Island chairs
Open plan kitchendining areas are the thing in home layouts. And even if your home wasn’t designed with one originally, chances are, if you have the space, you’ll add a kitchen island during a renovation.
In order to properly enjoy a kitchen island, it’s got to have bar stools. If you asked me the thing I love the most about my house, it’s that my kids, friends and extended family can all park themselves up at the bar and keep me company while I cook or unload the dishwasher, or just stand around and chat.
Bar stools are key to that equation, though, and it can be tricky to find just the right option that not only complements the style of your kitchen, but is also comfortable and durable.
When you’re on the bar stool hunt, you’ll first want to measure your counter so you know what height your stools should be. The last thing you want is to find the perfect stools, only to have your knees squeezed under the countertop. Counter stools are usually shorter, and bar stools are typically taller than counter height, but measure to make sure before ordering or purchasing.
The second consideration is whether you want your stools to have backs or be backless. This is both a personal comfort issue as well as what looks right at your island or bar. If you’re tight on space, having the option to tuck a backless stool right under the counter can be helpful.
The final consideration is about durability. We have small kids who love nothing more than to climb up on our bar stools and eat jam on toast every morning. Cloth-covered stools, as it turns out, might not have been the best choice for this ritual. With small kids or messy adults, opt for wood or even a plastic seat for maximum wipe-ability.
After you’ve made all of those choices, then you get to make the much more enjoyable decisions regarding style.
There are myriad options on the high street or in speciality stores, from industrial to art deco to Scandinavian. No matter what you choose, make sure they’re comfortable enough that your family and friends will be happy to keep you company in the kitchen.