Kitchen Stools

What height of stool for a worktop or a kitchen island?

Height is the leading cause of mistakes. A stool that is too high traps your thighs under the top, a stool that is too low forces you to raise your elbows to eat. The rule of thumb is simple: leave 25 to 30 cm between the top of the seat and the underside of the top. Two heights cover almost every kitchen.

• Counter height: seat of 55 to 69 cm, most often 65 cm. It suits a worktop or a kitchen island of around 90 cm. It is also called a counter stool or a counter chair.
• Bar height: seat of 70 cm and over, most often 75 cm. It suits a bar, a poseur table or a raised island of 105 to 110 cm.

Rules of thumb, to be adjusted to the thickness of the top and your own height. They are not fixed rules.

What about the footrest?

At these heights, your feet no longer touch the floor. Check that there is a footrest, usually placed 40 to 45 cm below the seat: it is what takes the strain off your legs when the meal runs on.

Bar stool or bar chair: with or without a backrest?

The selection brings together two families. Nearly six models in ten are bar stools, backless or with just a low rim. Four in ten are bar chairs, with a backrest and sometimes armrests. The choice depends mainly on how long you spend sitting.

Orders of magnitude. Check the dimensions of each model before choosing.

A low backrest, which stops at the small of the back, is a good compromise: it supports your back without blocking the view of the kitchen. A high backrest is better suited to an island used as the main table.

How many stools around a kitchen island?

Allow 60 cm of top width per person: this is the benchmark for eating without knocking elbows. 50 cm is enough for backless stools used occasionally. Keep at least 15 cm between two seats.

Benchmarks calculated on 60 cm per person. With armrests, allow 65 to 70 cm instead.

How much depth for your knees?

To sit facing the top, you need an overhang of 25 to 30 cm to slide your knees under. Below 20 cm, you eat sitting sideways. If your worktop has no overhang, go for backless stools, which can be stored along the unit after the meal.

Wood, metal or polypropylene: which material for a kitchen stool?

Wood dominates the selection: more than four models in ten, mainly in oak, ash and beech. Metal, almost always steel, accounts for three models in ten. Polypropylene completes the range, often as a shell set on an oak or steel base.

Upholstered and natural fibre seats are a minority in the selection: around one model in ten.

In a kitchen, splashes of grease and water are an everyday thing. Near the hob or the sink, a smooth seat in varnished wood, lacquered steel or polypropylene wipes clean in one go. Keep fabric, velvet and rattan for the side of the island facing the living room.

Which stool for which kitchen?

In a small kitchen or a studio flat

Choose a backless stool 35 to 40 cm wide, which disappears under the top once the meal is over. A slim steel base and a shade close to that of the worktop make the room feel lighter.

For a family with children

Choose a bar chair with a backrest and a footrest, on four splayed legs, which are more stable than a central pedestal. Counter height, at around 65 cm, is easier to climb onto than bar height. A polypropylene shell or a varnished wooden seat stands up to younger children's mealtimes.

For eating at the island every day

A backrest becomes necessary, and so does a seat at least 40 cm wide. A curved shell or an upholstered seat makes a real difference to comfort beyond 30 minutes.

In a Scandinavian or contemporary style kitchen

Light oak and ash go well with white or wooden cabinet fronts: this is the territory of Normann Copenhagen, HAY and Muuto, the three best represented brands in the selection. Black, nearly one model in four, outlines the silhouette in front of a light island. For a touch of colour, around a hundred models come in green.

On a tight budget

Seven models in ten in the selection are offered at under €500, and around thirty at under €200. For the same budget, two seats at the right height are better than three models chosen without measuring.

A few kitchen stools from the selection

Normann Copenhagen Bar stool in natural oak and white PP 65 cm Form - Normann Copenhagen €314,50 HAY Red metal bar chair 75 cm Hee - HAY €299,00 Muuto White bar chair 75 cm with tube base Fiber - Muuto €285,00 TIPTOE Bar chair in oak and graphite black steel 65 cm SSD - TIPTOE €313,65

How do you care for a kitchen stool?

• After every meal: wipe polypropylene and lacquered steel seats with a damp sponge, and wood with a barely damp cloth, then dry.
• Every week: vacuum fabric seats with the brush attachment and dust the footrest, which marks quickly.
• If fabric gets stained: blot without rubbing using a clean cloth and a little soapy water, from the edge towards the centre.
• Every six months: tighten the screws of the base and check the glides. A stool that wobbles wears out faster.
• Once a year: feed oiled wood with a suitable oil, after a light dusting.

On a wooden or tiled floor, felt pads prevent scratches and noise when you push the seat back. Replace them as soon as they are flattened. Avoid bleach and abrasive sponges, which dull lacquers and varnishes.