Today, it’s hard to imagine any kitchen without a kitchen counter as its centrepiece. A kitchen counter, or also called island, is a very useful element to have – it offers you ample surface to test your cooking skills and storage space for your kitchen tools. But besides all that, an island can transform your kitchen from a functional room to a place where friends and family can mingle. But in order to unleash the full potential a kitchen island can have, it’s important to enhance it with the right seating.

With the help of well-chosen seating, your counter can turn into an alternative dining place which you can use for casual meals or for enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or a drink in the evening. When it comes to kitchen counter seating, usually the choice comes down to two options – bar stools or standard dining chairs. While there are obvious similarities between the two, their contrasts ultimately define which option you’ll find more suitable.

Height is one such obvious contrast. Since they are meant to be used with a table, the majority of dining chairs are usually as high as 43-48 cm. On the other hand, the average counter is usually taller than a table in order for you to effortlessly use them as a worktop. With that being said, if you own a standard kitchen counter, you might want to consider getting modern counter height bar stools to match it. In other words, before you make a pick, make sure to properly measure your counter’s height.

Functionality is another deciding factor. Think about who is going to be using the counter. For instance, if you want your kids to be able to join you on the counter, they might find it difficult to get in and out of bar stools. However, height-adjustable bar stools conveniently solve this problem. You can simply lower the stool when your kid wants to sit or get up from it. This feature is very useful as it allows the same stools to accommodate people of different heights. On the other hand, there are no height-adjustable dining chairs convenient for different users.

And finally, you shouldn’t forget about comfort as well. With that being said, there’s nothing more comfortable than being able to fall back into an armchair, am I right? Well, obviously upholstered dining chairs are designed for comfort, however, one shouldn’t overlook bar stools either. With their upholstered seats and backrests, armrests, footrests and swivel mechanism, modern counter height bar stools have come a long way in terms of comfort compared to the traditional Bentwood bar stools.