Choosing seating for your patio isn’t as easy it used to be, because outdoor bar stools now come in all shapes, styles and sizes. The best way to narrow down your choices is to ask yourself what you plan to use the furniture for. Are you going to set up a bar for your friends and family? Enjoy the occasional meal on the patio?
Next you should take a look at the location where you plan to use your outdoor seating. If you’re thinking about using a table similar to your kitchen table you would be best served by chairs. If you want to put seating around a bar or similar outdoor entertaining area bar stools or tall chairs would better fit the bill.
There are many outdoor patio bar stools that look like actual bar stools. These stools can be perfect for informal entertaining on the patio.
Once you’ve decided what you want to use the stools for you’ll have to decide on the kind of stool. Generally, heavy wood, heavy plastic and aluminum stools are stronger and stand up to more wear and tear. These stools may also stand up to the elements better than some stools.
Stools with cushioned seats can be more comfortable but they are more vulnerable to the elements. The sun will cause leather and other seat cushion materials to wear out while the rain can cause such chairs to rot. This means such stools will either have to sit under a cover like an awning or be covered when in not in use.
Another consideration you’ll have to take into account is storage. In many climates, especially those that get a lot of snow, you’ll have to store the bar stools all winter. This means you’ll have to choose seating that fits into your storage area.
The best choice in outdoor bar stools will usually be the most durable chair that fits in with your patio style. Another good suggestion is to get the variety of stools that requires the least maintenance.
