Sit Down: What to Look For When Buying Kitchen Stools
You might find yourself sitting on them a lot more than you think, so choose your kitchen stools wisely
I’m indecisive at the best of times, but choosing something as seemingly simple as a plain old bar stool simply bewilders me. I’ve been looking for stools to sit at my new kitchen bench top for about a year now. After spending every last cent on house construction, I had hoped that some op-shop/eBay/side-of-the-road type opportunities might have miraculously presented themselves. So far this hasn’t happened and my friends are complaining that there’s nowhere to sit while they nurse their wine and I cook dinner.
So I’ve had to weigh up the various options: A pop of colour in the mostly neutral kitchen palette? A natural look of wood and dark leather tops? A classic stool shape or more comfortable seat with a back rest for extended sitting? All one style and colour or a mix of coloured stools? With my concrete floor, I was unsure what would work best without my kitchen looking too much like a cafe or bar. Now that I’ve finally chosen, I’m ready to share my findings:
So I’ve had to weigh up the various options: A pop of colour in the mostly neutral kitchen palette? A natural look of wood and dark leather tops? A classic stool shape or more comfortable seat with a back rest for extended sitting? All one style and colour or a mix of coloured stools? With my concrete floor, I was unsure what would work best without my kitchen looking too much like a cafe or bar. Now that I’ve finally chosen, I’m ready to share my findings:
A splash of colour. In an all-white, dark or neutral kitchen, stools offer an opportunity to add a burst of colour. These green ones are perfect against the charcoal and tie in with the other verdant offerings throughout this kitchen.
Black and white. Or go for the very classic look of black and white. The dark kitchen stools here pick up on the black pendant lights in the otherwise white kitchen. Simple and lovely.
Read more: Kitchen Inspiration: 13 Wonderfully White Kitchens
Read more: Kitchen Inspiration: 13 Wonderfully White Kitchens
Make it clear. Clear stools can be a great way to add seating while avoiding looking clunky or cluttered – because in some lights you can barely see them. This makes them a good choice if you have limited space.
Read more: Nowhere to Hide: Transparent Seating is a Clear Winner
Read more: Nowhere to Hide: Transparent Seating is a Clear Winner
Mix ‘n’ match. If I had a kitchen bench as long as this, I’d be mixing and matching too. Imagine this many stools all in one style and colour – it would be in danger of looking like an airport terminal cafe. But with all the different colours and styles, these look great. This can also be an economical way to furnish because you can be opportunist and collect what you find, painting the stools any colour you fancy.
Backless. The good thing about backless stools is that they help to create a seamless look and can be tucked neatly away under your bench top – also a better choice if space is an issue. The downside is that, if you’re intending to spend a lot of time on them, they might not be as comfortable as those with some back support.
Shapely. An alternative might be to choose the type of stools that are slightly moulded to your curves.
Another example of the moulded style, but I imagine the comfort level of these would really depend on the size of your, er, curves. My advice would be to spend a bit of time in store sitting on them and getting a feel for whether you would be comfortable lingering on them for a long time over a glass of wine and dinner.
A little support. A compromise is this type of stool which doesn’t have a full back-rest, but just a hint of one which might be enough to support your lower back.
Erik Buch bar stools: Great Dane Furniture
Erik Buch bar stools: Great Dane Furniture
Full support. Or you can go for a nice big back rest that you can lean back into, ideal if you want to sit back and spend hours at your kitchen bench.
For a streamlined look – as well a back support – you can’t go past this beautiful shape.
Cherner stools: FY2K
Cherner stools: FY2K
The block. Another interesting shape and one that can look really good in a modern kitchen. While they look great, think of where you will rest your feet.
Get the height right. In addition to the shape you choose, finding the right height is important too, to maximise comfort. Typically, stools come in two standard measurements – 66cm should fit under a standard 90cm high bench top nicely, giving you plenty of your room for your legs. Another popular size is 75cm, which is better for higher bench tops. You want your knees to fit comfortably under the top – kids can always add a cushion to a lower stool. Before purchasing, measure the distance from under the bench top (the thickness of the bench top matters too) to the floor and ask the shop assistant which height is most suitable for you. The story below is a useful resource for crucial kitchen measurements.
Read more: Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
Read more: Key Measurements to Consider When Designing the Perfect Kitchen Island
Configuration matters. Don’t try to put too many stools around your bench top if there is isn’t enough space. It will look too cluttered. Think about how much you will use the stools and what for – if it’s just for the kids to have breakfast or for one person to sit at and sip a glass of wine while the other one cooks, two might be just fine, as you don’t need to all be sitting there at once. You have the dining room table for that.
Sebastian bar stools: IKEA
Sebastian bar stools: IKEA
A perfect pair. Even if you have a small bench top, consider adding a pair of well suited stools, such as the ones in this photograph.
Go solo. And even if you have room for only one stool, it’s well worth it. You can take the weight off your feet, while you sit and chop vegetables or you can bring your laptop and work or read a book while you watch something in the oven or on the stovetop. An added bonus is that it can be a way to bring some colour into a kitchen, like the one pictured here.
Go low. Not strictly speaking kitchen stools, but this is an interesting idea – instead of a high bench top, this one shows it’s possible to bring the bench down to table height and simply add dining room chairs.
What materials? When choosing the materials of your stool, consider functionality as well as looks and comfort – a leather top might be easier to wipe down and longer lasting than fabric if you have small children, for instance.
But also consider what else is in your kitchen. I personally don’t think the stools need to match the dining room table, but consider what material your kitchen is, to complement or create contrast. The timber stools here work with the kitchen, without being the same.
Go wild in the kitchen. In an all-white kitchen, choosing a pattern or unusual material for your kitchen stools is one way to really add a bit of wow factor.
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Which kitchen stools would you like to own?