Have you ever walked into a friend or relative’s kitchen and thought, ‘How the hell do I get this décor?’ It’s one thing to stay jealously pining and quite another to take the inspiration and run, carving out your own beautifully designed culinary space.
When it comes to the so-called ‘heart of the home’, breakfast bar stools are often a focal point for admiration, providing new and versatile ways to enjoy your dining routines. So, without further ado, let’s get into this blog on breakfast bar stool styles so you can find the right one for your own home.
What we’ll cover:
- Key Considerations
- Types Available
- Breakfast Bar Stool Styles
- FAQs
Key Considerations
As with any long-term purchase, it can save you a lot of hassle (and money) later down the line if you get your priorities straight before you even load up the tab on your browser or, if you’re doing it the old school way, set foot in the furniture showroom.
In fact, you might want to think about how your needs and desires may change over time, and how the breakfast bar stool you choose will age alongside your other décor.
Below are some of the key considerations that will help you make a choice that you will be happy with for years to come.
Placement
While you may wish to introduce a gorgeous new set of breakfast bar stools into your kitchen design on a whim, it’s going to pose a real problem if you don’t plan around the layout and space constraints at play.
Another obstacle is knowing how to best implement them into the room’s flow and functionality; particularly as you’ll kick yourself if you don’t end up maximising the potential of this highly utilitarian feature.
To avoid these issues, grab your tape measure and see how many square metres you have at your disposal. You might have to rethink your kitchen layout, relegate some of your other pieces into another room or be a little more creative, but in most cases, it should be doable to add a few stools.
Generally, you’ll be working with a counter height (approx. 70cm) stool or those designed for the average elevated breakfast bar (approx. 82cm), but don’t worry; you can get height adjustable and non-standard options too.
In all instances, you’ll require 15cm of breathing space between stools at a minimum and then 60cm of clearance behind them for safety and smooth usage. You can even fit them into smaller spaces – take this example of a tiny brunch nook, made using a small shelf and a couple of breakfast bar stools in a slimline style.
Purpose
We’ve talked about spacing, but what about how the stools will be used and by whom? It might seem obvious, but it’s a very important factor, especially if a range of people will find themselves seated there in the future.
This might mean catering to older folk, those with limited mobility or, indeed, little ones with features like armrests, lumbar support and a sturdy back to prevent hazards. Do the chairs need to be tidied away when they’re not in use? Backless options are great for hiding under a counter!
Comfort & Ergonomics
Linked to our previous point, comfort and ergonomics can make a world of difference for disabled and non-disabled people alike, protecting spine health and keeping you snugly encased in those comfy arms. As most breakfast bar stool types are designed to be healthy at heart, they tend to give the body room to breathe and move rather than forcing it into a 90-degree posture.
Swivel action is another major game changer, allowing for greater movement and access to the workstations you need without you having to stand up. Finally, don’t forget footrests! With taller options, it’s best to find a stool with an inbuilt one or add a rail under your island so guests can rest their feet.
Aesthetics, Material & Texture
As materials and textures combine to create distinct aesthetics, we’re covering all three considerations here. Put simply, high-quality and organic materials are a treat for our brains. Not only does the visual complexity of marble, wood graining and patinaed metals mimic the randomness we see in nature (think plants and rugged landscapes), but it provides a sense of depth and comfort.
You can achieve this with your selection of barstool types, too. From rustic country styles to those made from reclaimed objects like bicycles, there’s so much choice to be had. Plus, plenty of opportunity to pick an interesting mix for that eclectic feel.
Weight & Manoeuvrability
When you’re entertaining many people or you have a number of surfaces where you can place your stools, their weight and manoeuvrability is key. In this case, you’ll want to be able to lift and reposition them without too much strain. This way, you can enjoy your kitchen to the fullest, rearranging the seating for different occasions or even different seasons.
Your Existing Décor
Finally, there is the matter of your existing décor. How do you pick a breakfast barstool to fit? To properly mix and match you need to carefully curate the entire space, bringing in unity through shared motifs, textures and colours. Think about patterns, shapes, silhouettes and your current colour scheme – are there ways you can tie the barstools into what’s already going on?
Here, the secret is to avoid exact matches as a bit of variety actually enhances the ‘lived in’ appeal of the space. The only thing you need to be aware of is the scaling, ensuring proportionality and balanced visual weight across your furniture.
