Standard Rules When Buying Bar Stools

Bar stools have invaded homes particularly the dining room or the kitchen area.  This piece of furniture which is usually seen in bars is used for kitchen islands or counters.  Designed to provide more functionality other than being used in pubs, bar stools can likewise be used as extra seating furniture in small living rooms and patios.

To get the bar stools that will provide your home and bar convenience, check the following standard rules.

Give importance to height.  A bar stool must have the capability to adjust its height.  The person’s legs must have sufficient space beneath the counter.  There should be 12 inches of space between the stool and the counter.  Stools without arms must have 26 – 31 inches of space between them.  Alternatively, stools with arms must have 29 – 34 inches of space amid them.  If the counter measures 6 feet, provide 3 bar stools.   

It would also be best to choose bar stools that have a 360-degree rotation.  Some stools have bars placed in the middle of their legs to keep them from hanging and to rest your feet.  

Bar stools either have arms or without arms, with backrests or without backrests.  Always prioritize comfort when buying your stools.  Naturally, those with back and armrests provide more comfort.   

As for the materials, you have a choice from wood or metal.  Wooden bar stools are nice and this material has been used ever since.  The metal material is used for the more modern bar stools.  Nevertheless, check the way they were built.  For wooden bar stools, check the screws while for metal bar stools, check if the joints are properly welded.

Upholstered bar stools are more comfortable.  Nobody wants to sit on a hard surface anymore these days.  Leather upholstery is preferred by many because of its durability, elegant look and is easier to clean.  You can also find bar stools in microfiber although this is subject to easy wear and tear.    

Modern furniture offers more comfort, practicality and usability and this did not leave bar stools behind.  Check LA Furniture Store for more designs of bar stools that will surely make a statement in your kitchen counter, home or patio bar and pubs.

Use Bar Stools to Save on Space

Furniture is one item in the home that we need to take care of.  Regrettably, the cost of houses has skyrocketed that most people have settled in abodes with small dimensions.   Apartments, townhomes, condominiums have been very popular because they are more affordable compared to buying a house.  While they may still be somehow expensive, it can fit into the budget of a common wage earner.  The issue, however, is in decorating the homes.  Most homeowners encounter the problem of deciding what furniture to buy.  

Placing a 3-pieces sofa may or may not be ideal.  The same can be said in the dining room.  If you have the dining table and chairs, you may have no walking space and you will be bumping on each other.  So what better furniture pieces can replace the usual sofa and the dining set?

This is where bar stools can come to your rescue.  You probably are wondering how bar stools can be placed in your living room or dining room.  Bar stools or counter stools, as they are now called, underwent a complete makeover.  They are no longer the ordinary wooden bar stools that have tripod legs, circular seating and no back or arm support.

Modern furniture manufacturers have invented a new look for them; you will be amazed with their designs and styles.  You can find them with wide cushioned seats, back, arm or foot support.  Some can be swiveled while a few has the option of adjusting the height.  They are made from different materials other than wood, which make use of rattan, teak wood, cane, cane, etc.  There also those that are made of plastics and acrylics that comes in various colors.  Metal like stainless steel and aluminum are also used to make bar stools. 

Design has also navigated from the usual featuring more selections to suit your taste.  You can find stools that still have the tripod legs, a single base, and four legs; although, the more modern ones feature just one base.  

This clearly shows that it really has gone a long way from the pub or bar stools that you know.  This is the reason why they were now often called counter stools.

Getting these stools into your home can save you on space and yet still affords your home to have a graceful and stylish appeal. 

Have a kitchen counter for your dining/kitchen area instead of dining tables and chairs.  Pair your counter with bar stools.  You will see that you can seat more people and still have some area for movement.

Your living room can have a single sofa or a love seat then add bar stools.  Get those with hydraulics so you can adjust the height.  Even with some guests, you will have more seating furniture to accommodate them.

The use of bar stools answers your problem of what furniture to buy for your small space.  Do not hesitate having them around and you will see the amazing results of having stools around your home.  As I have said, their look underwent a total change that can only give your home a chic and modern look.

Setting Up a Bar in Your Dining Room

If you want to have a bar but do not have enough resources for a real bar, you can still have one at your home. The best place to set it up is in your dining room.

This will not cost you much as you can use some furniture in your dining room. What is important is you know what items to buy.



If you are serious to setting up a bar in your dining room, you need to have the following:

First are the glasses. You can buy a few wine glasses; nonetheless, the dining glasses can also be used for drinking wine. If you have varied selections of dining glasses, you can assign some of these for bar use. Otherwise, get the real bar glasses such as shot glasses, champagne, whisky and wine glasses as well as beer mugs.



Second are the ice bucket and tongs. Invest in buying a durable ice bucket. It may be expensive but it is more cost-efficient. Check this item in discount stores or garage sales. Make sure you get one that is well insulated.

Third is a jigger. This is a very essential bar accessory for mixing drinks. The jigger measures the quantity of liquor to be served. Professional bartenders use of them. The two sizes of jigger that you need for your bar are the 1 ½ and the ¾ ounces. As for the kind, you can choose between the stainless steel jigger and the glass one. Glass jiggers are more preferred, as its capacity is bigger.



