Here are a few features that you should look for when you are buying yours:

• Materials
• Extras
• Strength
• Usability

Materials – This is the most important feature of your wood bar stools. This is because wood is what you want. In another post on this site I have described all of the different types of wood that can be used in bar stools. I have also talked about the different coloring available. Depending on your requirements you will want a certain type of wood and certain color.

Extras – Extras would include such items that are not essential. You need legs, a base and a seat essentially. Everything else is extra so this means a back rest, arm rests, any cushioning as well as a foot rest. If it swivels or wheels around then these would be considered extras also.

Strength – The strength of wood bar stools refers to two things. The strength of the materials used as well as the strength of the way the whole thing has been put together. If you have strong materials and a good strong construction then you are sure to have a sturdy and long lasting bar stool. If you have at least one of these things then you have something going for you. Say it is poorly constructed but the materials are good, then you can always strengthen the construction yourself. If the construction is good but the materials are not then there is nothing you can really do about it.

Usability – This really should not be considered a feature but I am going to put it down anyway. This is because it seems like  some designers focus too much on the way a bar stool will look and have special requirements like ‘it must be wood’. They often lose sight of what the thing is actually used for and who will be using it and in what scenario. Make sure you give some bar stools made from wood a test drive before purchase.

Now are more informed than you were before. This means that any future purchases you make will be really good ones. You now know what to look out for and can even determine if your current bar stools, or any other second hand wooden furniture around the place is really good or even sellable.

Here I have broken it down to different categories you are likely to choose from and then this will determine the type of wood used in the bar stool you end up purchasing:

• Color
• Solid
• Staining

Color -This can mean the color of the wood itself or the color of it once it is painted. Some people like their wood bar stools to be painted but I am not sure why because you miss the beauty of the wood. In terms of the color of the wood itself, you can have light, red, brown or dark woods.

• Light woods could include ash, maple or elm.
• Red woods could have woods such as mahogany, cherry, cedar or red oak
• Brown woods may include beech, oak and teak
• Dark woods consists of different walnuts and mahogany also

Solid -sometimes wood bar stools are sold as hardwood. This means you get a stool made of solid wood. On the other hand you can get what is called a veneer or printing. This means that the bar stool is made mostly of solid plywood and  and either the outer covering layer is made from one of the hardwoods mentioned above (veneer) or a wood effect gets printed directly onto the plywood (printing).

Both of these options are cheaper and can look quite good. Some woods are used for select purposes because of their natural properties. An example of this could be teak where it is naturally weather resistant. This means people buy this type to use outdoors.

Staining – Many woods can be stained so that their original look and color is changed. Some people will choose a stain that enhances the current look and color of the wood that is originally there. Others may stain it so that it looks totally different. Some woods are more suited to this than other, like the lighter woods.

As you can see, there are endless options when it comes to bar stools that are made from wooden materials. This may make it easier for you to find what you want if you have a particular look in mind, but it may also make it harder if you are not quite sure what it is that you are looking for. Either way you will find one suitable for your needs.