Wicker Bar Stools and Natural Wood Counter Seating

Handwoven rattan stools and solid wood bar chairs for kitchen islands, breakfast bars and counters.

10 pieces in stockFree worldwide shippingHandmade, no two identical

Bar stools get sat on every day, so the two things that matter are seat height and whether there is a back. Everything else is style. This page covers both the woven rattan stools and the solid wood Nordic chairs, because most kitchens end up wanting one or the other rather than shopping for both separately.

Below the range there is a straight answer on measuring for counter height versus bar height, which is where most orders go wrong, plus notes on backs, footrests and how rattan holds up to daily use.

Seat height is listed on every product
Counter height and bar height are 10 to 15 cm apart and are not interchangeable. The exact seat height is on each product page.
Backs where it matters
Several models have a full back or a rope backrest. If the stool is where anyone eats a meal rather than perches, choose one of those.
Real rattan and solid wood
The woven seats are natural rattan over a frame, not moulded plastic weave. The wood chairs are solid, not veneered board.

Bar stools and counter chairs

Woven rattan and solid wood. Each product page lists the seat height, which is the measurement to check before anything else.

Wicker counter height stools or bar height stools

Measure from the floor to the underside of the counter, then subtract 25 to 30 cm. That gap is what your legs need. The answer you get is the seat height to order.

In practice most kitchen islands are 90 to 95 cm high and take a seat height around 63 to 68 cm, which is counter height. A raised breakfast bar is usually 105 to 110 cm and takes a seat height around 75 to 80 cm, which is bar height. Standard dining tables are 75 cm and take a normal chair, not a stool.

The common mistake is ordering by the name rather than the number. Manufacturers do not agree on where counter height ends and bar height begins, so ignore the label and check the seat height figure on the product page against your own measurement.

When you need a wicker bar stool with a back

A backless stool is fine where people perch for ten minutes with a coffee, and it has the advantage of tucking fully under the counter so it disappears when not in use. If the island is where the family eats, get backs. Sitting upright with nothing behind you stops being comfortable after about twenty minutes.

A footrest is not optional at these heights. Without one, your legs hang and the edge of the seat cuts into the back of your thighs. Every stool in this range has either a ring or a bar. Check its height too if anyone short will be using them.

If the stools will be tucked away between uses, measure the gap between the floor and the counter overhang, not just the counter height, or a stool with a back will not fit under.

Rattan or natural wood bar stools for daily use

Woven rattan seats are lighter to move, softer to sit on without a cushion, and warmer to the touch than wood. The trade-off is that a woven seat traps crumbs and takes longer to clean properly, and a sharp edge or a dropped pan can catch a strand.

Solid wood seats wipe clean in one pass and take a knock without marking easily. They are heavier to move and harder on the sit unless the seat is shaped. For a kitchen with young children, wood is usually the easier daily choice.

Both hold up well to normal use. Neither belongs on an uncovered patio, where rattan loosens in damp air and untreated wood greys and lifts.

Keeping a rattan bar chair looking right

Dust the weave with a soft brush rather than a cloth, which snags. For anything sticky, use a barely damp cloth and dry it straight away. Rattan does not like sitting wet.

Keep them out of direct sustained sunlight. Natural rattan pales and gets brittle over a few summers in a south-facing window, which is the single most common way these get worn out.

If a strand does lift, push it back and secure it with a spot of wood glue before it catches on clothing and pulls further. Caught early it is invisible. Left alone it unravels.

Questions people ask

What height bar stool do I need for my kitchen island?

Measure from the floor to the underside of the counter and subtract 25 to 30 cm. Most kitchen islands are 90 to 95 cm high and need a seat height of about 63 to 68 cm. A raised breakfast bar at 105 to 110 cm needs a seat height of about 75 to 80 cm. Order by the seat height number, not by the words counter or bar.

What is the difference between counter height and bar height stools?

Counter height stools have a seat around 60 to 68 cm from the floor and suit standard kitchen islands. Bar height stools have a seat around 75 to 80 cm and suit raised bars. The two are roughly 10 to 15 cm apart, which is enough to make the wrong one unusable, and manufacturers label them inconsistently.

Do I need a bar stool with a back?

If people only perch briefly, no, and a backless stool tucks fully under the counter. If the island is where meals get eaten, yes. Sitting upright with no back support gets uncomfortable after about twenty minutes. Check the gap under the counter overhang before ordering stools with backs, since they may not tuck away.

Are wicker bar stools durable enough for everyday use?

Yes, with normal care. The seats are natural rattan woven over a frame, which handles daily sitting well. Keep them out of sustained direct sun, which makes rattan pale and brittle, and dry any spills rather than leaving the weave damp. For a kitchen with young children, the solid wood models are easier to clean.

Can these stools be used outdoors?

No. Rattan loosens in damp air and untreated wood greys and lifts. Both are made for indoor use. A sheltered conservatory that stays dry is fine, but an uncovered patio or balcony is not.

How do I clean a rattan stool seat?

Brush the weave with a soft brush to lift dust and crumbs, since a cloth snags on the strands. For sticky marks use a barely damp cloth and dry it immediately. If a strand lifts, glue it back with a dot of wood glue before it catches and unravels further.

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