7 Breakfast Bar Stool Types
Now you’ve got the considerations down, it’s time to look at the breakfast barstool types available.
1. Swivel / Adjustable
Swivel or height-adjustable options are at the top of the list of the most versatile breakfast bar stool types. With the ability to turn you 360 degrees in your seat without so much as you flexing a muscle, these stools are incredibly convenient. On top of this manoeuvrability are adjustable features, a height that can increase/decrease to your liking, ideal for a whole variety of uses and guests.
2. Full Back / Bar Stool Chairs
For those after maximum back support, full-backed stools can be the most comfortable choice. It’s also a brilliant option for children as the design helps reduce the likelihood of accidents from leaning backwards or upon climbing into/off the stool.
3. Low Back
If the bar stool chair look is too traditional for your kitchen décor, why not go for a compromise? Low-backed breakfast stools provide healthy support, whilst their short stature allows for them to hide away under your breakfast bar or dining table.
4. Backless
Practically made for modern kitchens, these types of breakfast bar stools are sleek, practical and easy to push out of sight after mealtimes. While many feature brassy metal legs, you can easily find options with upholstered seats in leather or classic wood for a more timeless appeal.
5. Barrel
With a round base and top, these breakfast bar stools make a fun addition to all sorts of kitchen schemes, from industrial chic to coastal charm. The organic shapes bring an inherent feel of comfort into the space that will help set the design apart from the average interior.
6. Classic
By classic, we’re envisioning timeless oak, backless round stools – the type you could easily see in a large, country house decked out with shaker-style cabinetry. Not only does the wood provide warmth, but the familiar silhouettes make you feel right at home.
7. Upholstered
Upholstered breakfast stools are the perfect opportunity to inflect your overall colour scheme with new pops of colour and introduce a new element of comfort. Here, you get visual interest and a luxurious dining experience – what more could you want?
Breakfast Bar Stool Styles
On top of the main barstool types, there are variations in style; this encompasses the details, finishes, materials and other flourishes to the mainstream silhouettes.
Farmhouse
Sturdy, comfy and full of traditional character, farmhouse-style breakfast bar stools tend to be chunkier than most, emphasising the quality of the materials and the simplicity of life.
Scandi
Often crafted from light-coloured woods and featuring sweeping, minimalist lines, Scandinavian-style seating is a great option if you want to purge your home of visual clutter. Pair them with other natural materials like white granite countertops to ensure that mindful ambience sticks around.
Mid-Century Modern
Known for those iconic spindle legs, mid-century furniture isn’t just functional, it counts as a statement in of itself. Celebrating the best of ergonomics, they tend to have a mix of handy features from comfy armrests to swivel action.
Industrial
Industrial bar stools cover everything sleek, angular and metallic. Great for bringing a ‘bite’ into your décor and reflecting light back into the space, these options are a great fit for modern interiors.
Maximalist
Our last style mention is going to be maximalism. When you want to embrace the extravagant and build a truly stimulating social space, picking a more maximalist or otherwise visually striking design is ideal. These breakfast barstools tap into the fun and creativity we’re all striving for, ensuring our daily lives are full of colour, texture and fascinating shapes.
FAQs
Before we wrap up this post, allow us to blitz through a few final pointers. These commonly asked questions will help guide you towards pieces that not only tick all of the boxes for style and functionality, but also slot perfectly into the space available.
How Many Stools Do I Need?
To determine how many bar stools you can accommodate with your counter, table or breakfast bar, you’ll need to measure the width of each individual stool and allow for 15cm between each of them. From there, you can decide how much of this maximum allowance you need; in many instances, 4 is more than enough for the average family.
What’s the Ideal Height?
This will depend on the height of the surface. For counters, which typically stand at 90cm tall, you’ll want stools at around 70cm. For the average elevated breakfast bar at 105cm, the seats should be around 82cm tall.
How Much Space Do I Need?
No matter the seating arrangement, you’ll need at least 15cm between adjacent stools and also 60cm of clearance behind them so people can dismount them without bumping into anything.
Good Luck Choosing!
Hey presto – everything you need to know about breakfast bar stool styles and the varieties available. We hope to have given you a leg up on your kitchen furnishing plans. By carefully weighing up all of the considerations we provided, finding the perfect fit will be a piece of cake!
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