If you think about bar stools for a minute, you typically get a certain image in your head of ba patrons bellied up to the bar, beer stein or cocktail in hand, chatting with the bartender and the local “Norm” at the end of the bar. Bar stools were always designed so you could sit comfortably with your elbows on the bar, which was also standard bar height, equally good for resting your elbows on when standing. Well, bar stools have evolved.
For literally centuries, bar stools were 30 inches in height. Of course, the height was specifically engineered so that a person could comfortably belly up to the bar and consume much ale. The bar stools were generally constructed from oak or another hardwood. The stools were firmly balanced upon 4 legs that were each attached to the underside of the stool seat a few inches towards the centre from each corner. As you can imagine, having a sturdy base of support was an important element in early bar stools.
In the swinging 60s, a few people were incorporating bars into their homes and accordingly bar stools began to make a small appear in residential settings. The old wooden stools from pubs were popular but at this point we were seeing the emergence of metal and chrome bar stools. The wooden bar stools were found in basement or recreation room bars while the chrome and padded bar stool were most often found in living rooms and poolside.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, most bar stool, be they commercial or residential, were 30 inches high. During the late 1980s we began to see the advent of the 24 inch bar stool. This smaller bar stool is now the most popular type of residential bar stool.
The short bar stool size is a good choice for family homes, where children will be using the bar for things like breakfast, snacks and doing projects or finishing their homework as mom makes lunch for the next day. It is also a very convenient height for adults who have trouble with the higher standard 30″ models.
The old oak bar stools found in pubs now almost seem antiquated. These days 24 inch bar stool are as common as 30 inch bar stool. Most major department stores will stock a variety of both types. Specialty furniture stores will either stock or be able to order many different types and models. Bar stool are wooden, metal, resin and/or upholstered. There are 30 ” or 24 ” bar stools to suit every taste.
To find out more information, click here or visit the website Bar Stool Man.
Tags: bar, bar stool, barstool, chair, furniture, home, house, interior design, kitchen, kitchen decor, kitchen design, kitchen furniture, stool