Barstools aren’t just found at your local pub anymore. More and more people are opting to place barstools in their homes to accommodate breakfast nooks, kitchen counters, and even home bars. If you are purchasing barstools, you don’t have to be overwhelmed by the selection available. Simply choose the right barstool height, style, and additional features. Your home décor will be complete in no time at all!

Step 1: Decide What Height Your Stool Should Be

When purchasing a barstool, it is extremely important to identify where you will place it. The height of your home bar, kitchen counter, or pub table will help determine what the appropriate height of your stool should be. The height is determined by the stool’s seat height, not the total height. This ensures that your legs will fit under the table’s surface. Typically, counter height seats are 24-26" high, while the bar height seats are 30-32" high. For more information, please visit our Barstool Height Guide.

Step 2: Choose the Perfect Bar Stool Style

Purchasing barstools is a great opportunity to turn one of your rooms into anything from a traditional Irish pub to a retro 1950’s lounge. There are a wide variety of styles to meet all of your needs in the market and on eBay today.

Casual Barstools

  This is a great look if you want simplicity in your barstool. Casual barstools consist of clean lines, simple designs, and light wood finishes. Country-inspired decorations, Windsor backs, and saddleseats may also appear in the design.

Chrome Barstools

  This style is usually a found in retro and modern barstools. You can achieve a look similar to chrome by selecting stools with a shiny or silver finish that looks both clean and fresh. Chrome barstools both modernize and provide a professional look to any bar or kitchen.

Contemporary Barstools

  Looking for something in between traditional and modern? For a veratile look, a contemporary barstool is perfect for you. This style has straight lines and clean edges, or even a little curvature. However, carvings and decorative touches are minimal. This style is made out of the largest selection of materials: wood, metal, wood/metal combination, and wrought iron.

Modern Barstools

  Not to be confused with the contemporary style, the modern bar stool style has a look that is ideal for the 21st Century. It features clean lines, smooth accents (i.e. glass and stainless steel), and updated concepts. This style often feels like a futuristic version of the retro design, complete with atypical curved lines and other modern attributes.

Novelty Barstools

  If you want your barstool to fit into a room with a specific theme, the novelty barstool style is the place to look. These barstools are decorated with anything that is whimsical and fun, including horses, martini glasses, NASCAR racers, or billiards.

Retro Barstools

  Turn your room into a 1950’s lounge or diner with the retro barstool style. This look typically includes a stainless steel frame and brightly colored cushions. Also look for retro shapes, such as circles and triangles.

Rustic Barstools

  Whether you live on a ranch or just want your room to look like it, this rustic barstool style is the perfect choice for you. These barstools are usually either unfinished or have a lightly distressed darker wood. Also, look for saddleseats and horse/ranch themes to complete the look.

Traditional Barstools

  Complete your home’s décor with the beautiful decorative touches you crave in the traditional barstool style. In this style you will find curved lines, hand-painted details, hand-carved details, and a typically darker wood finish.

Tropical Barstools

  Turn your bar or pub set into an island paradise with this tropical bar stool style. Typically constructed of wicker, rattan, bamboo, or unfinished woods, this style is perfect for creating that Tiki bar you have always dreamed of.

Step 3: Select Additional Barstool Features

Once you have determined which barstool style will best fit your home’s décor, it is important to decide if you want specific barstool features. This includes seat orientation, upholstery, and whether it can be utilized outdoors.

• Billiard Barstools: Give your billiards room a realistic feel with barstools featuring built-in cup and cue stick holders. Some of these billiard barstools are also available with billiard themed decorations, such as 8-balls, while others simply fit the style of a traditional pool hall.
• Fabric Barstools: If you want a soft, padded surface to sit on, then fabric upholstered barstools are perfect for you. Whether the upholstery is a woven-webbed seat support, a luxurious suede, or a festive pattern, you will be sitting comfortably in style.
• Leather Barstools: Comfort meets luxury with this additional barstool feature. These barstools are upholstered in a richly soft leather, or fool your guests with realistically looking faux leather. Either way, you are sure to add a touch of lavishness to your bar or pub table.
• Outdoor Barstools: If you want to use your barstools outside, you want to make sure they aren’t going to rust or tarnish. Choose outdoor wood or metal barstools that have been finished in a protective coat to keep them safe in harsh environments.
• Swivel Barstools: If you want the capacity to turn in any desired direction while seated, then you should invest in a swivel barstool. Available in many of the styles and finishes, this handy feature will make your bar or pub table more functional.
• Saddleseat Barstools: This feature describes the look of the specifically designed seat top. The saddleseat strongly resembles the shape of a saddle used to ride a horse. Because of this design, saddleseat barstools are typically found in the rustic and casual barstool styles. They are also finished in light, medium, and dark shades of wood.
• Windsor Barstools: This additional feature portrays the look of a specific styled chair. Especially popular in 18th-century England, Windsor barstools may be finished in light, medium, and dark shades of wood. It features an arched back with a variety of designs, such as a fan back, a hoop back, or a comb back.

Step 4: Select a Pub Table or Bar to Complement Your Stools

Now that you have become an expert in choosing the perfect barstool for your home, you can just as easily choose the right companion piece. Whether you want a bar to go with your bar height stools or a pub table to match your counter height stools, you can truly have that 1950’s retro lounge, sports bar, or Tiki bar that you have always dreamed about!