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Bar stools aren’t just a practical seating choice. The style you choose helps shape and define the overall look and feel of your dining space. Picking the right set of stools can elevate your kitchen island to new levels of comfort and support. But with so many fabrics, designs, shapes, colours and finishes to choose from, where do you begin?
To keep things simple, we’ve brought together six bar stool ideas to help transform your kitchen island or breakfast bar. There’s some cross-over within them so try to narrow down the most important features, from keeping things neat and tidy, to an undeniable statement at the centre of your space:
-Backless bar stools
-Fixed height bar stools
-Gas lift bar stools
-Mixed Material bar stools
-Bar stools with arms
-Swivel bar stools
Bar Stool Ideas for your Kitchen
1. Backless bar stools
Simple and streamlined, backless bar stools are an airy, open choice for kitchen islands. Their unobtrusive design is, unsurprisingly, without a backrest, making them ideal for smaller kitchens or open-plan layouts where maximising space is especially important. Designs like our Clover or Kian styles tuck away easily, creating clear walkways and a neater, less cluttered space.
Despite their minimal profile, backless kitchen bar stools don’t compromise on comfort. Upholstered seats are padded, making them ideal for everyday use, and their simple, versatile design pairs effortlessly with whatever worktops, cabinetry or lighting you have in your space.
2. Fixed height bar stools
With no adjustable mechanisms, fixed height bar stools are a solid, considered seating choice. They have naturally refined silhouettes, like our Dakota style, as no levers or springs are used in their design.
Crafted to match standard counter or bar heights, fixed stools create a cohesive, tailored look when lined up along a kitchen island. Just make sure they fit your countertop height, as they are fixed at one specific height. A ‘counter height’ stool is usually between 58cm to 71cm from the floor to the seat. This sizing means it should be used with a surface between 88cm and 93cm high. There are also ‘bar height’ stools which stand slightly taller between 73cm – 81cm from the floor to the seat, so make sure your kitchen island is between 104cm -109cm high if you consider one of these.
An often overlooked variation on the static style is the cantilever bar stool. Designs like our Form Collection support you with a subtle bounce when seated, creating comfortable movement without the full adjustment of a gas lift. Cantilever stools are especially appealing in kitchens where symmetry and visual order are a key part of the design language.
3. Gas lift bar stools
Gas lift bar stools are designed for adaptability. With adjustable seat heights, each sitter can find their ideal position. This flexibility functionality works especially well for kitchens that serve multiple purposes. A gas lift stool can be lowered for relaxed dining or raised for working at a higher counter, providing comfort to any meal or task. For those who entertain often, this adaptability ensures guests can adjust their seating easily.
Turning to their design, gas lift stools often have a sleek single stem base and footrest, like our calming Bronwyn bar stool. But gas lift stools are only as good as their movement. Look out for specially-engineered mechanisms that will create smooth adjustments for years to come. Cheap choices here will break, stick and squeak – a less than ideal experience as you try to enjoy a meal!
4. Mixed material bar stools
Combining different design elements, mixed material bar stools can add plenty of depth and interest to your kitchen island. Cushioned upholstery, like rich velvets and buttery faux leathers, offer comfort and warmth, while structured materials like brushed metals and natural woods provide definition and durability – coming together to create an undeniable statement.
These modern bar stools are exceptionally versatile, helping tie spaces together by echoing other design choices around your kitchen. They’re especially effective in neutral kitchens where balancing colour and texture with a considered eye is key. Take the tranquil tones of our Scarlett design, a soft cosy natural grey chenille and creamy tactile boucle, that echoes the billowy white of Pantone’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Cloud Dancer. On its own, the cream and natural grey finish is a relaxed, understated choice – but its antique-effect brushed bronze frame provides an extra touch of luxury and depth.
5. Bar stools with arms
Offering added support as you eat or rest, bar stools with arms transform kitchen seating into something closer to a lounge experience. The added armrests give extra support to those who need it as they get on and off their stool, and encourage longer, more relaxed periods of sitting.
These comfortable bar stools are a natural choice for kitchen islands that double as social hubs or workspaces, where you, your family and your guests will naturally spend long periods of time. Visually, bar stools with arms have a strong design presence, with a naturally curvaceous shape like our Heath and Julep styles. They add structure and definition, making them ideal for larger kitchens where they won’t overcrowd your kitchen island.
6. Swivel bar stools
Swivel bar stools do exactly what their name describes, They can rotate for better conversation, and allow easy access without the worry of dragging stools in and out whenever you need to sit. This makes them particularly perfect for open-plan kitchens, where simplifying the flow of a space is essential.
Although most often paired with a gas lift for added movement, like our Wren design, they can also be found with fixed legs, as on our Marlow bar stool in faux leather or chenille, for a slightly more laid back look.
From the clean lines of backless bar stools to the versatility of a gas lift bar stool, the right style really can transform how you use and experience your kitchen island. By considering how you use your space day to day, you can balance comfort, practicality and design to suit you. The result is seating that completes your kitchen, and complements the way you live in it.
