Let’s say that you have a great looking kitchen that you’ve just remodeled, and in the process of the redo you installed a bar. It’s time to get bar stools so that you can begin to enjoy your new dining place as soon as possible. It’s not quite as simple as going out to a store and purchasing anything that meets your fancy, however. There are a number of questions that you must answer first before you even set foot in a furniture store. You need to know how tall the bar is, what style of seating you’d like, how many seats can you fit at your bar, and whether or not it’s as important to buy for function as it is for appearance.
One of your first considerations in making your choice is maintenance. How easy will they be to clean and keep looking good. They’re going to be in the kitchen, after all, and each will get doused with beverages and plastered with food over time. What kinds of surfaces will be easy to wipe clean of maple syrup and scrambled eggs?
You must determine the height of your bar, and then you can choose seating that is an appropriate height for it. You don’t want seating that is the same height as your bar. In general, bar stools should be 11 to 12 inches lower than a bar to ensure you’ll be sitting at a comfortable height, and to prevent scuffing your legs on the underside of the bar. Most bars are around 36 inches high, which means that your seats ought to be 24 to 25 inches high from the seat to the floor.
Next, you’ll need to figure out how many bar stools will comfortably fit at your bar. To calculate the optimum number of seats, measure the length of your bar and convert the measurement into inches. Divide the number of inches by 30, because that’s about how much space you’ll need for each, and that tells you how many seats will fit. Be careful to avoid cluttering your walkways, though, and don’t put in so many seats that you and guests will have an awkward time maneuvering in the kitchen.
Next, you should think about the kinds of bar stools that you want in your kitchen. If you want to take on a more traditional look you’ll probably want wood, which can be more challenging to care for that metal. Wood does come in an infinite variety of finishes, however. More modern looking seating is usually constructed from aluminum, wrought iron or steel, and it tends to be durable and easy to care for.
You’ll need to decide whether you want stools with backrests and armrests, too. Those with the extra supporting features can be more comfortable than those without, however, seats without backrests and armrests are easier to push under a counter or bar at times when you’re not using them. You might also want to choose swivel seats, because they allow diners to swivel off their seats when getting up, and that can prevent scratches to the floor.
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