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Remodeling Guide

Remodeling Home
Remodeling Intro
Kitchen Colors
Kitchen Styles
Kitchen Layouts
Designing around Limitations
Tips for Hiring a Contractor
Shopping for Accessories
A Feng Shui Kitchen
Kitchen Redo For Less
Fireplace Accessory Info
Preparing Your Fireplace
Designing a Home Bar
Increase Kitchen Storage
Organize Your Laundry Room
Creating Your Own Wine Cellar
Bathroom Storage Options
Kitchen Islands and Kitchen Carts
Accessorizing Your Bathroom
Outdoor Living
Outdoor Kitchens
Cabinet Hardware
Kitchen Sinks and Faucets
Bathroom Ventilation
Create Your Own Mudroom
Baker's Racks
Keeping Trash in Order
Bathroom Sinks and Faucets
Father's Day Gifts
Feng Shui For the Garden
A 4th of July Celebration
Choose the Right Bar Stool
Choosing a Countertop
Pot Racks
Range Hoods
Choosing a Bath Vanity
Turn Your Closet Into a Pantry
Cabinet Lighting
Installing a Bathroom Fan
Choosing a Medicine Cabinet
Outdoor Fireplaces
Built-In Ironing Boards
Lazy Susans

  
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How to Choose the Right Bar Stool
 by Shannon McMahon Bruchal

The selection of bar stools and chairs available on the market today is quite vast. To narrow down the choices and find the one that's truly right for you, first figure out how and where your stools will be used. Stools used with a counter or breakfast bar will differ in size from those used at a bar. It helps to know the measurements of your counter or bar before you begin choosing what stool you would like.

As a general rule, there should be from 11 to 13 inches between the stool or chair and the top surface. If you have a table that is 28 inches to 30 inches high, your chair should be anywhere from 17 to 19 inches high.  For counters that are 36 inches high, stools should be 24 to 26 inches high. Any bar or counter that's 42 inches high should have stools that are 30 to 32 inches high. The height of a chair or stool is measured from the floor to the top of the seat.

Once you have decided on where and how you will be using your stools, and have taken the necessary measurements, it's time to determine which style would work best for you. Follow the decor of your room.  Swivel stools have seats that revolve, which give the person using them ease of movement.  Stools with arms work better in larger areas because they take up a little more space. In modern settings, a metal stool will add contemporary flair.  A diner-style stool will provide a 50s retro look, reminiscent of malt shops and burger joints.  If you are using your bar stools in the kitchen area, you may want wood stools to match the wood of your kitchen cabinets.  Upholstered bar stools have seats that are covered with either fabric or leather, while plain stools usually have a smooth, wooden seat.  Another alternative to consider is Suspend-It seating.  Unlike regular bar stools, these custom seats have no legs and are attached via a frame to the floor and underneath the counter to give the appearance of a floating seat. Several different styles of seats are available to match every decor.  Whatever your style or preference, you are sure to find the stools that compliment your room or setting.