Second Hand Bar Stools

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.

Updated 11/04/2021

Bar stools can be a nice thing to have even if you don’t own a bar. Feel free to discover the variety of those that are shown in this collection. Many people have bought these models already and now it’s time for you. You can choose the set you find most appealing after considering all the options.

Buying Guide

There is something that is rewarding about picking out a rare or unique secondhand piece compared to getting a generic piece from a furniture store that has 600 more of the model in stock.

Whether it is the thrill that you get for finding the piece, the history that you uncover of the item, or the conversations and trouble you went through just to get it; secondhand furniture really is appealing for so many reasons. One thing’s undeniable as well; used pieces, most especially bar stools, are oozing with stories which give them the character that’s absent with anything brand-new.

Also, decorating on a tight budget can be extremely hard and it’ll force you to pick out pieces that won’t help you achieve the look and feel that you want for your space. That’s not the case with secondhand furniture. In this article, we’ll help you make your home look like something that’s from a home magazine by giving you tips on how to pick the best-used bar stools available for purchase online. Check them out!

What are bar stools typically crafted from?

Most secondhand bar stools are made of wood, and they can either be made from one type of wood or a combination of several types.

Most bar stools that are produced today are constructed using manufactured wood products instead of solid wood. There are pieces that utilize a combination of both solid wood and engineered wood. For instance, the seat of the stool may be given solid wood as its material, but its legs may be made of a less expensive type of wood to cut on production costs.

Solid wood is classified into different categories namely soft and hard. Generally speaking, hardwood is harder compared to softwood.

Hardwood provides good stability and strength to bar stools, which is why it is best for creating seating options. The wood’s hardness carries a downside which is the fact that it is incredibly difficult to produce intricate detailing on the material.
Softwood, on the other hand, is a tree that grows much faster compared to hardwood which is mostly the reason why it costs less. It is, however, less durable and is more likely to get damaged after decades of use.

Used bar stools that are made of plywood, fiberboard, and other manufactured wood products are cheap and beautiful as the materials used in their construction are enhanced by laminates and veneers. The problem with such furniture is they don’t last very long which is why it is not a good idea to get a used bar stool made of engineered wood unless you will only put the seat on display instead of actually using the thing.

How to evaluate the quality of second hand bar stools?

Take a close look at the stool’s joints. Dovetail and mortise and tenon offer the strongest joints. Screws or dowels are also strong but staples aren’t. Glue may be applied but shouldn’t be visible outside of the joint.

Only get the piece that feels robust and sturdy. If it sits level on the ground and it’s not wobbling about, then that’s a good sign.