakable glamour of many high-end establishments. Transforming the generic into the genteel, sumptuous real leather will single-handedly set you apart from your competitors. Conversely, faux leather stools are an inexpensive alternative that keeps the opulent, premium look. More resilient to stains and harsh chemicals than genuine leather, it can be easily cleaned; simply wipe with a damp cloth should any spillages occur and brush off any residual hair. High-density foam padding in models such as the Padded Crescent, with its accommodating seat and supportive curved backrest, will ensure supreme comfort. We also offer a wide range of ergonomic styles sculpted from stylish ABS, such as the Bamboo and Gloss Coco models. Characterised by their slick sheen's, smart shapes and comely colours, they are expertly shaped to the body for excellent support. For a girlish ambience, choose pastel shades of pinks and creams that exude effeminacy, transforming your salon into a womanly wonderland. However if a more sophisticated, refined look is preferred, black and white are sleek and versatile options, infusing your salon with that designer touch. In addition, ABS resin is extremely hard-wearing, long-lasting and impact resistant, ideal for a fast paced styling environment. Like the seat material, we recommend you choose the frame for your stools based on the overall style of your salon. If a classic look is what you’re after, wood comes in a variety of polished grains from walnut to oak, offering traditional, timeless appeal. For a hard-wearing and low maintenance alternative, select an elegant brushed steel or glossy mirrored chrome finish. Modern and minimalist, both are eye-catching and contemporary, ensuring your business is a cut above the rest. We also offer a wide range of ergonomic styles sculpted from stylish ABS, such as the Bamboo and Gloss Coco models. Characterised by their slick sheen's, smart shapes and comely colours, they are expertly shaped to the body for excellent support. For a girlish ambience, choose pastel shades of pinks and creams that exude effeminacy, transforming your salon into a womanly wonderland. However if a more sophisticated, refined look is preferred, black and white are sleek and versatile options, infusing your salon with that designer touch. In addition, ABS resin is extremely hard-wearing, long-lasting and impact resistant, ideal for a fast paced styling environment. Like the seat material, we recommend you choose the frame for your stools based on the overall style of your salon. If a classic look is what you’re after, wood comes in a variety of polished grains from walnut to oak, offering traditional, timeless appeal. For a hard-wearing and low maintenance alternative, select an elegant brushed steel or glossy mirrored chrome finish. Modern and minimalist, both are eye-catching and contemporary, ensuring your business is a cut above the rest. So what are you waiting for? Treat your salon to delectable set of bar stools today, ensuring clients and stylists alike leave feeling poised, pleased and pampered. Shop All Bar Stools
The Beauty of Wooden Stools
A tried and tested material, wood has been used for centuries to craft an innumerable number of items. What makes it so appealing is the ease in which is can be cut and the array of beautiful shapes that can be sculpted from it. Vastly popular due to its durable qualities and natural beauty, it has a charming quality that exudes a homely warmth and timeless glow wherever it’s placed. Once a constant staple in interior design, it fell out of fashion in the 90s; as oak kitchens declined in use, as did their matching stools. Yet in recent years there has been a total revival and wood is once again highly sought after with the rise of classic décor, country chic and rustic farmhouse trends. "Whilst wooden bar stools once meant conventional four-legged frames, this is now no longer the case. Though traditional models have retained their popularity, there has also been an influx of fabulous new styles using state-of-the-art technological processes to bring you the very latest designs." Oslo Oak Bar Stool Physical Properties A naturally strong and durable material, wood makes for incredibly hard-wearing and resilient bar stools that will last a long time. Characteristically dependable, it ages well with worn or rubbed areas simply developing an elegant sheen that gives it all the more character. Lacquered or laminated finishes have a clear coat that protects the surface from scratching and spillages. Highly practical models, their wipe clean surface allows quick and easy maintenance. Unlike metal stools that may have sharper edges, wooden frames have a smoother, gentler surface making them favourable for your floors. The majority do not come with floor protectors, for the simple reason that they’re not needed on most hard floor surfaces like stone, granite and ceramic tiles. However if you have a soft floor, made of bamboo for example, we would recommend you invest in felt protectors for the underside of the legs to be on the safe side. Aesthetic Qualities Available in a variety of different types from oak to walnut, each has its own signature style that distinguishes it from the rest. Exuding a warm homely vibe, oak has a rustic country feel and organic charm that makes it a firm favourite with many. Conversely walnut is darker and richer in appearance, with a more ornate and mature look to it that has been reclaimed in many modern kitchen designs. The array of natural grains gives each piece of furniture its own individuality, whilst the various shades of stains – for example light, mid or dark oak – illustrate the wealth of options wood presents. There are also a number of finishes that can be utilised for