Bar stools are not only a great way to get extra seating without taking up too much space but they can also serve as unique accent pieces in your kitchen. Bar stools are great for high counters, kitchen islands or tall bistro style tables and can work with pretty much any style of décor. Here's some tips on the type of bar stool you might want to match with certain decorating styles.
Contemporary
A contemporary style calls for sleek modern lines. You can get interesting stools in chrome or steel that will go great with chrome appliances. If your kitchen has the dark mysterious look, try adding bar stools with a black finish. To add some zip you can use bar stools that have a funky design, or if you aren't that adventurous, try some with a half back or V shaped legs.
Retro
Retro is in these days and what better way to accent your retro style kitchen than with stools that borrow design elements from the good old days. You can buy brand new stools that are chrome and vinyl in a myriad of styles. Unlike actual vintage stools you won't have to worry about rusting metal or ripped upholstery with new stools. You can get great stools with or without backs in a retro 50's look, a vinyl retro lounge look with a full back and arms, and even backless counter stools just like you would see in the soda shop.
Tropical
For tropical themed kitchens you can choose from a wide selection of bar stools that will compliment your look. First you can go with a plain bamboo or rattan if your kitchen is very informal. If you are going for more of a fun look, you can try metal bar stools that have a palm tree or other tropical style cutout or similar stools that are painted on the backs with tropical designs.
Café
If your kitchen is modeled after a café or bistro, you will find many chairs you can use to enhance the look. Plain cherry wood chairs like those you would see in the upscale coffee shops always look nice and you can also get metal chairs with a stylish new-age design that compliments this look very well.
Themed
If you are going with an ethnic, earthy sort of kitchen like a Tuscan or Mexican style you might look at wrought iron bar stools. They come with designs on the backs, arms and legs that range from really scrolly to just slightly. With upholstered seats, these can be covered to match the colors in your kitchen.
Traditional
If you have a more formal or traditional kitchen, there are many bar stools that will go perfectly. I like a heavier stool with this look so you might try an oak or cherry stool that is solid and with arms. If you want an upscale pub look, try wood and leather bar stools that add class and elegance to any room.
If, like many people, your kitchen is eclectic with no particular theme, there is still a bar stool that will look great. You can really let your creativity show with hand painted stools that depict many items from flowers, to fruit to ocean scenes.
One word of caution when choosing a bar stool - you must be sure to get the right height for your counter or table. Normally bar stool seats range from 17" to 31" in so there is a good chance you will be able to buy the stool you love in the size you need. To figure out what that size is, you should measure the distance from the bottom of the table or counter to the floor. An ideal fit would be to leave between 10 and 13 inches of space from the bottom of the table to the top of the seat of the stool, so if your table was 35" from the floor, you would want to get a 24" bar stool. This is rather important as buying a stool that does not properly fit your table or counter will result in uncomfortable seating.
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