Counter stools are commonly used in kitchens, bars, islands, and other spaces where people need to sit at counter height work surfaces. Typical counter stool heights range from 24 to 30 inches. This places the average person's thighs parallel to the floor, with feet resting on a foot bar rather than the floor.
Counter stools come in two main styles - with and without backrests. Backless stools have a simple, clean-lined look that fits seamlessly into contemporary kitchens. However, stools with backrests offer considerable ergonomic and comfort advantages that make them the better option for long-term satisfaction.
One of the biggest benefits of a backrest on a counter stool is better posture. Without a backrest, it's easy to slouch and hunch over the counter as you eat, work, or socialize. This strains the back and neck muscles over time as you crane forward.
A supportive backrest on a counter stool encourages an upright, aligned posture by providing a tactile reminder to sit up straight. Sitting tall with the spine properly aligned reduces pressure and discomfort in the back and neck. The backrest also provides a place to lean back against periodically to give the core and back muscles a break from constant tension. This improves circulation and reduces muscle fatigue.
In addition to encouraging better posture, counter stools with padded backrests are simply more comfortable than stools without backs. Leaning forward against a hard counter edge quickly becomes uncomfortable as it digs into your back. This can cause back cramping or even bruising over time.
And for taller individuals, the counter height may hit at an awkward spot for the lower back curve, providing zero lumbar support. A cushioned backrest solves these issues, providing a comfortable surface to lean against without any hard pressure points. Look for stools with contoured lumbar support to perfectly fill the lower back arch and reduce pressure.
The improved posture and back support from a quality counter stool with a backrest provide considerable orthopedic and back health benefits. Keeping the spine properly aligned when sitting reduces gravitational pressure on the vertebrae, disks, and ligaments.
This helps prevent common problems like herniated disks from excessive flexion and pinched nerves from poor posture. A supportive backrest with lumbar contouring also prevents rounding or hunching of the shoulders, which can lead to back and neck pain over years of misuse. By providing both a tactile posture reminder and a comfortable resting place, a good backrest naturally protects your back health.
In addition to comfort and orthopedic advantages, counter stools with supportive backs also increase stability versus backless designs. The vertical backrest functions as an added contact point with the floor, keeping you planted firmly on the seat. Perched precariously on a backless stool, it's easier to accidentally tip backwards off the seat even with a foot rail.
This risk increases as you naturally lean and shift your weight over the course of a meal or while interacting with others across the counter. A quality backrest provides peace of mind by reducing the risk of an embarrassing and dangerous backwards spill. This added stability is especially helpful for children, seniors, or those with mobility challenges.
Backless stools project a sleek, minimalist style, which doesn't mean stools with backs are boring or old-fashioned. Today's counter stool designs integrate backrests into eye-catching contemporary silhouettes. From curved wood backs to unique mesh patterns, backrests allow designers more creative license while still providing critical lumbar support.
Cutting-edge clear acrylic stools even incorporate transparency into the backrest for a futuristic vibe. Contemporary upholstery options like faux leather and innovative fabrics also lend stools with backrests modern appeal. The additional real estate provided by a backrest allows for bolder shapes and materials versus a simple backless stool.
The modern shape of the Eli counter stool in leather reveals a sense of luxury. (Credit @cavieinteriors)
Counter stools with backrests also provide more versatility and functionality than backless versions. Backrests allow you to comfortably lean back and relax when needed without fear of tipping over. Look for stools with a fulcrum swivel to easily engage with friends or surfaces on all sides.
Some high-end backed stools even incorporate useful features like armrests, height adjustability, and recline functions. While backless stools lock you into one static sitting position, quality backrests encourage dynamic posture changes. This improves circulation and comfort when sitting for extended periods.
When shopping for new counter stools, don't overlook the important ergonomic and comfort benefits of choosing designs with supportive backrests. While backless stools have their aesthetic appeal in contemporary kitchens, stools with backrests allow for superior posture, increased comfort, improved back health, added stability, versatile style options, and enhanced functionality.
