Have you ever contemplated having your very own bar? It's a great idea for entertaining friends, family and yourself. Playing bartender can be quite an experience. The perfect spot to add a bar to your current abode is to redo your basement. Take down on the cobwebs and transform it into the most happening place on the block. Of course, you want to have the best bar with picture perfect lighting, and plenty of liquor, but there is one key area you have to concentrate on first—the bar stools.

Bar stools come in a huge range of unique shapes, sizes and colors. They can be retro, funky, classic and grown up, modern and arty, fun and creative, or simple affairs. Given this variety, it's imperative that you consider both quality of construction and comfort. A high quality bar stool, which holds you up when you've had a few is well worth shelling out the extra bucks.

One of your first considerations should be height. Measure the height of your bar so you know how high your stools need to be. You should allow for around ten to thirteen inches between the top of the seat and the bottom of the bar, so that no one gets winched in. You want a balanced proportion for legroom and convenience. Also, you should know how many stools will actually fit around your bar without overcrowding. When positioning your stools, leave enough space for people to be able to move around freely, without feeling cramped.

Some bar stools come with armrests and seatbacks; these generally take up more room than their backless counterparts. If you choose stools with armrests, make sure you can push the stool under the bar for storing purposes. Generally, bar stools come in heights of between 17 and 30 inches. This means you may have to compromise, as you might not find a design that also meets your height requirements.

Bar stools may be upholstered or plain. If you choose upholstered stools, you can customize the fabric and pattern yourself. Vinyl, leather and natural cowhide are popular choices. Additionally, you can purchase stools that come equipped with detachable cushions which tie on to the seatbacks or to the bottom of the stool itself. These are usually easier to clean and to change the covers.

The body and legs of the stool may come in a huge variety of materials. There are your classic, simple wooden bar stools. There are stools made from steel and chrome; plastic stools are often found in retro stores. There are also swiveling bar stools.

Modern designs can be quite creative. There are barstools with saddles for chairs. There are stools which look like double decker hamburgers, and then there are stools which look like little headless cows and sheep. There are stools which come apart to form low slung chairs and stack back together to form an innovative stool.

Remember when shopping for stools to look for a marriage of aesthetics and functionality. Don't forget take accurate measurements and to do your research. There are tons of different bar stool styles out there, so take your time and have fun.