Two furniture designers walk into a bar. Each one is likely to come up with multiple designs for one of the oldest forms of common seating in history. Over the years, barstools have become a social environment all their own. There are barstool philosophers, barstool comics, and barstool quarterbacks. The now ubiquitous barstool has been home to all sorts of characters and has stood the test of time. Barstool seating has come a long way since the days of pedestal base and a round padded seat.

Now the barstool is becoming a fixture in many homes, whether used at a home bar or a breakfast nook. Bar stool designs have gone from that of tall stool to plush and comfortable seating. At its most basic, a barstool consists of four legs and a seat. The height of the stool usually is determined by the height of the average bar. Commercially, the height of a barstool can range from twenty four to thirty six inches. Some stools, especially taller ones, feature foot rungs. The taller the stool the more likely it is that some type of foot rest will be featured in the design.

The materials used to make barstools are as varied as the design of stools themselves. Wood, steel, aluminum, brass are all used in combination or alone. Barstools have been the subject of designs that range from the simple and mundane, to the decorative.

A common feature in many American homes is a bar. Breakfast bars, kitchen bars, and kitchen islands can be found in homes large and small. An eating bar may provide the perfect place to catch a bite in a small home or apartment and is a great alternative to a formal dining space. The recent trend toward what many people refer to as the suburban McMansion has led to larger kitchens, eating nooks and island kitchens. Kitchen islands have multiple uses that can include a casual eating space. Barstools provide the perfect seating solution.

Pub tables are a very popular furniture option. These high seat table designs are quite contemporary and are a great alternative to the traditional dining room ensemble. The average pub table ranges from around thirty six to forty inches in height. The overall size of the table can be as large as a small dining room table. The seating may be as simple as a stool, high leg press back chair, or a luxuriously upholstered seat. Imagine a typical padded dining room chair. Now think of the same chair with legs that are anywhere from twenty four to thirty inches tall.

Now stool seating may not be for everyone. Many people prefer the traditional dining room chair with their feet on the ground so to speak. Barstools seating has become part of the furniture culture that looks for the nontraditional. The comfort of stool seating for the home is miles apart from the round, swivel pedestal stools one might expect to find in a neighborhood diner.

Stool seating has become a popular decorating option for outdoor and patio furniture. Bar stools made from tropical materials like rattan and bamboo can give your outdoor space a festive look. Wrought iron has always been a great choice for outdoor furniture. With proper care, wrought iron furniture can last virtually forever. Wrought iron provides furniture designers an ornamental medium combined with a classic look.

A home bar can be great place to gather and socialize. Now you might one who prefers to stand, one foot on that beautiful brass rail, John Wayne style. Your guests may appreciate a comfortable seat and the right bar stools can enhance your entertaining environment.