I’m back with my Splurge vs. Save feature, which is meant to help both my fellow interior design professionals and the home builders, condo developers and home owners who hire us. We all benefit from knowing where to save and where to splurge on an interior design project– when you allocate your budget smartly, you make the biggest impact where it matters most.

Today I’m covering a home essential that has been growing steadily in popularity over the years along with the rise of the kitchen island, which is now ubiquitous: bar stools! Keep reading for my quick take on the bar stool.

SAVE on This Island Essential: Bar Stools

Did you know that in home improvement projects across the U.S. (and Canada too, I presume!), two thirds of kitchen projects include an island? One third of homeowners added a new island during renovations, while almost a quarter upgraded an existing island. (Source)

The kitchen has always been the heart of the home, but recent interior design trends have really taken this to the next level. Islands are getting bigger, are becoming more central, and are making greater statements.

Home designs and floor plans have shifted toward more open-concept spaces and larger kitchens, and this has also contributed to the kitchen island taking centre stage. At this point, an island is pretty much an essential. They’re shining with contrasting colours and countertop materials, luxurious materials, bold designs, built-in storage features, and built-in appliances, including microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, cooktops and beverage refrigerators.

And they’re multipurpose, too – kitchen islands are used for eating, entertaining and socializing. Kids may do their homework there while dad reads the news.

That brings us to today’s topic: bar stools.

You can’t have a kitchen island without some great bar stools to go with it.

After dropping a lot of coin on a beautiful island, you’ll be happy to hear that bar stools don’t need to break the bank to be beautiful, functional and stylish. While you want good-quality furniture so that it will be comfortable and withhold daily wear and tear, these days you can find very affordable bar stools at a number of places. I love the options from Structube, for example! Crate & Barrel, CB2 and Wayfair also have a wide selection of great options. 

Kitchen island bar stools are generally counter height stools and they come in a ton of options so you can find ones that suit the style of the kitchen. Options include stainless steel, metal, wood, wicker, rattan, backless, adjustable height, iron, and both traditional or modern styles. A popular choice are swivel stools in wood or leather. It all depends on the look you’re going for, of course.