I Finally Found Comfortable, Stylish Bar Stools at a Budget-Friendly Price, and I Actually Want to Sit at My Kitchen Island Now

I’ve always preferred a chair over a bar stool, but my past few New York City apartments have not cared about this. One apartment gave me landlord-donated metal bar stools (the worst I’ve ever sat on). My current apartment has a built-in kitchen island, which boasts plenty of cabinet storage and two drawers. Unfortunately, the marble countertop only goes a few inches past the cabinet, so you have to hunch over the island to eat.

This is already not ideal, but it was made a much worse experience by two bar stools that my boyfriend and I scored for free when we found them sitting outside of a big, fancy apartment complex. Each stool had a shiny, metal circular base, an adjustable handle, and white pleather square seats with no backs. We thought we scored a great deal, but after a year of use, we couldn’t stand them anymore. They wobbled, they were uncomfortable, and they provided no back support. It was time for a change.

While I was looking around online, I found many bar stools, all of which seemed absurdly expensive for what they were. The only worthwhile option I found was Article’s Svelti Bar Stool, which costs $109.

The Article Svelti Bar Stool has a UV-resistant molded plastic seat and powder-coated metal legs. These stools are so durable that they can be used either indoors or outdoors. The stool’s dimensions are 28″ H x 20″ W x 21″ L. When cleaning these bar stools, Article advises using a damp cloth to spot clean and to avoid using harsh household cleaners. The chairs do require some assembly, but I was able to assemble each chair in 10 minutes.

There are many reasons why I am so happy with these bar stools. Most importantly, though, they’re comfy. I actually enjoy eating my dinner at the island now. I feel supported and love that I can rest my feet on the metal bar near the bottom of the chair. When we used to have guests over for parties, everyone would crowd around the island rather than sitting on our barstools, if you want an idea of how terrible they were. Now, guests do sit when they come to visit us.

I also liked this pick because they were both budget-friendly and stylish. They have a mid-century modern vibe that blends in well with the rest of our decor. We opted for white stools because our kitchen has aggressive marble countertops that match with little else, but I was sorely tempted by the Aloe Green option.

Buy: Articles Svelti Bar Stool, $109