Barstools are a type of stool often with a foot rest which, because of
their height and narrowness, are designed for seating in a public house or bar.
However, barstools are becoming more popular in homes, usually placed at the
kitchen counter or at a home bar.
Bar stools are becoming more popular because their varied styles not only are
more appealing than the common wooden bar stool but actually accentuate the
theme of a home. Bar stools allow for a higher view when eating, drinking, or
socializing and can add to the atmosphere, given the right bar stool.
There are many different constructions. Barstools are often made of wood or
metal. There are bar stools with and without armrests, back, and padding on the
seat surface. Barstools can range from basic wooden designs to extremely
detailed ones with a custom height for the perfect fit. Extra tall and extra
short are common features, as well as indoor bar stools and outdoor bar stools.
Some bar stools have backs, while most do not.
In commercial settings, swivel and floor mounted bar stools are common, floor
mounting renders the stool less likely to be moved, stolen or even used as a
weapon! Floor mounted stools generally are mounted on a column but stools with
legs can also be secured to the floor using metal angles.
The normal seat height for a bar stool is 30" with a twenty six inch stool
being used against kitchen counters. Extra tall 36" stools are increasingly used
in contemporary styles with high pub tables to create a striking visual effect
in modern interiors. By comparison a conventional dining chair seat height is 18
inches.
The seating industry is a major consumer of polyurethane foam as padding for
comfort.
Bar stools can be made from rattan or bamboo and these stools are useful in
creating a tiki bar effect. The retro styling of the fifties and sixties is
extremely popular in commercial premises and chrome and vinyl stools combined
with matching benches or diner chairs are great for creating a retro look.
Similarly in commercial premises stacking stools are often favored for their
space saving qualities and it is common for bar stools and matching chairs to be
used.
Aluminum is a good choice of material for stools that will be used outdoors
and stacking aluminum stools and patio chairs are extensively used by commercial
premises. Indoors wood and upholstery are very popular choices in traditional
settings.
Bar stools are commonly used in pool or billiard halls and the style of chair
customized for such use is often called a "spectator chair".
Seating is a growth area for consumers and on line purchasing is on the
increase, with drop shipped bar stools and dining chairs now forming a large
market. Seating products are usually made to order and customers can specify a
wide range of fabrics and finishes as well as specifying other options such as
height and custom foot rests. The leading web sites selling seating products
have turnovers in excess of £1,000,000 per month and businesses based on seating
sales can easily make much more by selling related products such as tables and
other furniture items.
Both wooden and metal bar stools are very popular and contemporary stainless
and chrome styles including adjustable height barstools are increasingly
popular.
