30 Bar Stoools - The Right One for You?

30 Bar Stools: 

  How to choose the right one -

Before you begin to search for a specific height, or style, or a particular set of options for a bar stool you should step back for a moment and think about what will make the perfect bar stool for you. To do this you need to think more about how your barstool is going to be used than what it looks like. After you understand the critical factors that will make the bar stool the perfect choice for you from a functional standpoint, then you can move on to the fun part – what it looks like. Before you begin shopping spend a few minutes and answer these questions for yourself:

• Is it the right height?
• How much space do I need?
• Which options do I need?
• What material should I choose?
• How do I tell good quality?

 30 Bar Stools

  Is it the right height for you -

One of the first keys you need to think about is what height bar stool do you need. Although the 30 bar stool has long been the "standard", it’s not the right solution for everyone or for every home. You need to consider several factors before deciding on the correct height.

First, who are you buying the bar stools for, that is, who will be using them most of the time. Are they average size adults, or are they children, or maybe you are a little taller or a little shorter than average. Bar stools range in height from 24 inches to 36 inches including stools that are adjustable so you can find a height that matches your requirements in terms of who will be using it.

To select a bar stool with the correct height you also need to consider how it is going to be used. Are you going to be using as a seat for a breakfast bar which is only 36-38 inches high, or a standard height kitchen counter at 40-44 inches, or one of the new counter tops that range from 45-48 inches high. The bar stool needs to be tall enough to allow the person sitting on it to comfortably reach the counter top and still have sufficient clearance between the counter top and the top of the stool – ideally 10 to 12 inches.

30 Bar Stools

  How Much Space Do I Need -

Beyond finding the correct bar stool height you also need to consider how much space you have available for your bar stools. The amount of space you have and how much space is required by each bar stool is important. A good rule of thumb is to plan for a space of about 30 inches between each bar stool. This suggested clearance can be affected by the type of bar stool you choose. If you choose a model with arms you may need a bit more space, but if you are buying a model that can swivel then you can usually get by with a little less space between your bar stools. 

30 Bar Stools

  Which Options Do I Need - 

You will find a variety of options online including –

•  Swivel or fixed
•  Back or backless
•  Adjustable or fixed height
•  Arms or no arms

To decide which of these options are important to you, and which you can do without you need to think once again about things like how much room I have, how many bar stools I want to fit into the space, who is going to be using the bar stools, and how they will be using them. Having a bar stool that swivels is usually a nice option because they just make it much easier to get on and off and allow you to place your bar stools a little closer together – requiring less room.

Although some backless bar stools look really cool – most of the time you really don’t want to spend too much time sitting on one. To sit comfortably for more than about 30 minutes you probably need a back rest to lean on and relax. So if you’re planning on being comfortable for an extended period of time while sitting at the counter top – choose a bar stool with a back. But all bar stools aren’t used while sitting at counter tops, some end up being used for other purposes – like in the garage while you are working on your favorite project. In this setting you may not want a bar stool with a back but definitely want one that will swivel.

30 Bar Stools

  What material should I choose -

Do I want wood, metal, plastic – or something else? Of course the first thing you need to consider when making this decision is what theme and what materials are used in the rest of my home. Do you have a contemporary or modern look throughout the rest of your home, or in the room where your bar stool is going to be placed. Then a sleek new design made from plastic or stainless steel or brushed metal may be the right choice. Is your décor more traditional, or rustic or perhaps a country theme – then wood and fabric may be a good combination. You may also want to give some thought to how sturdy you bar stool needs to be and how difficult or easy it is to clean and maintain. Do you have a couple of teenage boys who may like to stress test your sleek new Italian style bar stool – make sure it’s a sturdy design. Some of the new retro look bar stools made from plastic may not stand up to abuse as well as other options but are relatively inexpensive and all you have to do is wipe them off with a damp rag- easy maintenance.

30 Bar Stools 

  How do I tell good quality -

As with most products there will be a trade-off between quality and price. But here are a few things to look for to help you judge how well made the bar stool is and how comfortable it is.

