From home-cooked family meals on a Friday evening to sleepy morning crosswords and croissants on a Sunday morning, your kitchen is the beating heart of your home; but this all-important hub is simply incomplete without your perfect bar or counter stools.
With all of the choice available to the modern consumer, it can be confusing to distinguish between the different stool types. In fact, much of this confusion stems from the linguistic differences in terminology between the UK and the US. To help you to determine which kind of stool is right for you, we’ve outlined the key differences between bar stools and counter stools to help you find the perfect choice for your lifestyle and your space.
Bar Stools
If you often spend time unwinding with a coffee and a good book at your breakfast bar, or if you’re a family with young children, bar stools may be the choice for you. Typically, a bar stool has a tall, cushioned seat, a high or low backrest, and a comfortable footrest. These stools are designed with calmness and comfort in mind, allowing you to sink back into your chair, relax, and slow down for a while. The extra support offered by bar stools also makes them a great fit for young children who may struggle to maintain their balance on seats with a more minimal design.
Counter Stools
If your kitchen is a particularly high traffic area of your home, or if your kitchen is short on space, counter stools may be your best option. Counter stools are typically taller than a regular chair but shorter than a bar stool, can be cushioned or non-cushioned, and are generally backless. They are intended for homes with a desire for ease and convenience and are designed to be perched at for short spells of time. For more compact kitchens, counter stools are a great way to add social seating into your kitchen setting without compromising on space, as these more slimline stools can be easily tucked away underneath the countertop.
Your bar stools are one of the most important elements in your kitchen. If you buy them well, you can bet they will last you for years to come. Our Gabriella James bar stools are handcrafted to perfection and assembled in Kent using only traditional methods to achieve a flawless finish and give a level of comfort that will surpass anything on the high street.