Love hanging out at the bar counter in your house or around your kitchen counter? You’re going to need the perfect seating solution. A bar or counter stool that not just offers unparalleled comfort but also goes well with the counter or bar.
In this Home Tips guide, we’ll be looking at the most important things to consider when trying to decide on the perfect bar or counter seating solution in the Mercana Marketplace!
The Height
It is important to measure the height of your counter before you pick your choice of seating. Typically, stools come in three sizes based on height – counter height stools, bar stools and tall bar stools.
Counter stools are 24-29 inches tall and are a great choice for counters that measure between 34-39 inches in height. Bar stools are typically 30-36 inches tall and are meant for bar or kitchen counters that are 40-46 inches tall. If your counter or bar is taller than 48 inches, you will need a tall bar stool.
Accurate measurement of height is essential in this process. A stool too short will compel you to stretch whereas a stool too tall will result in you slouching – both of which are uncomfortable!
Choosing a stool of the right height
Seat Style
Comfort is key when choosing the perfect seating for your counter. Whether you’re trying to get some work done or just sipping on a glass of wine, the stool you choose, should have a comfortable seat of your liking. Prolonged seating at the bar is common practice and only the most comfortable seats will allow for a relaxing time.
When looking at different seat styles, we’re differentiating between them based on the shape, contour style and padding.
Check out the visual below to check out some of your different options for seats at Mercana!
Types of Seating Styles
Back or Back less
Just like the seat, the seat back is an important decision to make for anyone looking to buy a bar or counter stool.
Some people prefer the ‘open’ feel of a backless stool while others think the back adds comfort to the stool. Often, bar and counter stools also sport a low-back design. This is the perfect point of settlement between having a seat-back and not having one. With a leather seat, and an antiqued gold metal frame, the Hollyfield II is a popular low back bar stool on the Mercana Marketplace.
Stationary or Swivel
While some people prefer to be seated on a stationary stool, others prefer a rotating, swivel style bar stool. Swivel style stools are easier to get on and off of while stationary stools are, for obvious reasons, more stable.
If you’re trying to chat up with friends on the bar counter, you’d probably want to choose a swivel stool so you can turn freely on either side!
Visuals
A beautiful looking bar or kitchen counter area is something we all deserve, and the visual appeal factor should not be ignored while shopping for stools.
Keeping in mind the color of your kitchen counter or bar area will help you choose the perfect seating in terms of visuals. Bar stools can be found in a metallic, wooden, acrylic, leather and other finishes. Each material has its own impact on visuals and functionality.
Choosing stools that fit the design style your home was based on is a great way to ensure your bar and seating goes well with the surroundings. Our Archer collection of bar stools (Archer, Archer II) fit perfectly with a Farmhouse Design Style, while our circular Oxford bar stools (Oxford I, Oxford II), with metal legs and rich leather cushions, will be the center of attention in an Industrial styled space.
These were five things we thought you should consider when trying to buy the perfect seating for your bar. If you have any more tips for our readers, let us know in the comments below.
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To explore your options for bar seating, check out our vast collection of bar and counter stools on the Mercana Marketplace.
The short answer
Neither shape is better on its own; the right one depends on your seating layout, your traffic flow and how you use the room. A round coffee table suits compact rooms, sectionals and busy households, while a rectangular coffee table suits a long sofa and rooms that need extra surface.
Shape is one of the first decisions our design team makes when a coffee table moves from sketch to sample, because it sets how a seating group feels and functions. Below is how we think it through, and how designers and stagers can apply it to a real floor plan.
When a rectangular coffee table works best
Choose rectangular when a long sofa anchors the room or when the table has to work hard.
- A standard three-seat sofa. A rectangle echoes the sofa's length, so every seat can reach the surface.
- Long, narrow living rooms. The shape follows the room's proportions instead of fighting them.
- Function first. More usable surface for trays, books, games and serving, plus room for shelves or storage below.
- Formal or symmetrical plans. A rectangle reads as structured and balanced, ideal for facing sofas.
The Tabor Coffee Table wraps recycled pine in a black oak veneer waterfall frame for a clean, architectural rectangle. For collectors, the Arelius Rectangular Display Coffee Table pairs a glass-topped shadowbox with a black metal base, turning the centre of the room into a place to show treasured objects.
Oval and square: the in-between shapes
If you want the reach of a rectangle with the ease of a circle, choose oval; if your seating forms a square, choose square.
Oval gives a long sofa full coverage while removing the corners, which makes it a strong choice for families and tight walkways. The Shima Oval Coffee Table measures 48 by 28 inches in solid mango wood and arrives fully assembled. The Terra Oval Coffee Table adds a fluted base that conceals a lift top and storage.
Square suits a deep sectional or four chairs arranged around a central table. At 48 inches square with a 3-inch reclaimed wood top, the McArthur Coffee Table anchors large seating groups. The Lucas Coffee Table scales white marble down to 30 inches square for condos and paired-chair corners.
Sizing and clearance guidelines
Whatever the shape, scale matters more than style: a well-sized table makes a seating group feel intentional.
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Guideline
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Rule of thumb
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Length (rectangular or oval)
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About two-thirds the length of the sofa
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Diameter (round)
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About half to two-thirds of the sofa length; larger for a sectional's corner
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Distance from seating
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14 to 18 inches, close enough to reach a cup
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Height
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Level with the seat cushion or 1 to 2 inches lower
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Walkways around the table
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30 to 36 inches where people pass
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When a room is between sizes, a round or oval table usually gives back more circulation space than a rectangle of the same surface area.
Pairing shape and material with your sofa
Contrast is the simplest rule: pair a heavy, square-armed sofa with a softer shape, and a curved sofa with cleaner lines.
With a dark brown or leather sofa, avoid matching the tone exactly. White marble, light wood or a metal base adds the contrast that keeps a dark sofa from feeling heavy. The Rumer and Lucas coffee tables both bring white marble into that palette.
Is marble still in style? Yes. Natural stone continues to anchor both modern and transitional rooms, and veining means no two tops are alike. Look for surface-tested finishes if the table will see daily cups and glasses.
With a light or curved sofa, a darker table in wood or blackened metal grounds the room, and an oval or rectangle adds structure.
Explore the collection
Browse Mercana coffee tables in round, oval, square and rectangular shapes, across Modern, Mid-Century Modern, Transitional, Industrial and Farmhouse styles. Each piece is designed in-house and specified with full dimensions, materials and clearance details.
For interior designers, stagers and retailers: register for a trade account to view wholesale pricing and availability. Shopping for your own home? Find a Mercana retailer near you.