•  Does the manufacturer use heavy-gauge steel for durable and efficient welding joints.
•  If the bar stool is metal and painted does the manufacturer use high–temperature baked powder coating.
•  If the stool has a foam seat does the manufacturer use a high density foam – over 2 pounds per cubic foot density. How thick is the foam – better seats are 2.5" to 3" of foam versus 1.25" to 2".
•  If the seat is made from wood is it at an inch or more in thickness and does it have a scooped design for comfort or is it flat.
•  If you are purchasing a swivel stool – how many ball bearings does the swivel device have - more bearings are better at distributing weight and will therefore last longer and be smoother. Better quality swivels have in the range of 40-50 ball bearing s as compared to less expensive devices with 10-12.
•  If you’re buying a bar stool with a fabric covering – how stain resistant is it. Unfortunately – a bar stool is going to have drinks and food spilled on it from time to time, so make sure the fabric has been treated.
•  And finally check the warranty – what does it cover and how long is it – some manufactures warranties are as long as 10 years.

For a few more tips on selecting the right bar stool before you begin shopping check out this video.  

Ok, now that you know what you're looking for let's take a more in depth look at 30 bar stools in particular.

30 Bar Stools

  Why So Popular -

The 30 bar stools have become very popular for a number of good reasons. In fact, it has pretty much become the standard in the industry. You can find a range of bar stool heights available online from 24 inch bar stools to extra tall 36 inch bar stools; you can even find adjustable bar stools as well but you really need to start with a 30 inch bar stool.

Why is the 30 bar stool so popular? There are really a couple of reasons that people give for its popularity. First, it is a great height for most people in terms of providing a comfortable ergonomic fit for the average human body. Of course, if your only 5 foot tall or if your six foot six inches the 24 bar stool or 36 bar stool may be a better fit.

But if you’re an "average" height person, then a 30 inch seat height will allow you to sit in a very comfortable position. You have probably notice that most bar stools have foot rails of support beam halfway between the seat and the floor. This allows the user a place to put their feet and take the pressure off of the back of your legs and your derriere. The combination of the correct height bar stool and a place to place you feet to shift the pressure points allow you to sit without lower back pain for longer periods of time.

The other reason the 30 bar stool is so popular has to do with the design of the kitchen in most homes. The manufacturers of kitchen islands and counter tops have created a standard height of between 40-44 inches for these counters. A 30 inch bar stool works great with this height counter because it allows you for enough leg room under the counter overhangs. When you sitting a sitting at this height the counter top is at a convenient height if you trying to eating dinner or having an afternoon drink.

If you have decided that a 30 bar stool is the height you need there are a few other options that you should consider before you begin shopping. You may want to think about whether you want a backless bar stool or one that provides back support.

If you’re primarily concerned with achieving a particular look, and have your mind set on a backless model there are a variety of options available online from upholstered bar stools to swivel bar stools. If you don’t plan on spending long periods of time sitting on you bar stools, then a backless option may be a good choice, they do tend to be lighter and easier to move around.

But if you want to be able to sit comfortably for a long time then you really need to consider a bar stool with a back. The proper back design and bar stool height are two of the keys to seating comfort.

30 Bar Stools

   Popular Designs -

You can find a variety of looks and options from a sleek looking chrome bar stools with clear acrylic seats that will add a contemporary look to your bar. You can find 30 bar stools with seats that rotate 360 degrees with adjustable footstools. Need a bar stool that can be adjusted – you can find stools with adjustable hydraulic lifts that position the height from a minimum of 21" to a maximum height of 31", making it adaptable to any requirement.

Need something a little simpler – you can find classic but contemporary looking bar stools with a back rest to provide added support to keep your comfortable with a leatherette seat and chrome frame.

You can also find 30 bar stools that are both contemporary and cool, with sleek design features from top to bottom. Tall backrests and armrests make fore for added comfort. On a more limited budget consider a brown or black leatherette or if you looking for something a little more exotic you can find ostrich texture coverings.

For more information on 30 bar stools and other heights follow the links to:

• 30 Inch Bar Stools 
• 36 Bar Stools 
• 36 Inch Bar Stools 
• 24 Bar Stools 
• 24 Inch Bar Stools 

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