As kitchen islands are becoming an essential in many homes, incorporating kitchen seating in the form of bar stools is a great way to provide a work space and eating area within your island. Kitchen bar stools come in a large range of choices and there are many elements to consider about your seating such as design, height, size and material. For many households, kitchen stools are used more than dining room chairs as we tend to have shorter meals when our daily routine is busy and we are on the go. Here are our tips for choosing the best kitchen stools for your cooking area.

Measurements
These dimensions will all come down to how wide the space for your stools is. Ensure you measure the height of your bench top to ensure you choose the right stool and your chairs can fit underneath your bar with plenty of room. Decide on the number of stools you wish to fit into your space as this can eliminate many wider designs.

Style
Your kitchen style and architecture can influence the design of your bar stools. They should be in proportion to the rest of your bench top or island and the style and material should match your overall kitchen décor. Choosing whether to have a backrest is a very important decision, as backless stools tuck nicely under your bench top whereas stools with backrests can dominate the design of your island.

Practicality
An optimal bar stool will combine design and comfort, and must not sacrifice style for practicality. There are many components you will need to consider such as backrests, footrests, arm rests, adjustable height mechanisms and padded seating which will affect the usability and must match your lifestyle.

Lifestyle
Your household plays a big part in the type of kitchen seating you choose. Consider how often you will spend sitting on the stools and whether your family does a lot of work and eating in the kitchen as you may want to choose a more comfortable chair with extra padding on the seat. If you have a family with children it is important to assess the stability of your kitchen stools and look for a stool with a wide, heavy base if your children tend to swing on chairs.

Decor
If you have a minimalistic style kitchen you may want to have some key feature pieces, such as your kitchen bar stools. Consider materials such as metal and timber or try bright colours to liven up your space. Some white wooden stools will match perfectly with a Hampton style kitchen whereas chrome metal stools may suit French Provincial kitchens.

We hope these tips will help you decide on your kitchen stools as they are both a dominant style accessory and a functional part of your cooking area.

For guidance on choosing the right design that best suits your needs, seek the advice of the professionals in kitchen design at Harrington Kitchens. You can count on our team to use our ideas, experience and the latest technology to custom design a kitchen that best suits your needs and style.

Harrington Kitchens offers a wide variety of kitchen design and styles including:

For more information on our various kitchen designs, please visit our Gallery. Our Gallery brings together a selection of our custom kitchen designs ranging from traditional to contemporary kitchens. Each kitchen style has the flexibility to work in any home environment and can be designed to suit all tastes and budgets.

The entire Harrington Kitchens team is focused on designing kitchens that utilise premium materials and offer each and every customer the highest level of service. Harrington Kitchens partners with the best quality kitchen suppliers within the kitchen manufacturing industry and employs experienced and professional tradesmen to ensure the longevity of your custom designed kitchen.

For a free quote and free design consultation
Please contact us at Harrington Kitchens on (02) 4647 4474 or submit an online enquiryAlternatively you are welcome to visit the Harrington Kitchens Showroom at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW or 5 Old Hume Highway, Mittagong NSW.

See more great kitchen ideas in our Online Gallery.