The fourth gadget that you need for your bar is the drink shaker. There are two kinds of shakers, the Boston and the Cobbler shakers. The Boston shaker has two canisters -- a 500 ml glass and a 900- ml glass. The Cobbler shaker, on the other hand, has three – the flask, the cap with a built-in strainer and the lid. Any of these two will serve your purpose although the Cobbler strainer has an edge over the Boston because of the strainer.

The fifth item is the bar spoon, which is to be used in blending cocktails and to measure the ingredients that will be put in the drink. You can also use it in crushing some ingredients. Bar spoons are made from stainless steel and measures 10 inches long. You can measure a teaspoon of drink essence or alcohol by using the bar spoon.



Other bar accessories that you need are corkscrew with a few extra corks, bottle and can opener, a sharp knife to sliver garnishes and fruits for the drinks. A blender is also another device that will be functional in your home bar.

Complete the gadgets listed above and enjoy a drink in your new bar.

The Appropriate Furniture in your Patio will make Eating a Pleasure

Dining is not just confined in the dining room. If you have a patio, this is one area of the house where you can enjoy your dinner with the family. You can also host parties in this area or take pleasure in a chat with your friends. It, likewise, offers a respite from your busy schedule where you can have a drink and just relax. However, having the appropriate furniture is necessary so it will not look like your dining room.

Here is the appropriate furniture in your patio to make eating a pleasure.



Serving dinner or snacks to your family or friends in your patio would entail you to have patio dining table and chairs. You cannot afford to see your friends just standing, can you? The size of the table is of utmost importance. This will depend on the size of your veranda, the number of the family members or the number of guests you want to invite.



You can have a table that can sit your family members if your intention is to have another area to dine in with the family. On the other hand, if you intend to host parties, then it is a different thing. So if it is just for the family’s use, a table that is suited for the whole family is enough. Alternatively, if it is also intended for family parties and entertaining people, then you need chairs and tables that come in groups – maybe six seats for one table.



The next thing that you need to establish is where to put the patio dining table. The table is where you will place the food. I would suggest that you put the table near the kitchen. If you have a back door, it is best to place the table near it. This will help you to bring out the food easily as well as to fill in the platters. Having a grill near the table is a nice thing to have as most people love to eat barbecue al fresco.



Another thing that you should not do without is the patio bar set. Aside from giving more space for eating, a patio bar set also has compartments where you can keep your supplies such as drinks and snacks. You can put your appetizer on the bar set if you are having dinner in your patio.



A small patio can make use of side tables and chairs. Place the side table between two chairs and this will be a perfect place to put drinks. There are some side tables which can accommodate a single person, too. Chairs that can be left on their own are good to have so your guests can move around and socialize with other guests without having to continually stand.



There is also the patio lounge chair. This is so nice especially if you or anybody in the family would like to unwind. This furniture is so comfy that you can just rest your back, close your eyes and put your feet up. Anyone who wants to read a book while having a drink will surely find patio lounge chair a welcome retreat. The modern designs of this furniture have come up with side tables as well.



Suitable to have in any kind of weather is the patio umbrella. Eating in your veranda will still be pleasurable on a warm day or a rainy day.



Lastly, you can also have café tables. These are the tiny tables that can be seen in sidewalk and small cafes. They are already accompanied with chairs so there is no need to worry where to get chairs that will go with it. These café tables can be placed near the main patio table or you can put them together in a certain area. For romantic evenings, café tables can be placed in a corner and then have candle lights on each table.



It can never be denied that the patio also needs your attention. It is still a part of the home anyway. Your patio should also be an extension of your personality like the other rooms of your home. Therefore, be sure to put your hand on it when buying furniture. Being extravagant is not the key to achieving a good relaxing patio. The best thing is to provide the proper furniture to make your patio inviting, comfy and a pleasant area to eat and chat.

What Would You Choose: Traditional or Modern Bar Stools?

Choosing the best bar stools is not a difficult job as you might think it is. The only essential thing is to know the style and design that you wanted and what goes well with your other furniture. There are two types of bar stools: the traditional and the contemporary ones. Knowing the difference between these two will help you a lot in your decision of what type of bar stools you would want to have.



Traditional Bar Stools are mostly made of wood. Bar stools made of wood are sturdy and durable. They are, likewise, available in a myriad of finishing such as maple, mahogany, walnut and cherry. Other materials used for traditional bar stools are metal or chrome and wrought iron.

Traditional bar stools are also made in various designs and styles which give you a huge variety of options. You can find the basic stool with no backrest and the new design that features a back and arm rests. There are also stools that are all wood, meaning they have no cushions. I would suggest, though, that you get those with cushions as they are more comfortable especially if you are to sit on it for a long time. There are also rotating stools that give you no difficulty getting on or off the stool.



Because their designs are classic, they can never be outdated. They can blend well with your antique furniture and even with your modern furniture. Furthermore, maintenance is simple. Regular dusting is all you need and use furniture polish once a month to retain its luster.



