6 Bar Stool Styles That Work in (Almost) Every Kitchen
Stick to these materials for your island seating and you won’t go wrong
Islands and peninsulas are the hub around which daily activities revolve in many modern kitchens. And that means bar and counter stools experience more wear and tear than almost any other seating arrangement in the house. If you’ve been living with stools that are showing their age or you’ve simply fallen out of love with what you’ve got, incoming holiday guests are the perfect reason to upgrade. Check out some of our favorite styles below.
Many outdoor-safe bar and counter stools are now crafted from a low-maintenance resin substitute that looks just like traditional wicker, but with enhanced durability — hooray!
Inside or outside, at the beach or at the lake, you can depend on these stools to last through many seasons of life and weather.
Find a kitchen designer in the Houzz pro directory
Inside or outside, at the beach or at the lake, you can depend on these stools to last through many seasons of life and weather.
Find a kitchen designer in the Houzz pro directory
With understated hues ranging from subtle caramel to whitewashed gray, wicker stools are guaranteed to play nicely within any kitchen design.
The tones of the stools in this kitchen really amplify the warmth of the wood floor stain.
The tones of the stools in this kitchen really amplify the warmth of the wood floor stain.
Choosing a moody version of this type of stool will steer your kitchen away from the coastal cottage category. This example proves that a darker color and more modern shape is worlds away from any preconceived notion of farmhouse charm.
Find wicker bar and island stools in the Houzz Shop
Find wicker bar and island stools in the Houzz Shop
2. Bistro, or Riviera
This French cafe-inspired style is a great choice for weaving color and a fresh perspective through your kitchen.
Here, the stools help tie all the kitchen finishes together. The frames speak to the flooring, and the seats echo the whites found in the cabinetry and island countertop.
This French cafe-inspired style is a great choice for weaving color and a fresh perspective through your kitchen.
Here, the stools help tie all the kitchen finishes together. The frames speak to the flooring, and the seats echo the whites found in the cabinetry and island countertop.
Though this kitchen feels rustic overall with a stained vent hood and sliding barn door, the curves of the bar stools contribute a slightly softer balance.
The woven seats and backs come in a wide variety of pattern options, and the tactile focal point they provide is juxtaposed against the typically smooth and shiny surfaces of kitchen countertops, plumbing and appliances.
In an otherwise neutral space, the bold backs of these stools provide welcome interest.
In an otherwise neutral space, the bold backs of these stools provide welcome interest.
The scale and taller back of this type of stool makes it comfortable for just about everyone. Added bonus: Guests will feel as though they just stepped into a Parisian cafe. Coffee and croissants for three, please!
Shop for bistro bar and counter stools
Shop for bistro bar and counter stools
3. X-Back, or Bentwood
The timeless crisscrossing lines of these stools is a gentle nod to the past while still looking comfortable in today’s modern home.
Here you’ll see that they complement a “transitional” interior with warehouse pendant lights and more traditional upper cabinets.
The timeless crisscrossing lines of these stools is a gentle nod to the past while still looking comfortable in today’s modern home.
Here you’ll see that they complement a “transitional” interior with warehouse pendant lights and more traditional upper cabinets.
As the name suggests, the stools are composed of bent wood, and they coordinate effortlessly with almost any other chair in your space. If you have a nearby breakfast table, you can rest assured that an X-back stool isn’t likely to compete too intensely with its neighbors.
In this project I designed, the clients had four young sons, so it was important that the bar stools be cleanable and strong. That’s why I chose X-back stools. Sturdy, lightweight and adaptable — what more could you want?
Giving in to the dark side can be a good thing, as demonstrated by the deep color of these X-back stools. The decision to go bold really brings the drama and makes a statement that a lighter and more predictable version of the stools would have lacked.
Browse X-back bar and counter stools
Browse X-back bar and counter stools
4. Mixed Material, or Industrial
Combining wood and metal, or pairing metal with upholstery, is a surefire way to bring warmth and interest to your kitchen.
These stools, coupled with the black lights above, contrast an all-white space to lend an interesting edge.
Combining wood and metal, or pairing metal with upholstery, is a surefire way to bring warmth and interest to your kitchen.
These stools, coupled with the black lights above, contrast an all-white space to lend an interesting edge.
Mirroring the sharp lines of this modern and sleek kitchen, the bar stools slide perfectly under the waterfall edge of the island. The white upholstery on top provides a hint of softness and a visual break in the deeper colors of the cabinetry and countertop.
Because most industrial finishes are already slightly distressed, these beauties will conveniently hide the heavy usage daily life can bring.
