Wood Bar Stools

Wood bar stools are amongst the most common type of bar stool. The first original pub bar stools of the United Kingdom were all wood bar stools. The common wooden bar stool has been around for centuries. This type of stool is still commonly found in pubs and restaurants. A well made wood bar stool can last for decades with just some minor re-gluing from time to time. Wooden bar stools have a classic and rustic feel that cannot be captured with stools made from alternate materials.

There are a number of different models of this type of stool. Some are quite fancy while others including a version called the saddle bar stool are very simple in design. Most types of durable wood can be used in the construction of these stools. The most common pub style bar stools were constructed from oak. However more recently, teak bar stools have become very popular. If the finished bar stool is to be painted then often pine is used for the construction. Approximately half of these stools have a metal foot bar while the other half have a foot bar made from wood.

Wood bar stools come in a variety of different heights. The standard heights include the 24 inch bar stool, the 30 inch bar stool, and the 34 inch bar stool. In addition, you can have customized bar stools built to any height you desire. The proper height of your bar stool will be determined by the height of the bar, table or counter you wish to sit at. Most commercial bar stools tend to be higher stools while those stools used in a residential setting tend to be of the shorter variety with the exception of patio bar stools. Patio bar stools are generally taller whether they are used in a commercial or residential setting.

Once you have decided that you want to add wooden bar stools to your home, deciding upon the height of the stools is the easy part. You also have to decide on the shape of the stools, the bar stool seat and whether you prefer a back or a backless bar stool. Do you want a wood swivel seat bar stool? Each alternative has pros and cons. The first thing you need to consider is the size of the intended bar stool space. Is the space open and airy like a pool deck or is it tucked into a corner some place. The taller bar stools with backs can take up a lot of space. If the bar stool is too big for the space the look and feel will be cramped and undesirable. Choose a stool that fits your space. Backless bar stools fit better into smaller spaces but they can also be less comfortable for those people that need back support.

There are three general wood seat styles. There is the classic shaped style that is somewhat molded to the person chair interface, there are round seats. The round seats tend to be among the most cheap wood bar stools. There are also the stylish wooden saddle seat stools as pictured above. The saddle seat stools tend to be considered the hippest on the market these days. Saddle seat stools are static seat stools and do not come with a swivel option.

One last thing to consider is whether you want the seat to swivel. Swivel seats are much more convenient than conventional static seat chairs. They are much easier to get into and to get out of. In a commercial bar or restaurant or pub setting swivel seat stools are essential. The swivel seat stools will be more expensive but will save wear and tear on your floors and will be much more comfortable for your guests.

These types of stools can be easily found in a number of different locations. Of course, all furniture stores will carry assorted models. Also, all larger department stores will have bar stools in their furniture department. Some of the cheap wooden bar stools can be found in hardware stores and home renovation stores. There are also hundreds of different online distributors that will offer to ship the stools at a very reasonable price.

Wood bar stools come in many different styles and models. They range from as inexpensive as thirty to forty dollars per stool upwards to $400 or more per stool. There is a stool for every budget. Think about the characteristics that you want in a stool including the height and seat styles. Also think carefully about the amount of space you have available in which to fit the stools. Remember to choose a stool that fits your space. Wood bar stools come in an enormous array of models with some careful consideration you will find some that are perfect for your home or business.

Discount Barstools

Before going to your local furniture store or department store to purchase bar stools for your home or business you should really do some research into discount bar stools. I am not sure what twigged me to look for bar stools this way but something did and I did and I was pleasantly surprised by the results.

The first thing I did was look in my local yellow pages under discount furniture. I was able to get the names and addresses of a few shops in my town that specialized in and had a good supply of second hand bar stools. Both of stores were huge warehouses and they indicated to me on the phone that their inventory turns over rapidly so I would have to go to the store myself and look for bar stools. However, both stores felt certain that they would have some sort of bar stool in stock. I spent a Saturday afternoon combing through both warehouses with a nice high school kid who worked there. These types of places are hit or miss. I saw a number of different types of bar stools but none suited my needs. The only ones that I really liked only came in a set of 3 which simply wasn't enough for me.

My next step was to look at the Yellow Pages online. The online version seems to have ads from cities up to a five hour drive away. I was able to get a number of names and addresses of places within an hours drive from here. I contacted these stores to determine which ones would be able to deliver to my home.

In my search for discount bar stools, I started to ask where the stools came from. I was really surprised by the answers. The obvious answer is that the bar stools were liquidated from various merchants that had gone out of business. The less obvious answer is that some were in a group that was exposed to slight smoke or water damage (but you would never know it or detect it) and insurance companies were compelled to buy out the inventory. Another less obvious answer is that some of the bar stools came from large nationally branded furniture stores or department stores who simply needed to make room for new models.

Of all of the bar stools I saw, every single one was in excellent condition and none were second hand. With a little bit of investigative work you can find some very good quality discount bar stools at 25% of what you might expect to pay at a regular store. In my case, the search was well worth the effort.

Backless Barstools

Backless barstools have pros and cons. I have a brief list of the pros and cons of this type of stools. This list is by no means exhaustive. You will likely have your own reasons for liking or loathing backless barstools. Please feel free to add your own reason to the comments section below.

