Easy Basics for Making Counter Stools

Materials

• Choose materials that will complement your kitchen decor and your kitchen flooring material to help add to your home's decor. If you have a dark tile floor, then a lighter colored wood such as oak may be appropriate. If you have a hardwood floor made of a brighter wood such as bamboo, then you should use darker wood such as cherry to make your kitchen stools.

Measurements

• One of the advantages of making your own counter stools is that you can customize the measurements to fit your counters exactly. To determine how high your counter stools should be, the seat should be a distance of 13 inches from the bottom of the counter, according to the Fine Bar Stools website. This will allow enough room for almost anyone to sit comfortably at your kitchen counters.

Two Types

• Your counter stool seat can be circular or square. It depends on your own personal preference and the design of your kitchen decor. If your kitchen contains many rounded edges on the counters, the shelves and the appliances, then round seats may be more appropriate. When you build the legs, add an extra set of support pieces that go from one leg to another approximately 12 inches from the bottom of the legs. This provides extra support for the stool and a place for the person sitting on the stool to rest his feet.

Padding

• Padding on a kitchen counter stool is optional. When you work in your kitchen, you may want your kitchen stools to double as small tables for setting things on while you are cooking. If you add padding to your stools, then they are not as stable for setting cooking items on as a non-padded stool.