Real Estate Innovation

Basing Your Bar On The Barstools

Possibly the most important part of your home bar are the bar stools. Bar stools will help define the theme of your bar, in addition to the bar stools being where you and your guests will spend many hours enjoying drinks and conversation.

Even before considering the bar’s theme, when shopping for bar stools, there are a few things to consider first. Before you even begin to think about what your bar stools should look like, you need to consider the functionality of your bar stools.

The most important thing about your bar stools is their height. Generally, the bar stool’s seat should be about 11 to 12 inches below the top of the bar. Matching the stool height to the bar top height, whether your bar top is countertop height (35″-37″) or you’re buying stools for a tall cafe table (44″-47″), should be the first factor in your decision.

The subsequent factor to look into is a foot rail. If your bar has a traditional foot rail at the base of the bar, then it is not necessary for your bar stools to have foot rails. But if your bar did not come with an attached foot rail, then in that case you will certainly want your barstools to have foot rails to compensate for that. If you don’t have a place to rest your feet, you will get uncomfortable fairly quickly.

Another feature of a comfortable bar stool is its back. If you plan on spending much time at your bar, you’re probably going to want backs on your stools, whereas backless bar stools work fine for a 50’s Diner style bar. This is always the case if there is a television in your bar. If there’s no back to the bar stool, you will more than likely get up before long.

Another key feature of the bar stool is the capability of moving around. Generally, bar stools that don’t swivel just aren’t as comfortable as bar stools that do swivel. If you choose barstools that don’t swivel, the floor underneath your barstools will inevitably get scratched and worn. Even if you have swiveling barstools, you should probably put some type of floor protectors on your bar stools’ feet to further protect your floor.

Once you have considered all the functional features of your bar stools, you can now think of adapting them to the planned “theme” of your bar.

If you’re attempting to create the art deco look of the 1920’s and 30’s, it may be hard to locate 33″ stools along with foot rails. The same way as it may be difficult to locate 24″ bamboo stools that swivel.

Designing your bar around your bar stools, although there are many styles and sizes to choose from in both new and antique bar stools, is often a good idea.