Pros

1. Smaller than those stools with backs. These stools fit better in small spaces. The lack of back lends the stool to a less intrusive look.

2. Cheaper. Some backless bar stools are very reasonably priced. Bar stools without backs are constructed with less materials and are accordingly less expensive

3. Adjustable height seat. Many of these stools have adjustable height seats. These are very useful for people working at drafting tables or easels.

4. Durable. Often the backs of barstools are the most vulnerable part of the stool. The absence of a back means there are fewer weaker parts.

5. Lighter and easier to move. These barstools are easier to move when sweeping and cleaning up.

Cons

6. Comfort. Backless bar stools provide no support for the back. This is very important if you or your guest will be expected to spend longer periods of time seated in the bar stool. In addition, this type of stool is rarely upholstered.

7. Stability and security. This generally only applies to children, people with poor balance and drunk people. The lack of a back can possibly lead to falling off the bar stools. For some there is a bit of a stretch to get up on the stool. A back provides a sense of security.

As you can see there are a number of different pros and cons to consider when deciding whether a backless barstool will meet your needs. I will try to update this list from time to time and I would love to hear from you about what you think the pros and cons of backless barstools might be.

24" Bar Stools

There is a pretty big demand for 24" bar stools these days. I don't believe I had ever seen such a bar stool until 5 or 6 years ago. When I first started buying bar stools for different commercial ventures in the late 80s I never came across such stools. Barstools were generally a standard height and were generally for one purpose which was for sitting at a bar to drink. More often than not, bar stools were most commonly found in bars and pubs. However, times have changed. Stools can be found in numerous residences and now comes in different heights. Now days 24" bar stools are everywhere.

Admittedly, most pubs and bars don't use a 24 inch bar stool very often and when they do they tend to order only a few for some bar that has to be lower because of a window or something like that. For most commercial purposes the bar stools remain at the old standard height. The biggest source of demand for these shorter bar stools has come from the residential sector, particularly families with children.

In the 60s, 70s and even into the 80s the residential use of bar stools was generally limited to rec rooms or possibly the edge of a very large living room. If in the rec room, they tended to be wooden stools with a dark stain and high sheen varnish. The idea was to replicate pub bar stools. If in the more formal area such a living room, they tended to be metal bar stools with a hard seat or sometimes metal bar stools with a cushion seat. These stools were invariably 30" barstools to suit a regular 42 inch bar. Perhaps most importantly, these stools were designed for use by adults.

In the mid-90s kitchen renovations were becoming a big deal. People were beginning to realize that the kitchen was an integral part of the family home. Kitchens were used for socializing and watching TV. The parent who generally was responsible for meal preparation didn't want to be cut off from the family. Even clean up after meals isn't so tedious when the rest of the family stays in the room to talk about their days or when the TV gets flipped on after the meal. As kitchens gained more status, kitchen design became more popular. Historically kitchen were about function. Today kitchens are still about function but they have to look good and have a certain style. Today is about granite counters, marble back splashes, and breakfast bars and breakfast bar stools. Modern kitchen include entertainment areas with music and TVs and home offices with computer desks and filing cabinets. Many kitchen have ares for sofas or lounge chairs. In short, the purpose of the kitchen has changed from an area for food preparation and consumption (although remember: food was consumed in the dining room in the pre-50s) to an area for family living.

As people became more interested in kitchen design they started creating new ways to use the kitchen. It soon became apparent that families rarely sat down for breakfast together as breakfast was generally done in shifts depending on the availability of the bathroom or shower and or the hours at which a family member had to be at work or school or volleyball practice. At some point it became obvious that a breakfast bar was the perfect place to accommodate shift eating. It also was a perfect place for a family member to sit and chat with someone preparing dinner or washing up after dinner.

People didn't want their children climbing on to backless bar stools that were bigger than them. In the interests of safety the stools needed to be shorter. It became clear that if the breakfast bar was the same height as the counter then when not in use the breakfast bar would become coveted extra counter space. So in combining the accessibility of table height chairs with the functionality of creating extra counter space the breakfast bar bar stool or the 24 inch bar stool became needed.

As with any stool, a number of factors (over and above bar stool height) must be considered. Will the stools be upholstered? Is is easy to wash the upholstery? Remember food and drink will invariably get spilled. How many stools can easily fit in the space. Most breakfast bars have 2 or 3 stools at a maximum. Will these stools need to swivel? Having a swivel seat bar stool saves the wear and tear on the floor under the stool. The money you save on replacing your carpet or refinishing your floor sometimes can make buying the more expensive swivel bar stools very attractive. Will the stool need a back? Stools with backs are clearly safer for children. Finally, do you want a wooden bar stool or a metal bar stool?

As with buying furniture for any part of your house the purchase of these stools should be carefully considered. They only way you are going to get the ones that truly suit your needs is by giving the entire issue a great deal of thought. Try to think about the purposes of these stools. Are they really for breakfast or are they for another purpose? Will the kid do their homework there? Will you read the paper there? Will it be a spot for your best friend to have a glass of wine while you prepare some cheese and crackers. Do you want to watch the game and have a beer and chips there? I could give another dozen of examples of potential activities to consider. When you think of the purposes you most want to achieve you will be able to choose the stool that is perfect for you and your family.

There are plenty of things to think about before buying. Remember not all 24" bar stools should be considered the same.