Benefits of Swivel Stools
Easier to Get Into
One of the biggest benefits of swivel stools is their ease of use. With a swivel stool, you can easily turn the seat to the left or right, making it much simpler to sit down. In contrast, with a stationary stool, you may need to move it back in order to sit comfortably.
Easier to Interact
When you’re sitting on a swivel stool, you can easily face the kitchen and converse with others while preparing food, or swivel around to watch TV or talk to someone in another room. This level of flexibility is not possible with stationary stools.
Swivel Types
| 360-Degree Swivel | Memory-Return Swivel |
| Allows you to fully rotate 360-degrees around while sitting on the seat. | Allows you to rotate 180-degrees, or left and right, while sitting on the seat. |
| When you get up from the stool, the back will remain in the position you left it. | When you get up from the stool, the back will spring to the center. |
| While sitting, the stool will remain in the position you leave it. | While sitting, the stool will feel like it wants to spring back to the center, causing you to hold the stool with your feet or hands. |
| In terms of comfort, this swivel is more comfortable. | In terms of comfort, the memory-return swivel is not as comfortable. |
Swivel Bar Stools with Arms
Benefits of Swivel Stools with Arms
Having arms on a bar stool can greatly enhance your sitting experience, particularly if you plan on sitting for extended periods of time.
Posture Alignment and Improved Comfort
Stools with arms give you a comfier place to sit. They help you sit up straight. Without arms, you might rest your arms on the counter and slouch. But with armrests, you sit better and keep your back straight.
Safer Option for Kids
Armed stools are also a safer option for kids, as they provide an extra level of protection against falling off the stool while swiveling.
Ease of Use
Additionally, arms can serve as a helpful aid when getting onto the stool, particularly if it’s taller than average.
Considerations for Bar Stools with Arms
It’s important to note, however, that arms can take up additional space. They may increase the width of the stool by 2-3 inches, which could limit the number of stools you can fit at your counter. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that the arms can slide easily under your counter to provide sufficient walking space behind the stool.
Additional Space Requirements
You’ll also want to make sure your arms slide under your counter to increase the walking space behind the stool.
Below, is an illustration for a standard 36-inch high counter.
- You will need a 26-inch counter stool for this.
- If you’re going to add arms, make sure the arms slide under the counter, so you’ll want to find a measurement under 36 inches.
- In this case, the Cardin stool fits perfectly at 34⅛ inches.
To ensure that you select the correct stool size, it is essential to check the dimension charts carefully. The key measurements to consider include width, depth, arm height, top of seat to floor, and total overall height.
Taking these measurements into account will help you find the swivel stool designs for your needs.
To make your search easier, we’ve compiled a list of 3 comfortable seating options with arms:
Swivel Bar Stools with Backs
Enhancing Comfort with a Backrest on Your Stool
Having a backrest can greatly enhance the comfort level of any stool. Not only do backs offer support, but they also make the stool more inviting to sit in.
Backrest Options: Short or Tall
Backs are available in both short and tall versions.
- If you prefer a clear view of your counter, a stool with a short back may be the better option.
- If you are looking for additional back support, a stool with a taller backrest would be more suitable.
Preventing Damage to Your Counter
While some people may avoid stools with backs for fear of damaging their counters, there are two ways to prevent this issue.
- One option is to select stools with upholstered backs, which will cushion any accidental impact with the counter.
- Alternatively, you can add felt strips to the edge of your counter or the back frame of the stool to prevent any damage.
- Place a clear stopper with a sticky back on the stool where it hits the counter. These are about the size of a dime and are made of clear plastic. You won’t see the stopper – it will blend in and protect your countertop and stool from damage. Clear plastic stoppers can be purchased at any hardware store.
- Purchase a length of clear plastic hose and cut off a one to two inch piece. Slit the piece up the center and snap it over the outer frame of the back of the stool where it meets the counter.
- Purchase transparent rubber stripping and glue it around the edge of your counter. This will protect the entire edge of your counter not only from stools, but from other bumps and dings. Transparent rubber stripping can be found at any hardware store.
Top 3 Stool Options with Backrests
To make your search for a stool with a backrest easier, here are three popular swivel stool designs:
Modern Swivel Bar Stools
In the heart of the modern kitchen, where multitasking is paramount and open-concept designs reign supreme, the swivel feature takes on heightened importance.
The swivel functionality in seating, like stools, caters perfectly to this contemporary shift.
With a simple turn, one can seamlessly rotate from the kitchen island, where perhaps a pasta sauce simmers, to face the living area for a quick chat or to keep an eye on a playing child.
It’s about fluidity and flexibility, allowing you to engage in multiple facets of your living space without restriction.
Top 3 Modern Swivel Bar Stools
Durability
Our swivel plates are constructed from hardened steel and are manufactured by Trendler, a world-renowned and trusted swivel manufacturer.
By using these premium swivel plates, our stools are guaranteed to have a long lifespan and maintain their functionality for years to come.
The Popularity of Swivel Stools
In essence, swivel bar stools are the modern answer to comfortable seating options, brilliantly blending aesthetics with practicality and reshaping the way we view and use stools in our homes.
Further Reading: Maximizing Your Bar Stool Experience
If you’re still on the fence about the benefits of bar stools in general, be sure to check out our in-depth analysis on why bar stools are better than chairs. The comparison might just sway your opinion.
And for those who already own a swivel bar stool and want to customize its movement, don’t miss our guide on how to stop the swivel spin. The insights provided might just enhance your seating experience.
Article updated on October 10, 2023
