New Contract Furniture

Bar stools are familiar to us all, whether we’ve frequented pubs or been to the hair salon. They’re even being used as outdoor bistro furniture by trendy restaurants with wine bars and patio seating. But not all bar stools are created equal. Here, we’ll look at seven tips that will help you choose the best bar stool for your business.

1. Figure out what the bar stool will be used for. Of course it will be sat on, but by whom? Are you designing a home interior, or furnishing a high-traffic business? Are the people sitting on the stool likely to provide more wear and tear than normal? How many sittings do you envision per day for this particular bar stool?

2. After you’ve answered the first question, decide whether you want a residential or commercial grade bar stool. The residentials are typically more artistic in design, but the commercials will stand up to more use.

3. Do you prefer wood or metal? Wood brings a warm, homey feeling to any surrounding, but you’ll want a varnished, high-quality wood – especially for commercial use. Metal bar stools should have as few seams as possible. Attachments should be secured with strong bolts. You will want to choose heavier, steel stools over lighter, lower-quality ones.

4. Get the right height by measuring the table that your bar stool will be used with. Allow 10 to 12 inches of space between the bottom edge of your table and the top of the bar stool.

5. While unfinished furniture is attractive in the right setting, you’ll want a good lacquer on wooden furniture that’s going to see a lot of use. Metal stools can also have a UV coating that will protect them from moisture and abuse.

6. Choose the right upholstery, if any. Rich fabrics like chenille are right at home on residential stools, but commercial stools will require something sturdier and easier to care for, like vinyl.

7. Finally, be aware that these are just guidelines. The best bar stool for your business is the one that will provide maximum value to yourself, and maximum enjoyment to your clients.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 18th, 2007 at 7:35 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.