Bar stools are a great way to top up your seating selection, without making your bar area feel crowded.
From a couple of tall bar stools placed at the bar itself, to contemporary designs like round and cube Chester stools, there's a wealth of options to choose from.
So how do you choose the perfect bar stools for your seating area?
The Right Height
First up, think about how tall you want your bar stools to be - especially if you already have the tables you are trying to match them to.
There's nothing worse, as a customer, than having to perch at a high stool next to a low-slung coffee table, or vice versa.
If you want a range of heights, think about how many of each you need - and it can be a good idea to write this down in precise figures, if it's sensible to do so.
Get the Look
What kind of bar environment are you furnishing? A traditional pub-style bar typically demands wooden furniture, dark wood stools with upholstered seats, and so on.
It's also not unusual to find stools made entirely of wood in such interiors, and as long as it is ergonomically shaped, a wooden seat can be surprisingly comfortable even for long periods of time.
For a more contemporary aesthetic, look to metal and chrome, or leather Chester stools - they're equally versatile as their wooden counterparts, but give a more modern appearance to your space.
If you're not sure what bar furniture you need, stand in your bar and look around you - is it mostly brick and wood? If so, wooden furniture will make sense.
If your bar is granite, marble or some other such material, and your walls are clad in something sleek and shiny, chrome bar stools could be the better option.
This is an overly simplistic way of looking at things, but in many cases it should be that easy to make the decision.
A Splash of Colour
Finally, give some thought to your colour scheme - both the wood and the upholstery.
Dark wood bar stools are the classic choice, and are still very elegant, but they may make your interior look dark in general.
Paler woods and light-coloured upholstery can brighten things up - and rest assured that good modern-day bar stools are made of materials that should provide at least some resistance to any spillages.