How to Pick the Right Counter Stools for Your Kitchen
via Our Coastal Modern Kitchen Refresh Reveal
Let’s talk kitchen stools, my friends! If you’ve got an island or peninsula in your kitchen, chances are you’ve got a spot somewhere along it that’s designed to house a set of counter stools. They’re so great for extra seating, as a place for kids to sidle up to when they’re eating or doing homework, and provide a nice spot for conversation with the cook while staying out of the way. 😉
You might have noticed I specifically called out counter stools rather than bar stools in the title of today’s post. Why? Well, because they’re actually different from one another!
I feel like the term “bar stool” is thrown around as the generic title for any stool you pull up to a counter, but counter stools come in at a lower height that’s ideal for your typical 36” high countertop. Unless you have a true raised bar area, you’re going to need counter height stools, not bar height stools, which will come in handy as you search for the right ones for your home.
Today, I’ve put together a quick little guide that will help you figure out what kind of counter stools are right for your home, as well as rounded up a set of great ones that will hopefully help kickstart your hunt!
How to choose the right counter stools for your kitchen
1. Figure out how many stools you need.
I like to start with this step because it will help you figure out the scale of your stools and how many you can actually fit with the right amount of space between them.
So first, measure the length of the seating area in your bar or peninsula. Then take that total length and divide it by 21 if you are planning on having smaller-scale stools, or divide by 24 if you want to have more generously sized stools. Those two numbers are the number of inches you’ll want to allow per stool, so dividing the overall length by those numbers gives you the number of stools you can accommodate. If you’re not sure what size stools you want yet, do calculations with both numbers and see what feels right for your space!
2. Backs or backless counter stools?
Think about how you plan to use your seating and what’s nearby to determine whether you go with stools that have a back or not.
Stools with backs tend to be more comfortable, so if you know you'll be sitting there a lot or just prefer more back support, that might be the way to go. If you have small kiddos, stools with a back can be a little more stable as well for when they inevitably climb up or down on their own!
Another thing to consider is sight lines. This has to do with what you see as you stand in different areas of your house and look through to other rooms or areas. Stools with backs may block more of the sight lines into your kitchen, which can be good or bad! If you live in a home with an open floor plan where your kitchen opens up to other rooms, having those backs may actually act as as a helpful room divider to make the kitchen feel a little more separate. Or, if you want to have a clean line of sight through your kitchen, consider something with a low profile (no or low back).
The back/backless consideration doesn't have hard and fast rules - it's more about thinking through how your family lives in your home, how it’s set up, and how much time your bum will be sitting there!
Design: Allison Giese via Unique Kitchens & Baths on Instagram
3. Decide what style and materials you’d like to have.
This includes a description of the design style (e.g. coastal or mid-century) as well as things like metal finish, wood tone, and seat material (upholstered vs. metal or wood). This is where the fun happens! You might already know what style you want or you might feel overwhelmed by all of the options out there and have no idea where to start.
If you find yourself in the latter group, take a spin through Pinterest or another inspiration source to see what strikes you. Write down some descriptions of those counter stools - you’ll use them later when you’re ready to start your search.
In terms of materials, think through what you are drawn to, the style of your kitchen, “cleanability,” and what’s nearby. This might lead you to choose something like a black metal base to complement the black hardware in your kitchen, or maybe you’ve got a walnut dining table nearby, so you’d like to bring that into your kitchen as well.
4. Start searching for those perfect counter stools!
Now that you have a good idea of what you want, now’s the time to shop!
Come up with a list of attributes you’re looking for, and then head over to Google Shopping to start. It’s a great way to get a broad brush overview of what’s out there. Type in a few words or phrases from your list to see what comes up. I also like Google Shopping because it gives you the option of choosing a price range so you can stay on track with your budget.
To give you an example of what you might search for, you might have figured out that you want a counter stool that has a coastal style, a light wood finish, incorporates rattan, and has a back. So I’d try several variations using a couple of those terms at a time to see if you can find what you’re looking for - those variations help make sure you uncover all of your options.
Some others might be along these lines:
Coastal counter stool with back
Rattan counter stool
Light wood rattan counter stool
Counter stool with back woven seat
Search engines are pretty smart, but sometimes it takes a few runs at it to find the perfect piece!
Counter stools come in every imaginable shape, color, and style. Be sure you're picking something that both functions well in your kitchen and suits your style. The right one is out there, I know it!
I hope that this little guide helps you in your search. To finish things up today, I've rounded up a list of some of my favorite counter stools that are out on the market right now. Many of them come in other finish options, so if you like the style, click through to see what else is available. Feel free to use these as a jumping off point on your hunt!
Counter Stool Sources
From top left:
(Note: This post contains affiliate lnks, which means Mix & Match Design Company earns a small commission from your purchase at no cost to you.)