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How to Buy Outdoor Barstools
How Many Barstools Do You Need?
Determining how many barstools you need for your space depends on several factors including the size of your outdoor area and bar, the seating arrangement, and primary function of that space.
We’ll address measuring in the next section, so let’s first consider seating arrangement. Do you want barstools only on one side of the bar, or on both sides? Obviously, a single row setup will require fewer stools. That choice may be informed by the primary function of this outdoor area. For instance, if you’re looking to create a casual gathering, less may be more (especially if the bar itself is already relatively small). On the other hand, a space intended for events or large parties will call for more barstools to accommodate all that action.
Along with those considerations, your personal preference will play a role in deciding how many barstools are needed. Because if you’re a host looking to give everyone at least a little elbow room, regardless of size or seating arrangement, you may need fewer barstools to keep guests comfortable and free to move.
Measure Your Space
In addition to calculating the square footage of your area for a general understanding of furniture capacity, you’ll also need to measure your outdoor kitchen counter, bar, or dining table to ensure barstools fit beneath them.
Start by measuring from the floor to the bottom of the counter, bar, or table. Once you have that number, subtract 12 or so inches to account for your legs (especially crossed legs) fitting comfortably under the bar. That will let you know whether you’re in the market for a counter height barstool or a bar height barstool. From the seat to the floor a counter height stool is 23 inches to 28 inches. A bar height stool, on the other hand, is 28 inches to 32 inches.
Be sure to account for any additional cushion height as well and remember to allow for approximately 21 to 24 inches of space for each stool. This provides enough room for people to sit comfortably and slide in and out without feeling cramped.
Select the Material
Now for the fun part: deciding just what kind of outdoor barstool you want for your space. Each of the barstool materials below offer their own unique characteristics, which allow consumers like you to choose based on your preferences, style, and the needs of your outdoor area. Let’s see what’s right for you:
Choose the Style, Color, and Finish
There is no storage of barstool styles, colors, and finishes available to you on our site. Deciding which one is right for you depends on your personal aesthetic and the desired look and feel of your outdoor area. Below is just a taste of the barstool styles on the market.
Contemporary
- Embody current design trends and feature minimalistic forms that include clean lines for a strong focus on functionality
- Emphasis is on an uncluttered aesthetic that blends seamlessly into an outdoor space
- A more neutral color palette, including white, black, gray, or beige
- Come in sleek and polished finishes, such as stainless steel or powder-coated metal, common to modern designs
Traditional
- A classic look with just a touch of warmth and nostalgia
- Offer a comfortable, inviting aesthetic to your outdoor space
- Often colored by earthy tones or warm neutrals to evoke a sense of connection to nature
- Rely on distressed, weathered, or antique finishes to create a timeless or even a rustic feel
Transitional
- A balance between contemporary and traditional styles
- Blend modern and classic elements to provide a versatile look
- Characterized by simple forms, sleek lines, and understated ornamentation
- Feature a mix of finishes, such as a combination of wood and metal with low levels of distressing
Industrial
- Often using raw materials like metal and steel with exposed hardware
- Call to mind the utilitarian aesthetics most often associated with industrial spaces
- Colors are commonly shades of gray, black, and metallic tones
- Feature matte or brushed metal finishes characteristic of industrial design
Coastal/Tropical
- Designed to evoke a sense of relaxation and a connection to the beach or an island lifestyle
- Often made with natural materials and feature colors inspired by the ocean and nature, with shades of blue, green, and sandy beige
- With light and natural finishes, such as whitewashed or natural wood, these stools provide your outdoor space with a coastal or tropical vibe
Choose the Seat Type
Just as important as the style of your outdoor barstool is its function because, well, you have to sit in it after all. So, let’s talk stool seat types.
As we discussed, there are a variety of materials used to construct outdoor barstools and many of those same materials serve as the foundation of a stool’s respective seat. Here’s a brief overview of those seating types and a few considerations:
Upholstered
- Often using raw materials like metal and steel with exposed hardware
- Call to mind the utilitarian aesthetics most often associated with industrial spaces
- Colors are commonly shades of gray, black, and metallic tones
- Feature matte or brushed metal finishes characteristic of industrial design
Metal
- Designed to evoke a sense of relaxation and a connection to the beach or an island lifestyle
- Often made with natural materials and feature colors inspired by the ocean and nature, with shades of blue, green, and sandy beige
- With light and natural finishes, such as whitewashed or natural wood, these stools provide your outdoor space with a coastal or tropical vibe
In addition to these seat types, which effectively hold an occupant, most of our barstools include cushions, making them even more inviting and comfortable. Such cushions, again, feature fabrics like Sunbrella, olefin, and polyester, as well as quick-dry foam cushions.
Speaking of comfort, also consider whether you’d like your outdoor barstools to include a back for high-level leaning or backless, which may be a matter of aesthetics. Likewise, some of our barstool inventory incorporates arms, while other barstools are armless. Again, this comes down to personal preference but if you should go in for barstools with arms, remember to account for those arms when measuring.
Swivel or Stationary? Arms or No Arms?
Stay or swivel? It’s an important question to consider and not one to take lightly. There are arguments to be made for each but, ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. To help inform this decision, we’ve laid out the case for both barstool options below.
Swivel
- Rotate 360-degrees, perfect for socializing or getting in and out of the stool easily
- Accessibility makes it particularly useful for smaller outdoor spaces
- A more complex design, therefore, more expensive and requires more maintenance to ensure the rotating mechanism is functioning properly
Stationary
- A more simple and clean aesthetic, for a more streamlined look to your space
- Generally more stable and tend to last longer
- Because they don’t include a rotating mechanism, they’re often less expensive
Arms
- Provide additional support and comfort
- Allow guests to sit for extended periods of time
- Can enhance the overall design and appearance of your outdoor space
Armless
- Take up less space, making them ideal for smaller areas
- Allow for easy maneuverability and don’t require additional measuring to fit under bar, counter, or table
- Provide a modern and open feel to any given outdoor space
Final Considerations
One final note. Should you need to be flexible regarding your outdoor space’s seating capacity—maybe because your area is small or often requires an influx of seating per gathering—there are also stacking and folding barstool options for your consideration.
- Folding barstools include hinges that allow them to collapse for easy handling and transportation. This also makes them ideal for temporary or portable seating, in which these stools can be taken out of a storage area and set up for an event.
- Stacking barstools can be stacked on top of each other for space-saving storage when not in use and can often be easily positioned for a free-flowing seating arrangement.