On the other hand, the Modern Bar Stools come in different types. Wrought iron, metal and chrome are the most common materials used. Lately, furniture manufacturers also made use of fiberglass and plastic materials. Wood, nonetheless, is still used for modern bar stools. These three materials are the usual choices for external bars.

Just like the traditional bar stools, contemporary bar stools are available without a back and arm rests and also with back and arm rests. But again, always get those that are with cushions as they offer more convenience to the person who will sit on it.



Since they are modern, you can expect that their designs are more fashionable. Some even have futuristic and revolutionary features. Modern bar stools will complement any furniture that you currently have. Even if the theme of your home is Mediterranean, Rustic, French or traditional, they will blend well with whatever your home theme is.



Maintenance is similarly easy like the traditional ones since they are made of synthetic and steel. Washing them with soap and water will remove the dust that has built up.



Whether you go for traditional or modern bar stools does not really matter. It will still depend on your predilection. Both types of bar stools have their advantages. But the thing that can help you in your choice is to evaluate where you will use your bar stools. Will it be for indoor or outdoor use? If it will be for outdoor use, then select bar stools that can withstand a lot of moisture. Whereas if it will be for indoor use, select bar stools that will complement your other furniture.

The Different Materials Used for Bar Stools

Buying bar stools for your dining room or kitchen can give it a new appeal. However, there are some important aspects which you need to take into account. Do not just purchase bar stools without totally understanding your purpose for buying them as well as knowing the materials and sizes that are available. Knowledge on the various materials used for bar stools can help you a lot in deciding what to buy.

Bar stools are made from the following materials.

Bar Stools made from Wood make use of hard rubber, wicker, rattan, teak and other kinds of cane and wood. Bar stools made of hard rubber wood are known for their durability. The presence of wooden bar stools in the dining room, kitchen or bar will enhance their conventional appeal. One good thing with wooden bar stools is that they are the easiest to clean.



Bar Stools made from Metal are ideal choices for modern style of homes and is better used outside. Safe externally are the wrought-iron bar stools because they resist climate. Appropriate to be used inside the home, the artistic aluminum and stainless steel bar stools fall under the modern furniture category.



Bar Stools made from Plastic has become a modern way of giving your home a more up-to-date appeal. Apart from being completely durable, plastic bar stools can be seen in various colors.
Bar Stools made from Wood make use of hard rubber, wicker, rattan, teak and other kinds of cane and wood. Bar stools made of hard rubber wood are known for their durability. The presence of wooden bar stools in the dining room, kitchen or bar will enhance their conventional appeal. One good thing with wooden bar stools is that they are the easiest to clean.

Bar Stools made from Metal are ideal choices for modern style of homes and is better used outside. Safe externally are the wrought-iron bar stools because they resist climate. Appropriate to be used inside the home, the artistic aluminum and stainless steel bar stools fall under the modern furniture category.

Bar Stools made from Plastic has become a modern way of giving your home a more up-to-date appeal. Apart from being completely durable, plastic bar stools can be seen in various colors.



Cushioned or Upholstered Bar stools. Bar stools can use either of these types of cushion: faux suede, linen, leather or vinyl. The cushioning of stools creates sophistication and gives the dining room or kitchen a friendly atmosphere and impression.

It is important to note that bar stools made from recycled materials like wood, aluminum or metal and plastic are currently the latest materials for bar stools. The materials used for this furniture are environmental friendly stuff to make your home more attractive and to assist in keeping Mother Earth a livable planet.

What to Consider when Buying Bar Stools

Bar stools come in different styles, designs, materials and colors making it easy for the consumer to choose one that will blend with the other furniture of the room. It used to be that bar stools were just meant for seating and so they are normally very plain. Modern furniture has changed the image of these stools to make them not just seating fitment but also as decorative pieces.

If you are thinking of buying your own bar stools, then the following tips can help you in your selection.



Select a material for your bar stools. Wood and metal are the common materials used for bar stools although plastic has also been used lately. Wooden bar stools will fit a traditional style of room. On the other hand, bar stools made of metal is fitting for a modern style. The fact that the height of metallic bar stools can be changed a big advantage aside from being glossy.

Select a suitable height for your bar stools. This is essential in order for the person sitting on the stool to be comfortable. Bar stools must be 10 – 13 inches lower than the counter to allow your legs to move. You must also able to relax your arms easily on the bar counter.



Select the suitable features for your bar stools. Some bar stools are stationary whereas some can be swiveled. Pubs normally make use of the immobile stools which are classified traditional furniture and modern furniture is the swivel stools.

Another feature of modern types of bar stools is the back and arm rest. You get to feel more relax with the back rest while having a drink your friends or family. Not to forget that they are especially secure for children.



Make sure that the legs are durable. You will observe that some bar stools have a wide bottom plus a big rod as their support while a few have footrests.

Bar stools that can be adjusted with regards to their height is also a good option.



Bar stools with cushions or without. If you prefer the cushioned bar stools, leather is a good choice as these types are durable compared to soft fabrics. Match the patterns, colors and style of the cushion with the design of your room.

With the new designs, structures and styles of modern bar furniture, you get to have a huge selection that will match your home and room style.
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