Choosing the Right Bar Stools
Have you thought lately about adding bar stools as an addition to your home decor? Bar stools can really add to a home, making it a more fun environment for everyone. Add a set of bar stools to a kitchen island, and you have an instant bar and convenient place to eat lunch during the day. Bar stools come in all shapes, sizes, styles, and prices. With a little looking around, you can find a set of bar stools that are just right for you. Choosing a set of bar stools does not have to be an involved process, but it is definitely important to know what you need before shopping.
The very first thing to do before shopping for bar stools is to take some measurements. Look at the space that you intend to place the bar stools in. How many bar stools will fit there? Take a precise measurement of the length of the bar area. This will allow you to know exactly how many bar stools can fit in the space. You will also need to measure the height of the bar area in order to know what height of bar stool to use. For comfortable use, there should be about 9 to 13" of space between the seat of the bar stools and the surface of the counter.
Having the bar stools level with the table surface, or too short, will make them almost unusable. As these are two very important measurements, it might be a good idea to write them down and take to the store.
Taking a picture of the area that you intend to furnish may also be a good idea. This will allow you to imagine the bar stools in place more easily, giving you a better idea as to what style will work best. Bar stools come in a wide variety of styles, and it can be difficult to choose something that will fit just right. Take the time to look around and inspect everything that the store has to offer. You will see that there are bar stools with backs, without backs, stools that swivel and some that don't. If you intend to eat at a table or bar with the stools, then a back might be a good idea. Likewise, the swivel feature is handy when the bar stools are in a common area where the focus of conversation may shift around.
Aside from the style, the construction of the bar stools is probably the most important factor to consider when shopping. Bar stools are made in varying quality, with cheap imports lasting only a few months. The level of quality required will be determined by how often the bar stools must be used. In a commercial setting, only the best bar stools should be purchase, otherwise buying new ones will be a regular occurence. High quality bar stools will have welded metal, with a minimum of screws holding the pieces together. The cheaper models of bar stools will be built with screws holding it all together. This may feel sturdy at first, but after a few months of heavy use, the screws will come loose. As the screws loosen, the bar stools will become wobbly and eventually fall apart.
To avoid this, be sure to avoid the cheapest of the bar stools. These are usually poorly made, with plastic components and badly machined screws. Spend a little extra money, and you'll have something that lasts for years.
