If you have an island or peninsula counter in your kitchen, there is a good chance that you have a few stools sitting around it. Have you looked at them lately? Do they really go with the décor? Have they started to wear down with use from the kids and company?
Breakfast bar stools tend to be a neglected aspect of furnishing a home, you they are an important one. They can serve multiple purposes, ranging from a place to sit and chat over coffee to extra seating at your next cocktail party. If you use them to any extent, you should be considering how they will be used, how comfortable they are and how well they fit in with the rest of your eating and cooking area.
The first question to ask is how the stools will be utilized. If the bar separates the kitchen from the dining area, then you may only be using it for quick breakfasts and snacks. If it is adjacent to the family room, it may be doubling as a drinks bar, and could see a much wider variety of use. These are important considerations when reviewing the many choices in breakfast bar stools.
A stool of any kind is inherently considered less pleasant to sit on than a chair. For this reason, it is worthwhile to think about comfort when you are looking over your options. Among the basic considerations will be if the stools should have cushions, and also whether or not they have backs. To a great extent, this will depend on how often they will be used, and how long people are likely to be sitting in them.
Finally, you need to give some thought to how your new breakfast bar stools will blend into the design of your home, especially the kitchen. As previously mentioned, stools tend to be an afterthought when planning a home’s décor, and the results will show in the end. You probably do not want something more suitable for a bar in your minimalist white kitchen. While use and comfort are perhaps more critical factors, don’t overlook “looks”.
An easy way to do all of this research on stools is, of course, on the web. There are many online retailers with a wide variety of styles to choice from. You may be surprised by how many variations on the simple stool you discover. The greatest benefit of shopping for breakfast bar stools online, of course, is the speed and simplicity of it. You can compare prices, types, materials, and many other features with a few mouse clicks.
So, if you are looking at doing a bit of redecorating, take another look at those old stools shoved up against the kitchen counter. For a relatively small sum, picking up some new ones may be a great way to freshen up the room while providing a more comfortable and functional place to have your morning coffee, afternoon tea, or after-dinner drink.
