Barstools and Wood
Chairs have been in use since antiquity although they were initially limited to the pharaohs, kings, emperors, and their cohorts. In time, though, they became an item of everyday use and they diversified into the seats, recliners, saddles, armchairs, rocking chairs, stools, and barstools. Throughout its history, a favorite material for its construction was wood, even during the time of the Egyptians, at least partially.
Today wood remains hugely popular in spite of the availability of other materials such as acrylic, polymers, and stainless steel. This is because of the natural beauty of wood. Wood feels and even smells differently from other materials. It evokes a feeling of warmth and closeness to nature.
Woods used for barstools come from rosewood, balsa, maple, teak, oak, mahogany, or chestnut among others. Colors often vary from pale white, through golden brown, dark chocolate, to an almost black espresso giving you a wide range to choose from. Apart from this, different stains that alter the color of wood are also available further expanding your choices. There is also bamboo. Although strictly speaking bamboo is not a tree as it belongs to the true grass family, it is also used for furniture including barstools, conjuring images of the tropics.
Barstools made of wood can have different designs. Their seats can be flat or concave. They can be rectangular, squared, or circular. The stool may be fitted with a backrest or arms or both. The seat and backrest can either be solid or slatted. They can also be made to swivel or fixed.
Often wood is combined with other materials sometimes for aesthetics, sometimes for durability, and sometimes for comfort. There are some wood barstools that include stainless steel inserts providing a sheen that contrasts with their dark finish. Others have wrought iron accents giving them a classical look. Metal braces are also added to wood barstools for additional support, while others use wood seats standing on stainless steel legs. Upholstery of leather or fabric is often added to soften the seat for greater comfort.