Counter & Bar Stool Buying Guide: Features, Heights, and Footrest

“It is nice finding that place where you can just go and relax.”

-Moises Arias

Few things are simply matchless.

Sitting peacefully in a moment of relaxation with loved ones at a bar area is one such moment. On such occasions, bar stools offer delightful eating, drinking, and sitting opportunities. 

So, if you are planning to give a fresh look to your at-home bar or thinking of revamping the entire bar area in your restaurant or motel, now is the right time.

You can do that by purchasing the right bar stools and kitchen stools.

But how to choose the perfect furniture pieces for the bar area from a wide range of styles and colours available on the online marketplace?

Sometimes, choosing the perfect counter and bar stools with footrest can seem really tough. Often, we bring home the items with the wrong colour, style, and dimensions in haste.

Thankfully, at Divano, we have eased the decision-making process by decorating only the best pick of the crop on our website. 

Choose one of them and bring home the magic.

But before you jump right into purchasing and remodelling your seating space, there are a few things you need to know.

It is about how to select the perfect wooden bar stools. 

This buying guide will help you in that.

The guide will help you choose from various design considerations and practical aspects. By using the shared knowledge, you can easily find bar and counter stools that suit your space and enhance your space’s beauty.

So, before we get ready to make an important buying decision, let’s know a bit about various types of bar stools.

Bar Stool Types, Styles, and Materials

You can find bar stools in a wide variety of styles, types, and materials. Here's a brief about them.

A. Choose by Materials

Wooden

These bar stools offer a classic, charming, and versatile look. Such stools are available in various wood types and finishes. They look lovely and are super strong, especially if the structural frame is solid wood. 

Metal

They add another layer of beauty to the modern aesthetic, and they often come with powder-coated finishes for a long life. 

Leather

These stools feature leather upholstery that adds a touch of luxury to them. They are popular for both traditional and modern interiors. 

Velvet

They offer a soft, luxurious feel, and the best part is that they come in various colours. 

Cane

Cane stools have woven cane material in their design. They provide a rustic and natural look, and they are the best for adding a dash of vintage charm to your bar area.

B. Choose by Functionality

Swivel Stools

These kitchen stools allow for easy movement and access. They are greatly useful in spaces where people need to turn and talk to each other. 

Adjustable

These furniture pieces provide height adjustability. The feature makes them useful for different counter or bar heights. 

Counter Stools

They are crafted for standard kitchen counters, typically 60-67 cm from the floor to the seat. 

C. Choose by Styles

Industrial

Industrial-style bar stools are characterised by their rustic or vintage look. They often feature metal frames and wooden seats. 

Hamptons

These stools bring a coastal vibe to your kitchen area, and they feature natural materials and soothing light colours.

Wishbone

These stools are known for their unique wishbone-shaped backrests. 

Backless

These bar stools offer a sleek, minimalist look. Restaurants and bars love these wooden bar stools as they can be easily stored under counters. 

Stools with Backs

They provide better support and comfort. If you want to use them for longer periods of sitting, you can rely on them from your heart. 

Outdoor

These stools are made from weather-resistant materials. So, keep them on patios, decks, or by the pool. 

Saddle Stools

They feature an especially crafted seat that looks like a saddle. This unique design element makes them a practical choice for long sitting.

Phew! So many options. Isn’t it? 

From swivel, backless, tall backrests to bar stools with velvet seats, there are many features to consider while making a buying decision. 

How to narrow down the choices?

You can do that by answering a few questions.

Ask yourself a few questions while you browse the website to purchase counter and bar stools.

• How many bar stools do I need?
• Which colour will suit my bar area/house/shop?
• Do I need a backrest?
• Do I really require bar stools with footrest
• Do I need a fixed leg, or should it swivel?
• Do I want it with arms?
• Do they need to be stackable?
• Do I need a stool with adjustable height?
• What’s my purpose?

Getting answers to these questions is important, after all, it’s a matter of personal preference. 

You can easily answer the questions by understanding the following 3 crucial factors related to bar stools.

1. General features

2. The right height of the bar stool, and

3. The footrest 

1. Have a fair idea about various features

We talked a bit about the general features at the beginning of this guide.

While considering the features of counter stools, it’s easy to get carried away. The reasons are various styles and design ideas.

For selecting stools with the right features, it’s important that you deeply understand your own space where you are going to keep them.

So, would coloured and backless suit your bar area or a metal, industrial style? Is your interior decor modern? A Hampton lover’s vision? A vintage, classic style, or Scandinavian?

There is a diverse variety of materials from which you have to select one. Fabrics, plastic, artificial leather, rattan, or timber. You name it, and you get it.

Whether it’s beautifully shining steel or radiant rattan, your options for furniture materials are quite numerous. 

Moreover, you can get kitchen stools in a round, rectangular, or oval shape. 

2. Find the ideal height of the stool

The seat height of the bar stool is one of the most important features that you should care about while purchasing it.

So, take some time to measure your space and select the right height bar stool.

Here’s how.

Choosing The Right Height Of The Counter and Bar Stools

A. Start by measuring the table or counter height

Before purchasing a stool, have a good understanding of the exact height of your table or counter. 

You can measure that by getting the distance from the floor to the base of the table or counter and then deducting about 24 to 32 cm.

The result will give you the estimate of the right stool height.

However, if your counter height is unusual, consider custom heights or the closest standard seat height. Ensure that there’s enough legroom if your counter has a big support structure.

The most common seat height is approximately. 62 cm-70 cm, which works great with a kitchen counter/bar bench height of approx. 84-94cm. 

