Modern Counter & Bar Stools

Why We Love Counter & Bar Stools

Part of the fun of the dining experience is enjoying your seating location as well as your companions. Modern bar stools make it easy to unwind over a meal, enjoying the company of your family or friends. Bar stools also offer a quick seat to enjoy a bowl of cereal or some fast breakfast before you run out the door in the morning. This casual style of kitchen dining offers an element of relaxation that pairs nicely with convenience and a fun social aspect. Modern counter stools come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and styles to suit the look and feel of any kitchen or bar dining area.

Where Modern Counter & Bar Stools Work Best

Bar stools and counter seating is the go-to choice of seating for taller eating areas and of course, kitchen counters. Counter stools seated around an island or tall counter offer a nice change in the pace of daily life, elevating you much higher than a traditional chair would. The diverse style options allow you to choose a design and color scheme that works beautifully with your existing décor and kitchen layout. Numerous renown design brands offer modern bar stools to complete your kitchen seating or the vibrant bar area in your finished basement. This collection of bar stools is also ideal for taller dining tables and cafe tables found in the dining room. In the home office or work space, a standing desk is best suited with an equally tall stool for those times you want to sit back while working. And outdoors, bar stools for the patio complement the deck area for barbecues and outdoor entertaining occasions.

Bar Stool Ideas for Every Style

Whether your home's aesthetic is purely modern or trends on the traditional side of the spectrum, there's a pair of stools for you in this assortment. We love the depth of style and color choices by key designers like Kartell, Blu Dot and Italy's Calligaris. Each of these stool designs offer exceptional quality backed by a rich history of modern furniture creation. Kartell is especially easy to introduce to the kitchen as its collection of counter and bar stools span a wide variety of colors. A more traditional and elegant bar stool is found in the wood collection from Copeland Furniture. And lastly, to fit a mid-century theme, look to the bar stools available from Gus Modern.

How to Choose the Best Counter & Bar Stools

Selecting just the right pair of bar or counter stools requires careful attention to the chair's size. First, decide where you plan to place your new stools to best determine the height you need. Modern stools are made for two primary heights - bar height and counter height. Most counters are roughly 36" from the base of the floor to the counter itself, while standard cafe tables and bar tables can range in height up to about 40". Your best option is to select a stool of at least 24" for the counter and slightly taller (28" to 32") to accommodate bar height. Counter and bar stools are measured by their seat height, so be careful not to measure for the height of the back or you may get too tall of a chair. You'll also want to be considerate of the seat's width to ensure you find just the right size for your purpose.

You may also notice that stools are available in a few different styles:

• Back with arms: modern and comfortable, ideal for longer sitting occasions
• Armless: offers ergonomic back support in a compact form without arms
• Backless: perfect for tucking under a counter or table to free up space
• Swivel base: a go-to option if you plan to permanently position the stool somewhere

Depending on your kitchen or dining room's layout, this will help determine your choice of stool. And while some stools are adjustable to fit just about any counter or bar height, you'll want to double check to make certain you make the best choice. Finally, with a style and size in mind, refine your stool options by colors, finishes and design features that will blend in with your existing decor. If you have any questions about the counter and bar seating featured here, please call our furniture experts at 877.445.4486.

Other Considerations

Dressing up the bar or dining area with a little home décor can go miles in improving the atmosphere for your family as well as your guests. Consider the vibrant kitchen and dining accessories from Alessi or the contemporary, stainless steel accessories by Blomus. Lovely vases, unique centerpieces and other dramatic accessories will be sure to help to complete the look you're hoping to achieve. And look to the available bar accessories to really make a statement to your entertaining decor.