Barstools might not be your first thought when it comes to a kitchen, however they can be a great statement piece or design element. Kitchen islands are arguably one of the most coveted features in a new kitchen, from extra counter space, to creating a more open concept kitchen as well as providing extra seating for guests and family, kitchen islands are found in most new construction homes and are often added to kitchens that are being renovated. In addition to choosing your countertops, cabinetry, and picking your sink faucets and hardware, one thing that many people overlook during their kitchen remodel is the type of bar stools that will sit around the island.
Choosing Barstools for Your Kitchen Island
One of the first decisions you should make is if you want a backless or backed bar stool, as this helps narrow down your choices drastically.
- Backless: Backless barstools are great for space saving as they can easily be tucked all the way under the countertop and then pulled out when needed for extra seating. A con to this option is that without a back, your barstools won’t provide as much support as a backed option, often resulting in them being less comfortable.
- Backed: While they may not be able to be fully tucked away, backed barstools are great for providing additional support, arguably making them more comfortable as well as more functional for everyday seating.
Once you’ve decided if you want to go for backed or backless barstools, there are still many different decisions that need to be made. Are you wanting to get barstools with cushions and fabric/upholstery? Metal? Wood? Much like with the backless and backed options, there are a few pros and cons when it comes to choosing the material of your barstools.
- Metal: Metal barstools are all the rage and are ablet to add a great touch of industrial design to your kitchen, while not the most comfortable option, these barstools can often make a great statement piece, and are especially popular for seating that won’t be used often.
- Wood: Wood barstools are often more affordable than other options, making them a great find for those on a budget, additionally, they can be sanded and painted multiple times allowing you to change your design and style without purchasing new seating.
- Upholstery: Arguably the most comfortable option, upholstery is a great option for those who love to entertain and plan on having friends and family gather around the kitchen island regularly. The downside to this option is that the material is more prone to staining and often upholstered barstools are much bulkier than other options, which in turn, can take up more space.
If you’re hoping to remodel your kitchen, whether by adding a new kitchen island or giving your old island new life, have questions about your next home improvement project, or have any questions regarding design or remodel, please feel free to contact our office at any time and one of design experts would love to speak with you.
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