Introduction

If you invite all your mates around for a few bevvies to watch the game, you can’t just expect them to stand around. All good home bars and man-caves deserve a good set of 4 bar stools, or even more for those big nights!

We’ll get into bar tables in another post but for now, I’d like to introduce you to some amazing stools that would look great in any bar. We don’t just settle for second best when erecting and furnishing our home bars. Oh no, we now want the best man-cave in the street! There’s no way Ted at No. 42 is going to outdo my beer grotto!

And when I have mates over I expect them to want to come back again. Maybe not the next morning when I’m nursing a hangover, but soon hey!

So to have them return, my bar needs to be furnished superbly, no second hand furniture any more.

But first, a brief guide as to which type of stools may suit your home bar, after all, there’s plenty to choose from.

Bar Stools Buying Guide

Finding the correct bar stool is not as simple as searching for the best-looking ones. Let’s investigate what other factors you can take into account to find your perfect bar stools.

Bar stools are not only good for entertaining in your home bar, you may also want them to be versatile enough to use elsewhere. Places such as your kitchen, games room or even outside. When doing your search, most will state if they can be used outdoors. Do not buy stools that state they cannot be used externally as they will get weather damaged in no time.

I’m sure you want your mates, as well as yourself to be comfortable when sitting around your bar watching the football. So be sure to get comfortable stools. When I say this, I don’t mean that you’ll sit in the same position for 3-4 hours. You’ll want a sofa for this. Bar get togethers usually involve moving around a little also but sitting for half hour or so does require comfort.

You’ll want to get the measurements of your home bar before searching for bar stools. This will determine how high your stools should be. The great thing is that some bar stools come with a height adjustment mechanism. Most wooden stools will not have this option though.

Next you will want to determine whether you want cushioned upholstery or not. Certain places like a barn or garage bar may suit bar stools with no upholstery. Internal games room bars may feel more comfortable with a padded material. You can always add cushions to the bar stools if you decide on a metal or timber option.

Appearance is also another big factor when sourcing a set of great bar stools. You really don’t want an awesome bar with all the trimmings, perfect decor to match, but then have stools that look out of place. Look at your surroundings, take in how much materials such as timber or metal is used. Check the colors of your walls and carpet, if you have carpet of course. All these things will determine the style of bar stools you should be searching for.

Lastly, let’s go over functionality. You may be thinking ‘what functionality apart from somewhere to sit can a bar stool play’? Well, what about swiveling 360 degrees? I really enjoy bar stools that revolve around. Would you like a footrest on the stool? Do you require back rests on your stools? If so, small or large back rests? What about arm rests? These are functions that mostly add to your comfort, so have a good think about them.

You will benefit greatly if you take some of these things into account before choosing on a set of bar stools. You will probably have these stools for a long period of time so choose wisely.

Are you looking for a more modern touch to your home bar? If so these plush contemporary stools could be just the ticket! You’ll enjoy the contoured seat that adds comfort to your rear.

If you like chrome accents like I do, then you will admire the stool stem, base & foot rests that add to your comfort.
With a 360 degree swivel you can watch the game on any screen in the room.

Raise and lower the stool with the adjustable airlift giving smooth accent or decent. At a maximum the stools will reach 31 (78cm) inches, the minimum being 23 (58cm) inches.

You won’t need to worry about scratching your polished floor boards as the feet have embedded rubber for protection.

Sleek features include:

• Backless curved design
• 360 Degrees swivel
• Contoured PU leather seats
• Airlift with handle
• Chrome base and footrest

With a 200lb weight limit, your heaviest mate can sit without a problem.

Customers are loving this set of 4 bar stools as they’ve rated it 4.9 out of 5. With 17 reviews, that’s a fairly good result.

The drawback for me is the small back rest. That’s not to say these are not a great stool but if you have back issues, you may look at getting stools with a larger back rest.

Looking more like they belong in a cocktail bar than your barn or garage bar, these are close to the most comfortable stools available right now. If you do have a more modern bar, then you may have found your perfect bar stools.

It’s amazing the type of bars we can create at home these days and you may have a trendy illuminated room that will suit these down to the ground. Can you imagine sipping Kahlua cocktails lounging in a beauty like this? In fact, your man-cave may turn ladies-lair for an evening if you’re not careful!

The stools incorporate a gas air-lift system so, no matter what height your bar is, you can set your stool to your desired height. This is a real benefit if you have friends that are various sizes. ‘Big Al’ can lower his stool to 32.5 inches (82cm) while the shorter ‘Stubbie’ can raise his to the maximum 40.5inches (102cm).

For chrome lovers like myself, you’ll love the chrome finished base & foot rest. The base also comes with an Anti-slip ring to avoid floor scratches. The Mrs. will be impressed.