different effects. Whilst polished surfaces exude a sleek glossy sheen, for a more natural appearance you may prefer a smooth oiled finish that’s equally attractive. Our products also use coloured painted lacquer for a clean-cut, contemporary feel, as seen in the Apres. Whilst black provides a chic, elegant look that’s always in style, white delivers a crisp, fresh radiance that’s a must for minimalist interiors. There’s no doubt that wooden bar stools work beautifully with traditional kitchens with matching cabinets, but did you know they can enhance modern settings with trendy state-of-the-art décor just as well. Take Scandinavian style interiors for example, their simple colour palettes effortlessly complimented by rustic wooden framed furniture, as seen in the Drift. Modern Styling With the advancements in technology, a whole host of exciting new designs have been made available. There’s been an influx of contrasting materials, where wood has been combined with a variety of different textures for an assortment of practical and aesthetic reasons. For example if you require a stool on which to sit for extended periods, you may prefer a model with a little more padding than a hard seat offers. Therefore why not choose a wooden frame with a high-density foam seat in fabric or leather, as seen in sumptuously cushioned products like the Amazon. Delivering the best of both worlds, they put your comfort first whilst maintaining the natural look. With the evolution in kitchen design, there has been a demand for stools to match contemporary appliances and worktops. This has resulted in wooden seats being paired with ultra-modern metallic frames in mirrored chrome and brushed steel, for a sublime fusion of materials to catch the eye. Not only does metal deliver a chic futuristic look, but single stem frames make a multitude of things possible. With a host of fabulous features, the Eve (pictured below) is a classic example that boasts a gas lift mechanism for adjustable height and 360 degree swivel capabilities for optimum accessibility. Also modeled by the Eve is the introduction of bentwood, its high-pressure moulding method allowing for the intricate crafting of stunning curved shapes and designs. A form of plywood is often used which is laminated which enables it to bend easily, whilst retaining its strength, creating impressive ergonomic stools that encompass the body for added support. Contrasting colours are another feature utilised for striking visual flair. Dark walnut and cream faux leather work in perfect unison to create a stunning two tone effect that will enhance the look of any interior, as seen in the Harper (pictured above). Eve Wooden Bar Stool Black Interested in your own stylish natural stool? Why not browse our full collection of wooden bar stools below, and see for yourself the vast range we have on offer. The uses of wood are endless and there is no doubt this timeless material is here to stay. Furthermore you can rest easy, as all of our wooden products are sustainably sourced, obtained from environmentally managed forests that are cyclically replanted.
Photographic Poseur Modelling Stools
Get picture perfect with our collection of poseur modelling stools
Bar Stool Parts and Components
From base to seat, learn more about the parts that make up our bar stools
Bar Stool Protective Bases
Our stool bases are designed to help avoid damage to floors. Find out how
Fire Retardant Bar Stools
Find out more about how we make sure that our bar stools are safe for you
Different Areas to Use Bar Stools
When people think of bar stools, they usually picture them in the kitchen lined along the worktop or breakfast bar. Whilst they’re ideal for home usage, stools are incredibly versatile designs that can be used in a myriad of different areas. Though originally intended as seating around the bar in public houses, their adaptable styling means they can now be found in a lot more places than you might think, from domestic to commercial locations.Offering premium functionality, the gas lift mechanism on the majority of central column framed stools allows adjustable height. Usable at an array of surface heights, this gives them a marvellous multi-purpose quality far superior to other types of seating. Likewise, 360 degree swivel enables greater accessibility than that of a conventional dining chair, and some models even have wheels for enhanced mobility. Much more than a standard seat, they offer quality ergonomics along with numerous different uses which we will explore in this article. Seville Real Leather Bar Stool Blue In Our Homes The majority of bar stools are used in the home and can be found in the kitchen. Grouped around the kitchen island, along the worktop or breakfast bar, they’re sat upon when eating meals along with a multitude of other activities. Ideally paired with bar tables or a custom built home bar area, they infuse their surroundings with a fashionable aesthetic that is undeniably inviting. Whilst there are many popular fixed height designs like the Drift, some adjustable models can also be lowered to dining table height, making great additional seating for extra guests and special occasions. Outside of the kitchen and dining room, stools make the perfect addition to home workspaces. Providing premium functionality, the 360 swivel on designs like the Stitch means they’re ideal for use in the study, studio or craft room… even the potting shed! In Bars & Restaurants It will come as no surprise that the initial use for bar stools comes from where their name originates. Used to seat customers around the bar in a pub or diner setting, they saved on space by catering to single patrons who would otherwise take up a table on their own. Promoting open communication, they also allowed