Given the minimal price difference, a quality counter stool with an ergonomic backrest is the better long-term investment in comfort, health, and satisfaction. Make the supported, comfortable choice, and choose counter stools with backs for your next kitchen, bar, or entertaining space design project. Your back and body will thank you.
Counter stools are often the only furniture pieces that you have in your kitchen so making smart choices is key! Today I’m sharing four must-know things to look for when counter stool shopping PLUS I’ve gathered together all of my favorite counter stools that would make gorgeous additions to your kitchen. Let’s get to it… (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available {here})
When you’re shopping for counter stools, obviously you’re going to be looking for a style that you like and that works well with the design of your space. But there are a few other important things to think about too…
You would think that the seat height for counter stools would be uniform, right?! Nope! It typically varies between 24-26″. While you might be equally comfortable with a 24″ or 26″ seat height, for some people that two inches makes a difference. For example, if you have young kids who are going to be using your stools a lot, a seat height closer to 26″ might work best for you. And if you’re like me and use your kitchen island as your office from time to time, you might also prefer the higher seat height which is more comfortable for working on a laptop. On the other hand, if you’ve got a family full of 6-footers, the shorter seat height might be a more comfortable fit.
Counter stools come in a wide variety of widths (the stools on my list of favorites range from 17.5″ to 24″ wide). Paying attention to this measurement is super important because you don’t want your counter stools jammed together at your island, making it difficult to get in and out of them. Ideally you should have at least 8-10″ of space between your counter stools (definitely don’t space them any less than 6″ apart) plus a few inches on each end. You might have ample room to get whatever width you want or your space might be more like mine where wider stools would have been a poor choice.
This is the spacing that we have on our kitchen island that has three 18″ wide counter stools – with 9″ between the stools about 5-6″ on the ends, the spacing is just right. If I had bought stools much wider than this, it would have been too crowded:
For most kitchen islands, counter stools with backs are the way to go because they are simply more comfortable to sit in for longer periods. However, in some kitchens (especially smaller ones), counter stools with backs take up needed space to navigate around the kitchen, even when they’re pushed in when not in use. In this case, you might want to consider backless stools that can be pushed completely under the counter.
If you have young kids, consider stools that are easy to wipe clean and stay away from the ones with upholstered seats. Wood counter stools such as #3 and #12 are great options, and leather seats such as in stool #11 can work well too. Our counter stools (#1) are kid friendly also – the seat and chair back are a plastic weave that easily wipes clean:
The only kid situation where I can think of my stools not being the best fit is if you are constantly spilling liquidy foods on them like yogurt that could take more work to clean out of the weave.
Now on to my favorite counter stools, including a review of the stools we have in our kitchen…
Sources: 1. Riviera Counter Stool | 2. Antiqued White Counter Stool | 3. Spindle Back Counter Stool (similar) | 4. Avalon Swivel Counter Stool | 5. Wishbone Counter Stool | 6. Pine Isle Counter Stool (in Sea Glass) | 7. Lindsey Rattan Counter Stool | 8. Carson Counter Stool | 9. Loom Counter Stool | 10. Bistro Style Counter Stool | 11. Brushed Gold Backless Chi Counter Stool | 12. Cline Counter Stool
Counter stool #1 on my list of favorites is the Riviera Counter Stool in Fog found {here} that I had in my own kitchen in CT. I LOVE these stools:
Kitchen Sources: Lantern pendants over island in gild size small (12.5″) | Kohler Parq bridge faucet in vibrant stainless | Blanco Cerana II farmhouse sink | Hardware: Blackrock Golden Champagne pulls | Highland Park golden champagne cup pulls | See {this post} for all other sources
It’s been a few years since we remodeled our kitchen (you can check out our kitchen remodel before and after if you missed it) and I couldn’t be happier with my choice of stools. While the frame of the stools is rattan, as I mentioned earlier the weave of the seat and chair backs is plastic so they easily wipe clean and look as new as the day I got them! They’re surprisingly comfortable too, even after hours of sitting on them while working on my laptop at our kitchen island. And of course I love the way they look – they’re gorgeous from all angles, including the back:
I have the Fog (gray)/White color they’re also available in Navy/White, Black/White, Solid White, & Solid Black. This same chair also now comes in a swivel option {here} that adds about $150/chair to the price.