The real benefit to these bar stools is that they are very versatile. They can be used at the breakfast bar or kitchen. Just don’t use them outside, they’re not waterproof. In saying that, they are very easy to wipe clean due to the leatherette material. Spills are not a worry.

Great features include:

• Chrome base Anti-slip ring.
• Faux Leather
• Air-lift design
• Back-rest

This set of 4 bar stools also come in a choice of 2 colors. Black and white are your variants.

Also supports up to 260lbs. No worries for Big Al!

From the 4 reviews received when writing this, all have given 5-star ratings. Check them out for yourself by clicking ‘Check it Out’.

Plush is the word the comes to mind with this outrageously expensive set of four bar stools. If you want to spend top dollar on a set of 4 stools because ‘you get what you pay for’, then by all means, knock yourself out. You will get a quality piece of furniture but they’re hardly gold plated.

If fact they’re chrome plated, very stylish and have an added chrome footrest which is lovely. What you’re paying for though, is the extremely comfortable padded seats. It has a deep-seated design and a small back rest offering just enough support.

Yes, they are a very comfortable stool, and so they should be at this price. They’re undoubtedly modern in design and feel lovely. The disadvantage I find though, is that if I was paying this price, I would like it to swivel. That’s just me however, not everyone likes a stool that revolves, and this may be perfect for your cocktail home bar.

Lovely features include:

• Modern design
• Chrome plated steel
• Luxurious upholstered seats
• Built in footrest

Only 1 review had been submitted at the time of writing and it was given a 5-star rating. Yep great but blow me away if I’m going to spend this amount of money on 4 bar stools. That’s not to say you shouldn’t, they’re a luxurious piece and would suit many bars.

Okay, this old trusty metal counter bar stool set would suit your man-cave as opposed to a more modern bar. Now this is a hugely popular design with large numbers of sales. Probably because they will satisfy all sorts of bars and even kitchen counters so they’re also very versatile.

You’ll love that they come in a range of colors including Distressed Metal, Gunmetal with Wood Seat, Rustic Metal, Rustic Antique Border, Silver Metal and a couple of other variations.

One of the added benefits to this style is they can be compactly stacked away, saving on storage space. Stacking is also very simply done as you can lift the stools by the handle in the seating area. Good thinking!

Made from 100% durable stainless steel with a clear coating making them scratch resistant and also powder coated in your preferred color (see above).

At a height of 24 inches (61cm) they will suit most bars. You’ll notice that these are a much simpler design being armless and backless but do come with footrest.

Nice features:

• Scratch resistant
• Various colors
• Metal frame
• 100% stainless steel

You will not be required to assemble the stools when they arrive as they are fully assembled.

You will be comforted by the ratings and reviews for these stools which are through the roof. Over 209 reviews and a rating of 4.9 out of 5. Go ahead, check them out for yourself by clicking on the image.

Many a home bar or man-cave can get a little trashed after a few beers. This set of 4 farmhouse bar stools are perfect for mates that can get a little rowdy as they are so durable. They are also fine for outdoor use as long as they are stacked aside undercover when not in use.

So, what does every great barn or garage bar possess? You guessed it, a card table! And every card table requires chairs or stools. That’s exactly what I’d suggest these lower stools or higher chairs are perfect for. However, I’d suggest getting a height adjustable card table, so the chairs fit around it.

You’ll love the sleek modern vintage style made from iron with a copper finish. Again, these are very adaptable and can be used elsewhere such as the kitchen or dining room. The heavy-duty construction makes it very stable and is complemented by the timber seat.

Comprising a high backrest makes for more comfort, especially for those with dodgy spines like myself. However, another great benefit of these great chairs is that the backrests do not come assembled. This means you can leave them off if you please. Some people like to keep 2 on and 2 off.

Your floors will benefit greatly from the non-marking feet caps, keeping scratches and marks away from your timber or tiled floors.
The stools/chairs are also tall enough to have a footrest integrated into them.

Cool features include:

• Copper Finish
• Heavy-Duty Iron
• Scratch Resistant
• High Back Rest

The drawbacks from these chair/stools is the fact that you need the correct size bar or table. Also, the leg braces on the chairs prohibit them from stacking into each other. You can however, invert stack them seat to seat.

They have a very good rating or 4.9 stars from 45 reviews. Very complementary.

Now to one of my favorites. They swivel, they’re comfortable, they’re well-constructed and suite many environments. Although they only come in white, I would prefer they extended they’re color range to include black or even a seductive red. White is still a desirable color and they do look clean, when they are actually clean!

You’ll be pleased with the padded seats and backrest which are covered in PU leather. The chrome structure of the backrest extends to offer half armrests, extra comfort when holding your favorite drink.

