I like the ones on the right. But, the one on the left may be more comfortable for extended sitting periods, since it has the back rest. I guess it depends how long you envisage sitting on the stools.

Thanks all :)

I think it depends on what you like sitting on. they're not just for show, but need to suit your own sitting needs. So go with what feels best as well as looking OK.

Back rest is a must

The one on the left for comfort.

Can I throw a spanner in the works (sorry)?

I’m a shorty. The boys in the house are 6’2”+. What I think is comfy, they don’t. And vice versa. Finding a lounge suite is becoming a challenge. But we solved the mutual comfort prob with our kitchen island stools by going with a gas lift model, with a back.

We have back rests on ours (which look a bit similar to the ones you're looking at) and we find them functional. For practical reasons, we will only buy stools with back rests. Because of the foot rest, they seem to suit people of varying height. Just visited family and sat on their stools without backs and found them uncomfortable because they didn't have backs. We also found their stools a bit heavy as they could not be moved easily.

We have stools too & wouldn't consider any without firstly, back rest & secondly as we are fairly social a gas lift. Height matters not when you have the gas lift & any gas lift stool you fancy will fit under your bench & all persons will adjust the seat to a pleasing height be they short or tall!!

I'd pick the back rest for comfort and it looks nicer.

The stool on the left is best. A back rest is good for any length of time sitting at a counter otherwise you will lean over resting forearms on the counter. Make sure the height is around 65cm for counters. Good padding too.

Check that if they're too high for the bench, they're not too high to fit your legs under the bench when you're sitting on them. :)

My parents have amazing stools with no back rest and they r sooo comfortable...I also have stools with back rest and i find that we never use the back rest part.

I don't think the back rest makes a difference..speaking of experience.... LOL @jusjan49 :) The right ones it is :)

if you have little kids around get the back rest ones (sooooo much safer), otherwise freestanding are cool.

Always curb my clients away from White, PU or Real Leather especially with high use furniture, especially bar stools. Too easily bring up stains and dirt, and nothing looks worse than dirty white furniture. Good Luck!

That’s very good advice Illuminide. And cost doesn’t alter what eventually happens to white. My bestie has a very nice, expensive, white leather lounge suite. Well, she did. It’s now a creamy yellow colour. And that’s despite regular professional cleaning, no direct sunlight, and lots of OCD protectionism.

They're nice aslong as they are rarely used DM Stan. More for the special room in the house rather than high use.

I recently replaced a clients white PU leather stools for a black ones. The black ones look brand new still after 3 years, while the white ones couldn't make it through 2.

cheap hairspray?? hehehe

Long ago I was advised to use hairspray to remove pen ink on a blouse-it worked!!! I was strapped for funds then so it was likely very cheap hairspray!!