This style of Riviera stool also comes in a Sunwashed version {here} that I don’t recommend. I actually bought the Sunwashed Riviera stools for our home in NC but the woven seat had a lot of small splinters that were uncomfortable and would catch on clothes so I ended up returning them. I exchanged them for a pair of counter stools I share more about a little later in this post.
Counter stool #2 is the Marion counter stool found {here}. It would be a great fit for a traditional style kitchen – the Antique White finish works well with non-white paint colors as well as traditional oak. I love the design of the stool legs – so pretty!:
Counter stool #3 found is my favorite budget-friendly stool that’s sold in pairs. It has a classic spindle back design that you can’t go wrong with and comes in multiple color options including Gray, Natural, and White:
Update! These exact stools are no longer available but {these spindle back stools} are a close match!
{These Becket X Back Counter Stools} are another reasonably priced option to check out – they also have a spindled back but in an X-shaped pattern.
Counter stool #4 is the Avalon swivel counter stool found {here} – it’s available in both Natural and Vintage Indigo and is truly a stunner! They’re an especially good choice if you see the backs of your counter stools as you walk into the kitchen because they’re gorgeous from all sides:
Counter stool #5 is {this classic wishbone counter stool} that comes in multiple finish options – I love the two natural options that would work well with almost any kitchen style and color:
Counter stool #6 found {here} is the most customizable of the bunch – it comes in 30 (!) different rattan frame color options and over 40 different upholstery options for the seat so the options for mixing and matching are pretty endless. I think the Sea Glass color option is a stunner – this photo is of their bar height stool but you can get it in counter height too:
Counter stool #7 found {here} is another rattan option with a similar design to stool #4 but without the swivel so it’s a lower price point – it comes in both white and natural:
FYI, even though they don’t look it, these stools are on the wider side so just make sure you have ample space for them.
I chose counter stool #8 (the Carson stool found {here}) for the kitchen in our house in NC after returning the Sunwashed Riviera stools. These babies aren’t cheap but they’re sure beautiful and I figured I’d take the plunge since I only needed two. Mine are the White option but they come in Ebony and Natural too:
One word of warning with these stools – I love them and am really happy with my choice but due to the material of the woven seat I wouldn’t recommend them if you have kids and expect to have a lot of spills.
Counter stool #9 (the Loom counter stool found {here}) is a pricey sucker but I couldn’t leave it off my list of favorites because if you have a higher budget, it’s one that I absolutely love the look of:
It has one of the widest seats of the bunch so be sure you have enough space for them if your kitchen island seating area is a tight squeeze. If you love the look of a woven back counter stool but want a more budget-friendly option with a narrower width, check out {this wicker Loren counter stool}.
Counter stool #10 (found {here}) has a similar look to my Riviera counter stools but in a backless option:
It comes in both bar and counter height options and several color choices as well.
Counter stool #11 (found {here}) that has a brushed gold frame is a more glam backless option that would be perfect for a more modern kitchen:
Counter stool #12 (the Cline counter stool found {here}) has a simple, curved back and comes in Seadrift, Charcoal, and White finishes for under $200:
Also check out {these ladder back counter stools} that have a similar look but are sold in pairs at about half the price.
I’m also tacking on one last counter stool option to my list – it’s {these Dayna stools} that my mom has in her kitchen. She has them in the Rubbed Cream but they come in six other color options too including this beautiful Warm Gray:
I’m crazy about the Chippendale design of the chair backs!
So do you have a favorite? For those of you who aren’t used to buying furniture online, check out my post about how to buy furniture with my ten best online shopping tips!
I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend, especially those of you with an extra day off for the holiday weekend 🙂 If you haven’t stopped by my Shop page lately {HERE}, be sure to take a peek since I’ve added a ton of new finds including several that are on sale!
Are you interested in learning more about Receiption, Mdf Dining Table Wholesale Usa, Chair Factory China? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!