for users to talk easily with the barman along with other patrons, resulting in longer stays and enhanced sales. Now found at elevated surfaces in a whole range of eateries, from cafés and coffee shops to restaurants and nightclubs, commercial bar stools are widely used instead of, or as well as, chairs. Cool and contemporary in appearance, designs like the Ascot are often chosen to enhance the chic style of modern establishments. Bar Stools With Legs In Medical Practices Did you know opticians, dentists, and a whole host of medical practitioners also use stools on a daily basis? Favouring low models with a five-spoke nylon castor base, the mobility of wheels allows professionals to manoeuvre round their patient with ease to effectively administer treatment. With the addition of adjustable height, they can find an ergonomic and comfortable seating position to work at, no matter the height or size of the patient. An ideal example is the Deluxe Saddle Stool, a marvellously multi-purpose design that enables optimum accessibility. On Exhibition Stands On exhibition stands, bar stools are used by sales reps to help them connect with customers. If the sales rep were sat on a chair, passers-by would be looking down at them as they walked past and communication would be somewhat stunted due to the difference in height. Conversely, seating them on a high stool puts them at eye level with passers-by, making it easier to engage them in conversation and ultimately make a sale. Chosen by exhibitors for their modern look, the aim is that the trendy appeal of products like the Padded Crescent will draw customers in. What’s more, they can even be bought in corporate colours for a memorable and complementary appearance. Gloss Coco Bar Stool White In Reception Areas Waiting rooms with a central reception desk will often feature bar stools too. Take a hotel lobby for example, where the main counter is typically quite high. If hotel staff are not standing, they will sit on high stools to position them at eye-level with guests, the elevated height preventing people from having to look down over the counter at the staff. Allowing easier communication with customers, designs like Eve ensure both parties are on equal footing and that the guests feel properly catered for. With an encompassing backrest and padded seat, it provides much-needed support for long periods of usage alongside a sleek and stylish look. In Beauty & Hair Salons Popular with hair stylists, beauticians and nail technicians, the type of stool used will depend on the type of salon along with the seat’s intended user. Seats for customers to sit on during their treatment tend to be generously padded with a high comfortable backrest, as seen in the Polaris. A gas lift mechanism will allow the stylist to move it up and down in accordance with the height of the customer. On the other hand, those for the use of technicians and stylists will be similar to those of medical practitioners. Versatile low stools with wheels are often preferred, enabling users to glide across the salon with ease. Again, variable height is crucial so they can adjust the elevation to their individual height for an ergonomic working position. Yet they’re not only chosen for their practicality; they're also popular in salon settings due to their trendy modern ambience. Why not read our article on beauty salons on what to look for when purchasing seating for such establishments. Rochelle White For Work & Business From factories, production lines and packing halls to banks, airports and shop checkouts, stools are used in a wide variety of commercial workplaces. Permitting workers to sit down, they provide a less tiring and demanding alternative. Combined with variable height that enables each user to find the ideal ergonomic position for them, these exceedingly practical seats consequently result in a better working performance. Plus whilst a conventional chair could limit movement and restrict operation, the 360 swivel on models like the Lush allows optimum mobility and functionality. Additionally they’re perfectly suited for those in the creative industry - including illustrators, tailors, architects and graphic designers - who are often sat at elevated drawing boards. On TV Sets Last but by no means least, did you know our bar stools feature on a vast array of television programmes? From daytime chat to quick-fire quizzes, sensational soaps to increasingly popular reality TV, why not browse the full list of programmes and their corresponding products. Whilst chairs symbolise tradition and sofas exude a relaxed informal vibe, bar stools have an unmistakably glamourous feel that remains unrivalled in delivering impressive contemporary style. A great example of this is our old Monza Stool (pictured below), used on the popular game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Visually pleasing, an elevated seat height fills up more of the camera shot and ensures there is no empty space on screen. Plus on shows where the main presenter is stood up, seating the contestants or guests on stools makes them equal in height for a harmonious and balanced aesthetic. Bar Stools seen on TV When buying seating, it pays to think carefully about what it will be used for. Is it a chair you need, or will a stool be more ideally suited? Opening up more design options than you never knew existed, why not browse our full range of bar stools and explore the variety on offer.
Assembly of Bar Stools
A step-by-step guide and video, helping you to put together your new bar stools
Chrome, Brushed Steel and Satin Bar Stools
A handy guide helping you choose the metal finish that's right for you
Maintaining Your Bar Stools
Learn everything you need to know about maintaining your new bar stools