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Kitchens have always been the heart of the home and over the years they have changed from a room used only for the preparation and cooking of meals into the hub of the home. They are the meeting spot - a place to gather, to prepare meals and to eat. The island bench and stools are a sociable option and have become an integral part of kitchens.
It’s a perfect place for supervising homework while preparing the evening meal, catching up with friends over a coffee and cake, working from home, or eating a casual meal.
KITCHEN STOOL STYLES
There are so many beautiful options for stools – timber, woven or upholstered, adjustable, with a back or without. With so many choices it’s easy to get carried away with making aesthetic decisions before making practical ones.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT STOOL HEIGHT
Comfort and functionality are the key factors to consider, and the very first thing is the height of the stool needed for your bench.
There is nothing worse than sitting too low or sitting too high, hunching over the bench or not being able to fit your legs under the bench. The most important decision is what height stool to buy. You won’t have “buyer’s remorse” if you take your time to get the correct height for the bench or bar.
So, what height stool do you need to sit comfortably? You should allow 23-30cm for legroom under the bench. Simply measure the height of the bench in a straight line from the floor to the bottom of the counter and then deduct 23-30cm and there you have it – the height of the stools you need to sit comfortably.
There are standard heights for benches and bars and stools are manufactured with these measurements in mind.
Kitchen benches are counter height and measure 90-92cm
Bar height benches measure between 100-105 cm
So, if your bench measures 90cm – deduct 23-30 cm and a stool with a seat height of 60-67cm is the best option. Similarly, if your bar height is 105cm – with the same calculation you will find a stool with a seat height of 75-82cm will be best suited.
Once you’ve worked out the height of the stool you need – you can then focus on the design options. The stools should complement the style of your kitchen and a lot of thought should also be given to selecting the right materials and finishes that work for you.
- How many people would you like to sit at the bench? Usually, you would allow a minimum width of 60cm for each person at a table or bench. If space is a little tight you may want to consider a backless stool as these tend to take up a little less space.
- How much room is there around the bench or bar? If space around the bench is limited, a backless stool that can tuck neatly under the bench when not in use is a good option.
- What colour would you like the seating to be in your kitchen? You can go bold and select a statement colour, perhaps match the stool to the colour of the bench top, or natural timber never seems to be the wrong choice.
- If the seating is regularly used by small children – a material and finish that you can easily wipe down will be more practical than an upholstered stool.
With these few tips in mind – but starting with working out the correct stool height for your bench, you’ll be on your way to enjoying many hours sitting, relaxing and most importantly … being comfortable.
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