top of page

The Turned-Wood Stool: Leading the Way For Design Trends


Two accordion stools in Living Room setting.

By Laura Ferguson

Dame Cabbage Collection


When you do a Google search for stools,

you'll be met with an avalanche of bar stools and counter-height stools. This only makes sense that, given the prevalence of kitchen islands, these stools are in highest demand. But there's another type of stool edging its way in: it's the height of the seat of a chair or a dining bench which average 18" high.


This gives them a versatility that's fun to work with. Using our turned-wood stool as an example, you see how these stools can be side tables, coffee tables, or extra seating on one side of a coffee table. And those are just a few of their potential uses in home decor.


Two accordion stools flanking coffee table.

We see another trend with the turned-wood stool: stacked shapes of equal size and proportion. Here we have an accordion design, but what you see the most of in contemporary decor are stacked spheres, or stacked bubbles, as they're sometimes called. You see them as furniture legs, candle holders, and vases. They have a fresh and modern appeal. But they're not entirely without precedent. We've seen repeating patterns before with the Barley-Twist element, Spindle furniture, and Bobbin legs.

Accordion stool as a side table.

We are also in an era where a very natural look, with authentic and unfinished



furniture, is very much a part of the design landscape. Unfinished stools, a very basic version, started appearing in the 1960s as you saw the beginnings of what would become a staple of kitchen design: the island. New homes featured large cut-outs between the kitchen and casual dining spaces which, back then, were often part of the family room: a large version of a pass-through. It became popular to put stools at the window. Most people painted them.


You still have the option of finishing or painting unfinished pieces. But the most impactful design trends of late would suggest leaving them in their natural state, particularly if the wood grain shows through in a pleasing way. This is particularly true of furniture and mantles made with reclaimed wood. You can use natural protectants like Tung Oil and Linseed Oil to mitigate discoloration from the sun and the effects of moisture.


We can credit Scandinavian design for introducing us to light woods. Given the long, dark winters, Scandinavians strive for brightness in their interiors. This is also why so much furniture is white. The spare design aesthetic is often seen in Modern homes and, to some extent, in the homes of everyday Americans, who find useful and affordable items at IKEA that blend in well with the feel of their homes. It could be as simple as a light fixture or picture frames.


While the natural-wood stool is for indoor spaces, you'll be seeing a lot of outdoor furniture, stools in particular, with the same sort of versatility. They make decorating fun. And that's always a good thing.


Follow us :) Click the Pinterest and Instagram links in the footer



Comments


bottom of page