With a 360-degree swivel and a stylish footrest, there’s not many more luxurious bar stools than these. There’s even a Pneumatic height control to set the correct height for each individual stool.

As a set of 4, I find these are very well priced and will not send you broke.

The chrome base is fitted with a rubber seal to prevent scratching on tiles, slate or wooden surfaces.

Lovely features include:

• Chrome base
• Padded seats and backrest
• Slight armrests
• Pneumatic height adjustment

The stools are light weight, so you will benefit greatly when moving these from room to room. They would not only suit your bar, but kitchen or breakfast bar also.

You will find wonderful reviews for these stools with 23 verified customers giving an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.

Even though they do not come fully assembled, one lady said she and her 12-year-old son put all 4 of them together in 15 minutes.

Others have also suggested the assembly is simple. Check out the reviews by clicking on the image.

Are you into your transparency? See through stools may be your thing, they’ve been around for years now, and this is one of the trending styles of the moment. Being transparent, they’re known as ‘Ghost Chairs’, figures hey!

Looking more space age than antiquated, these stools are made of crystal clear polycarbonate which makes it so much stronger than acrylic. This is a huge benefit as nobody needs a flimsy bar stool, especially when the Pimm’s gets passed around, right ladies!

A choice of 3 available colors are also offered.

You will be required to assemble these stools yourself, but it’s not rocket science and all instructions and screws are included. They could not be any easier to put together.

The other great benefit of these stools over the others we’ve reviewed so far, is that they can be used indoors or out. This makes them very functional and adaptable to different climates. They’re also UV protected so there’s no chance the sun will damage them.

Great features include:

• Transparent polycarbonate
• Easy assembly
• UV Protected

I really like that these are for internal or external use. They’re not exactly my style but the benefits are worth the extra dollars if you love the design.

Even though the actual product description says the stools are stackable, the customer reviews suggest they do not. Just keep this in mind if you decide to purchase.

They do have a great rating of 5 stars from 4 reviews, not bad!

You will love the complete range when it comes to these next bar stools. Perfect as your next farmhouse bar stools, not only do they come in various colors, you also get 2 sizes to choose from.

With a weight capacity of 500lbs, your largest mates will be accommodated. Constructed from durable metal, they are powder coated in the color of your choosing. Colors include Antique Copper, Black, Silver & White.

You’ll benefit from the lightweight frame when moving these portable stools from room to room. We all need to be comfortable when sitting and the footrests design makes sure this is achieved.

The timber seat pan on these industrial styled stools are solid and come with a clear espresso texture. They offer comfort and durability for your derriere!

A feature that will be of great benefit is the rubber floor protectors to prevent scratches and marks.

Coming in 2 sizes, 24 inch (61cm) or 30 inch (76cm), make sure to size your bar before purchasing to confirm your perfect height.

Cool features include:

• Multiple colors
• 2 sizes
• Durable and lightweight
• Timber seat

The stools come fully assembled so there’s no need for any assembly from your end. They are also stackable which is a bonus when you need to store them aside.

There’s been a great response from customers with over 20 giving an average 4.7 star rating out of 5. Check them out.

Like many other stools compared here, these incorporate a 360-degree swivel, have chrome base, stem and footrest, and an adjustable height which makes assuming your perfect drinking posture very easy.

What all the others do not have is the plush seating and backrest that look as if they belong in any bar. The padding is 3 inches thick which makes them extremely comfortable to sit on. After all, if you’re going to be sitting, on and off, for a couple of hours watching the football, you really deserve some creature comforts. You probably won’t want to leave your stool in case another mate decides it’s his!
The stools feature a lovely high 12 inch back which those with back problems will appreciate. It’s also 16.5 inches wide, a great size for larger folk. Talking about larger people, these bar stools can accommodate up to 250lbs.

The air-lift seat adjustment raises from 24 inches to 30 inches, similar to other stools. You will really feel like your drinking in style perched on one of these faux leather cushioned stools.

Lovely features include:

• Large seating and backrest
• Air-lift for height adjustment
• 3-inch padded seats
• Chrome base

There are no complaints from customers and they’ve given an average star rating of 4.8 out of 5 which is very good.

Feel free to click on the ‘Check it Out’ button to check the reviews.

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It won’t cost you anything extra.

Conclusion

It’s a big decision isn’t it? With so many styles and designs of bar stools to choose from, you want to make sure you get the correct ones. I’d suggest, similar to your liquor cabinet, take in your surrounding environment including colors, trims, timbers etc. This way you can match your bar stools to suit.

Prioritize your desires in terms of comfort or design. Then go from there. I hope we’ve helped you out and shown you some of the trends available today.

If you’d like to share your favorite with us, please feel free to add to the discussion below.