Step Stool Chairs
Buy the best step stool chairs selected and recommended by interior designers. By Emily Hilton.
We’ve all needed a step stool at one point in our lives, but few of us have considered the convenience of a step stool chair – that’s the practicality of having steps to reach something, with a chair built in to place in your kitchen or office. Infinitely useful, a portable kitchen stool with steps is the hybrid product you never knew you needed, and we’ve selected a few of the best down below.
Step Stool Chairs
Buying Guide
Emily Hilton
Interior Design Expert
Emily is a young, talented designer, whose professional interests gravitate towards kitchen and dining spaces. She prides herself on her attention to detail, obsession with functionality, and appreciation for craftsmanship.
Step stools allow you to safely and quickly get tasks done in the home or office. It is a tool for freestanding utilization, meaning they are ideal when you need a slight raise when you want to get something from the top kitchen shelf, or when you need to change a lightbulb. There is a wide range to choose from, but you don’t just want any padded step stool, you want the one that is best suited to your needs. Shopping for a padded step stool can be a difficult process, so here is a buying guide to help you out.
Your choice when shopping for a step stool will be between folded and molded designs. You will need to think about where you are going to store your step stool. If you have got space enough to keep it under the counter without folding it, a molded step stool is a good choice. However, if space is limited, a folding step stool will be more convenient. It collapses and flattens allowing you to store it in a cabinet or closet.
The material of padded step stools will depend on what you are going to use it for. Step stool materials include:
- Fiberglass: If you are working on an electrical project, non-conductive fiberglass step stools are a safe option.
- Metal: Steel and aluminum step stools offer enhanced durability and portability.
- Plastic: Ideal for light maintenance tasks.
Your step stool should suit your requirements and specifications; therefore, it is essential that you choose a padded step stool with the appropriate height that will be safe and effective.
- One-step: For the items that you just need to reach up and grab quickly such as getting a glass out of a cupboard.
- Two-steps: Great for tasks such as overhead repairs, filing, and stocking shelves.
- Three steps: Work well for maintenance jobs such as making repairs, window washing, and painting.
Your padded step stool should be able to comfortably hold the weight of the person using it and their tools. The manufacturer's instructions will display the maximum weight allowance for the step stool. It is important that you do not exceed the weight allowance to avoid injury.
Once you have decided on the type of step stool you are going to get regarding size and style, you might also want to think about additional features such as:
- Wheels for easy maneuvering
- Handles for easy carrying
- Platforms to rest your tools on.
- There are small step stools that you can attach to a chair and use as a footrest.
Although a step stool is not exactly a part of the furniture, you will get it out when you need to use it, some people will still want it to match the décor in their home. There is a wide range of styles, designs, and colors for you to choose from including:
- Floral
- Block colors
- Classic wood
- Chrome plated
- Solid dark wood
Take away
It is essential that you don’t purchase a padded step stool blindly, you will need to pay attention to several features especially weight, material, and height.