The richly stained seats and backs along with the blackened metal bases are heavy enough to anchor the space around the island, while the openness of their frames keeps them from feeling bulky and overwhelming.
The richly stained seats and backs along with the blackened metal bases are heavy enough to anchor the space around the island, while the openness of their frames keeps them from feeling bulky and overwhelming.
The unique characteristics of rustic woods and imperfect metals help a home feel more collected over time.
This project called for luxury, and supple leather stools on cantilevered iron bases brought the streamlined opulence the bar space needed.
Find industrial bar and counter stools on Houzz
This project called for luxury, and supple leather stools on cantilevered iron bases brought the streamlined opulence the bar space needed.
Find industrial bar and counter stools on Houzz
5. Upholstered
A fabric or leather bar stool is a classic choice with limitless possibilities. Whether you lean toward a casual linen slipcover or tightly tailored leather, going the upholstered route ensures a comfortable piece perfectly suited to your preferences.
The bar stools and breakfast chairs in this kitchen are quietly covered in off-white fabrics, but this allows the pillows and Roman shades to stand in as the more vocal accents.
A fabric or leather bar stool is a classic choice with limitless possibilities. Whether you lean toward a casual linen slipcover or tightly tailored leather, going the upholstered route ensures a comfortable piece perfectly suited to your preferences.
The bar stools and breakfast chairs in this kitchen are quietly covered in off-white fabrics, but this allows the pillows and Roman shades to stand in as the more vocal accents.
Don’t you just love how the tones on these stools pick up on the veins of that marble backsplash? A match made in kitchen heaven.
More and more, outdoor-safe fabrics are being brought indoors for use in high-traffic areas. That means you can go ahead and put a white fabric on your stools. With outdoor fabric, and other similar bleachable upholstery, you can have peace of mind knowing that all of those inevitable stains can be removed in a flash.
A backless stool tucks nicely under the counter, and having a contoured, cushioned seat helps it maintain a premier level of comfort.
The darker legs of these stools help to highlight the scrolled arms of the blackened chandelier and the accessory over the range.
The darker legs of these stools help to highlight the scrolled arms of the blackened chandelier and the accessory over the range.
To further personalize your stools, add a custom decorative nailhead detail. Like jewelry, nailhead accents serve as that touch of sparkle that can pull your whole look together in a polished and sophisticated way. Bear in mind that you’ll probably want to coordinate the finish of the nailhead with your existing lighting and plumbing. For example, the nickel trim on these stools coordinates nicely with the kitchen sink faucet.
Have an L-shaped peninsula? Don’t be afraid to mix two different bar stool styles, as shown with this wet bar. One side features upholstered stools, while the other has a brass-and-wood backless industrial style. They work because their surrounding environment is a fusion of modern and traditional elements. Being perpendicular to one another, they can relate without needing to be identical.
Shop for upholstered stools
Shop for upholstered stools
6. Metal
Simple and functional, all-metal stools get right to the point, providing a place to perch without excessive bells and whistles. With the vast array of finishes available — brushed nickel, brass, brightly painted hues — you are practically guaranteed to find one that coordinates nicely with your existing lighting and cabinet hardware.
You can’t go wrong with a clean, bright, all-white palette.
Simple and functional, all-metal stools get right to the point, providing a place to perch without excessive bells and whistles. With the vast array of finishes available — brushed nickel, brass, brightly painted hues — you are practically guaranteed to find one that coordinates nicely with your existing lighting and cabinet hardware.
You can’t go wrong with a clean, bright, all-white palette.
Here, a stainless steel vent hood and nickel pendant lights team up effortlessly with these stools, bringing a lovely dose of shine to an otherwise neutral space.
The slabs on this waterfall island are the centerpiece of this kitchen, and using a more modest bar stool helps keep the eye focused on the movement of those slab patterns. The herringbone floors and X-shaped bases on the dining table and bench also work well with the slight angle of the stool legs.
These copper-colored versions add a glam factor as the focal point of this kitchen. Though copper is not already a dominant metal in this space, it is almost pink or rose gold in appearance, which fits right in with the purple and pink hues in the surrounding artwork.
Because this straightforward style tends to be less labor-intensive to manufacture, scoring an affordable option is relatively easy when compared with more intricately detailed alternatives. Putting a less costly stool at your outdoor kitchen island means you can still achieve a high-end look without having to worry about storing them inside every time it rains.
Browse metal stools
Browse metal stools
While sometimes considered a coastal or vintage material, wicker lends a casual texture to any kitchen and easily blends into almost any surrounding.
The low backs on the stools shown in this kitchen provide just the right amount of comfort while not impeding the view from the breakfast room to the stove.