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.