Like most furniture, the first bar stools were built out of practical necessity and couldn’t be further from being a luxury. Originally used as working chairs for artisans, by as early as the 1400s the luxury potential of these chairs was already recognised by French royals who adorned their stools with jewels and expensive decorations, using them as high chairs rather than for their original purpose.
Today, modern stools are the ultimate way to create a stylish and elegant seating area in a small space, whether on the edge of your kitchen with your cupboard tops as a table-like surface or around a small cocktail table. The practical function of bar stools has changed over time, but the idea of luxury has changed even more.
Prized above all in high-end homes, modern luxury is defined by comfort along with aesthetic appeal. There are three main features of the perfect luxury bar stool: the first is aesthetic appeal, the styling, colour and size of your stool should fit comfortably into your existing decor scheme. The second consideration is the materials you choose, which also contribute to the appearance of your chair, it’s durability over time and, of course, what it feels like to sit in. The third, and arguably most important factor, is whether your stool is comfortable for you and your guests, this factors in size, shape, ergonomics and as mentioned before the materials chosen to build the chair.
The function of a bar stool may differ from one home to another, one room to another. You can have bar stools as part of your bar furniture and outdoor bar stools, or a kitchen bar with stools each providing a different type of seating, but the function of the bar stools is basically the same wherever your chairs are.
The purpose of a bar stool is to provide comfortable and relaxing seating in a limited space. There are a variety of shapes, sizes and styles for modern luxury bar stools, each delivering the same function within differing aesthetic modalities.
Breakfast bar stools with backs are growing in popularity because they are more comfortable and invite guests to sit a little longer. The support given by the backrest makes these stools a viable option for extended seating possibly through a formal meal. Although they may require more space than the basic stool, stools with a backrest and in some cases even armrests are similar enough to dining chairs to turn a counter into a designated dining area.
One of the most appealing characteristics of barstools is how they can fit against existing furniture and create a seating area without the need for an additional table. The height of your stools is based mainly on the height of your surface because that is an unchanging height. This may not be appropriate or comfortable for everyone who may sit on the chair. Footrests and adjustable-height seating can make your chairs better fit for people at different heights. Typically there should be around 25 cm between the seat of your bar stool and your countertop or surface.
Furniture manufacturers build furniture based on standard sizing conventions, and bar furniture is generally built with the conventional counter height in mind. You must consider this and take the measurements of your bar or counter height to ensure the stools you would like are compatible with your home, especially if you have bespoke aspects within your home. This aspect has made adjustable or custom-made stools quite appealing for curated homes, as these can be designed from the ground up to exactly suit your needs.
Something to consider when buying a table is that furniture manufacturers often designate how many chairs can comfortably fit around a particular table, or style of design. For the most part, bar stools are makeshift seating and how many chairs you can line up at your bar is dependent on the length or size of your bar and how close or sparse you want your seating to be.
Consider a space of around 15 cm between your stools to create comfortable seating that isn’t so close together to be uncomfortable. This method not only takes into consideration the varying lengths and sizes of your bar but also the width of your chairs which differs from one design to another.
There is no set number of chairs you need to have to complete your bar, but a benefit of having bar seating over table seating is that an odd number of chairs is perfectly acceptable at a bar whereas it could make a dining table look uneven or out of balance.
There are a variety of stool shapes and styles to suit different aesthetic preferences and levels of comfort. You can choose the material, colour and shape of your chairs to suit your space and provide your chosen level of comfort.
When choosing your stools, do not overlook the legs of your bar chairs. They contribute to the comfort and balance of your chair as well as their appearance. Consider the combination of materials as well as how that fits into the rest of the room. Thin metal legs give your chairs an elegant mid-century modern appearance and can take the industrial edge off practical leather stools if you are looking for an even softer look than the play on colour can offer. Thicker and more ornate chair legs can add complementary colour and shape to your stools without interfering with the seating.
Bar stools do not have to be more decorative than comfortable. Looking for features that contribute to the comfort of your chairs is one way of making sure you get as much use out of them as possible.
Another feature that can make a high chair more comfortable is a leg rest which doesn’t necessarily have to be a separate piece of furniture. Stools can be made with a built-in leg rest near the base or between the legs of the chair.
When sitting on a stool for extended periods of time as you would if having dinner at the kitchen counter or having a relaxed drink at a bar, a place to rest your legs is a welcome comfort.
Your home is your sanctuary and choosing the right furniture for every part of it is a delicate and involved process guided by the physical constraints of your home and your personal tastes and style. Buying the perfect barstools is a subjective task dependent not only on what you can fit into your home but also on your definition of comfort, luxury and style.
Beautiful; furniture is variable and to make sure you get to see and experience your idea of beauty, cast a wide net and visit a furniture showroom large enough to effortlessly accommodate the ever-expanding ideas of style.
FCI London has one of the largest showrooms in London offering a wide variety to satisfy every taste and style, with luxury designer bar stools from the world's best designers and award-winning service.
Be inspired by our thoughtfully curated displays put together with care to highlight every feature of our furniture collection.
Talk to us about customised furniture, and professional installation and meet one of our professional interior designers to help you navigate style, comfort and what barstools would look absolutely perfect in your home.
From getting your proportions right to nailing your style, our design team is at your disposal to help you find the perfect stools and bar stools. Take advantage of our free consultation service by visiting our award-winning showroom today.
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