Taller bar stools with a seat height above 70 cm would go well with taller benches that you keep in your home bar.

B. Give priority to the comfort level

When you get your stool seat height wrong, your legs can be uncomfortably jammed under the bench, and it will cause unnecessary pressure on your back. 

Again, when the stool seat is too low, naturally, the bench will look higher, and it can be tough to drink or eat.

Comfort is important, and in both cases, this factor is going to be compromised.

So, while purchasing wooden bar stools, prioritise the personal comfort of those using the stools. Have an idea about the average height of those who are going to use the stools, and then buy.

If it is comfortable enough, your guests will be able to sit for extended periods, and they will love it.

C. Know whether an adjustable height bar stool suits your needs

Many counter stools have adjustable height features.

You can choose from a manual screw or gas lift seat that adjusts the height as you wish. 

D. Take care of people’s personal space

Also, consider the personal space when you purchase the counter and bar stools. If the stools are without armrests and up to 22″ wide, you should allow 24″ of extra space per bar stool. 

If the stools are wider and they have armrests, you should allow 30-32″ space per stool.

When you are purchasing 6, 8, 12, or more than that, take care of your guests' personal space and arrange the stools accordingly.

And while arranging, take care of the footrest as well.

3. Never ignore the importance of the footrest

As far as the comfort of kitchen stools is concerned, footrests play a critical role. 

A bar stool without a footrest is just not worth it, as it can cause discomfort over extended periods. 

If you are serious about your guests’ comfort, ensure that the stool height goes well with the footrest. It must allow for relaxed and super comfortable seating.

To select the perfect bar stools with footrest, take into account the stool height, have an idea about the guest’s approximate height, and zero in on the required comfort level. 

The footrest must be positioned at a height that allows your guest’s feet to rest comfortably without hanging.

Not only that, it should complement the stool's design as well. 

And as far as the footrest’s height is concerned, it should be positioned so that when someone sits on the stool with their feet flat on the floor, their thighs should be parallel to the floor or a bit sloping downward.

This ensures total comfort. 

Taller people, however, may require a footrest that's a little higher, and not-so-tall people may prefer a lower one. 

Ultimately, a footrest prevents feet from hanging, and it is its primary purpose. 

This feature boosts comfort and is also good for health, as it maintains the proper blood circulation in the feet, reduces fatigue in the leg area, and also helps users maintain good body posture. 

So, never ignore the power of the footrest and have a close look at their features while purchasing your kitchen stools.

If you are purchasing swivel stools, make sure that the footrest is part of its frame. This adds to the stool’s strength and stability. 

Consider these factors and purchase stools with footrests that provide beauty, cosiness, comfort, and style.

Browse Divano to choose from the selected bar stool pieces.

The most popular choices are:

Replica Hay Bar Stool Set

The cosy stool features a strong yet lightweight frame, a flat polypropylene shell with black powder‑coated metal legs.

These bar stools with footrest offer great durability and resistance to scratches. 

The soft, supple seat, paired with a metal footrest, ensures nice support. 

With dimensions of W 43 × D 43 × H 80 cm, and combined with easy portability, the beautiful piece of bar furniture can be paired with any table. 

Aster Bar Stools

Presenting a Scandinavian-style bar stool in black with a woven rattan seat.

The stool is traditionally crafted and features a curved frame, which is made from steam-bent birch wood and a woven rattan seat.

These wooden bar stools with an organic look perfectly blend cosiness and durability. 

Its super strong legs and cross-back provide leg support that complements any bar area. 

Sustainably sourced material ensures both quality and eco-friendliness. 

Manly Bar Stool 

Here’s a modern white Polypropylene bar chair.

The bar chair brings elegance to the home and workspace. 

Crafted entirely from strong yet lightweight polypropylene, it resists scratches and supports heavy use. 

The contoured seat with a backrest offers ergonomic comfort. 

Sized at W 56 × D 54 × H 101 cm, it’s easy to move and matches almost all interior décor styles. 

Laelia Bar Stools

It is a coastal‑style white bar chair.

Crafted from sustainably sourced solid acacia wood and MDF, this bar chair combines minimalist design with an eye-catching shape. 

With these wooden bar stools, you get clean lines, accentuated by thick front legs and beautiful tapered rear legs.

The beauty of counter stools bring sophistication to any bar area. A 100% polyester upholstered seat ensures nice comfort. The stool has dimensions of W 46 × D 57 × H 110 cm with a 63 cm seat height. 

And many more.

These attractive counter and bar stools are meant to make your cooking and bar area a warm and welcoming spot for casual dining, entertaining, or just unwinding.

Bring one of them today.

Now, let’s end the discussion and start the bar session!

In conclusion, it is clear that selecting the perfect counter stools or bar stools rests on balancing practical features that include seat height, footrest, and general features. For that matter, standard counters, 32–38″, go well with 24–28″ stools, while bar-height surfaces, 38–42’’, need 26–32″ models, leaving 10–14″ clearance. 

While decorating your bar area, make sure that the kitchen stools are spaced 5–10″ apart to allow elbow room and easy movement. Well-thought-out choices about height, features, and footrests help you create a comfortable and cosy bar or counter seating area at home or in restaurants and hotels.

So, start browsing and decorate your bar space like never before.

And yes, don’t forget to use Divano’s “Clearance Sale” to get up to 50% discount on furniture pieces of your choice.

Happy purchasing for happy hours!

Let’s create lovely spots for relaxation.