How The 24" Bar Stool Evolved

By Adam Pink

I believe that 24 inch bar stools are less than 10 years of age. I suppose these stools may have existed before, but they certainly were not prevalent. Historically most bar stools were of a standard height. The height was set based on fitting with old English style pub bars. I first started buying bar stools for different business ventures in the late eighties. These stools were all standardized. They were all of the same height, and for the most part made in a handful of designs. Now all different types of bar stools are manufactured and commercially available.

For the most part there are now two standard bar stool height: there are 24 inch bar stools and 30 inch bar stools. The higher 30" bar stools are found in commercial venues such as pubs, night clubs and restaurants. Both the 24 inch and 30 inch bar stools models are commonly found in residential settings. With hundreds of different models to choose from you can make your bar area as unique as you want.

During the 60s and 70s, the use of bars in private homes was generally limited to basement family rooms or possibly outside on the pool deck. The stools found around the pool tended to be made out chrome or resin. For obvious reasons, the stools needed to be water resistant. Bar stools found in the basement recreation rooms tended to be wooden with a swivel seat and a chair back. These stools were stained a dark natural walnut or oak color. All of these older style bar stools were primarily designed for use by fully grown adults.

In the mid-90s kitchen renovations were really becoming popular. Kitchen renovation shows were popping up on TV. New glossy kitchen renovation magazines were being launched. It was beginning to dawn on people that the kitchen was an integral and very important part of the family home. Today kitchens are still about function but they are also about style and lifestyle. Today, it is all about granite counters, stainless appliances, cappuccino makers, marble back splashes, and breakfast bars and breakfast bar stools. Breakfast bar stools are generally 24 inch bar stools.

The idea of the purpose of a kitchen changed radically. A kitchen wasn't just about making food or doing the dishes. A kitchen became a place to enjoy family time. This concept came to fruition just as we all realized a bigger kitchen with more counter space was needed if the food preparation and clean up was to be shared with other activities. The breakfast bar became the ideal place to read the paper or do homework.

There are two reasons the 24" bar stool was created. Number one the standard height bar stools seemed to overpower the kitchen and draw attention from other areas. The 24" bar stool was different enough from a chair to be unique, but blended into the kitchen. The second reason was safety. Children were to use these stools and the standard height stools were simply too high. The shorter 24" bar stool became an invention of necessity. - 33383

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