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Stools are increasingly chosen both as additional seating to have on hand when needed – to add a place at the table for an unexpected guest, for example – and as permanent seating that can be placed as desired in different areas of the home.
We find them in the living room, in the kitchen, in the dining room, but there are models, such as low stools, that are also used in the bathroom and bedroom—or, if desired, even designer stools for the study.
What are the modern and designer stools to keep an eye on this year and in 2025?
Here is a complete buying guide.
Stools are incredibly practical and versatile furniture pieces that offer various functions depending on the model type. On the market, we find modern and designer stools, tall ones with backrests, which serve as excellent seats and are increasingly chosen over classic dining chairs—especially in a contemporary living space.
Tall stools are mainly used in the kitchen with islands and peninsulas; they are comfortable seating solutions and, at the same time, add a stylish furnishing element. It's no surprise that designers have been promoting them as must-haves for trendy interiors for years.
Which are the most popular stools, how are they used, and where can we place them? What furnishings do they pair well with, and what current style and aesthetic do they match?
The most trendy stools are undoubtedly tall stools with backrests and adjustable height, as well as padded seats to be even more comfortable and welcoming.
We choose them as seating to pair with kitchen islands and peninsulas, but we also prefer them in the living room—both for more modern furnishings and as a decor solution for spaces with a classic aesthetic.
We can also choose a practical and comfortable stool for a study (at home or in an office), and outdoor stools are also available on the market.
The GALA CS1868-MTO by Calligaris is an example of how a stool can be a cozy seat and also set the tone for style, even in a minimalist living room.
A play of contrasts where metallic reflections meet the warm colors of velvet or the elegance of genuine leather.
This is a stool with a seat made from elastic straps and a cantilever metal tube frame, featuring a rectangular metal backrest. It completes the Gala family of chairs and armchairs: a refined seating line that makes retro style its signature aesthetic.
We recommend the stool in forest green, one of the trend colors for 2024/2025.
Velvet is also a highly appreciated material, both for its soft texture and for the depth it gives to colors—making a seat more elegant and refined than any other upholstery.
Take a look at our buying guide on colorful chairs as well.
Among the new additions to our Fall 2024 catalog, we highlight the Cozy Mid CB2309 stool by Connubia.
What does cozy mean when we talk about furniture?
It refers to a style aimed at helping us create a warm and relaxing environment. This stool is called Cozy precisely because it has a comfortable seat with soft padding, ensuring maximum comfort.
The Cozy stool also features a metal frame that provides maximum support to the piece, and the seat is available in various finishes and colors, with soft and neutral tones, as suggested by a cozy aesthetic. Light and functional, the new seat from the Cozy collection offers the ideal solution for any environment.
Cozy is very versatile, ideal for placing around a kitchen table or in a dining area with youthful and colorful tones. A perfect combination of modern design and practicality. For the color choice, dove gray remains one of the key colors for 2024/2025, but you might prefer something bolder if you are furnishing an eclectic or urban-style space, opting for blue, another fashion color for 2024/2025.
This year, natural materials and warm colors have been the stars of interior design—and they will continue to be next year as well. That’s why you should take a look at the Cover M TS stool by Midj.
The Cover stool is a piece of furniture that combines elegance and functionality. Its base is made of stained ash wood, providing sturdiness and a natural touch. The seat, available in different upholstery configurations, can be made of fabric, leather, or faux leather—allowing you to customize the stool according to your aesthetic and comfort preferences.
It’s a truly versatile functional and decorative piece because its design allows it to fit into any context. The combination of high-quality materials and attention to detail ensures not only a unique look but also long-lasting durability.
Orange was a trend color in 2024 and will remain so in 2025, but one color you might not expect to see next year is light yellow (ranging from butter yellow to pastel yellow).
2024 has been the year of soft lines for ergonomic and stylish seating.
Especially when it comes to designer seats, this year the focus has been on comfort and aesthetics, to ensure maximum well-being even when sitting for several hours.
At the same time, a designer seat should blend harmoniously with the surrounding decor, adding a touch of style to the environment.
The Nuvola stool represents all of this.
Midj's design features a solid base with four legs, entirely made of painted steel or upholstered in leather, faux leather, fabric, or customer-supplied fabric.
You also have the option to upholster the back shell in a different fabric, leather, or faux leather. Available in 2 heights.
Discover this super comfortable and elegant stool.
All the stools we offer are ideal as seating and for creating relaxing corners in the living room, or to pair with a table, island, or peninsula in the kitchen.
But our catalog also includes more compact stools for the bathroom or practical outdoor stools. Let’s take a closer look at where to place stools in the home.
Today, stools are especially chosen to furnish the kitchen.
They can be added to a table, an island counter, or a peninsula, and we also offer low and compact stools to use as extra surfaces.
Stools are also the ideal seating option for those who love hosting dinners and aperitifs with friends—so everyone can sit together and chat comfortably, even without a sofa.
The stackable Olly stool by Ingenia is very practical because it saves space—several stools can be stacked together.
These stools are perfect as extra seating or to create a convivial space around the kitchen island.
Comfortable and colorful stools!
Olly has a frame in chrome or painted steel with various finishes to choose from; the shell is made of polypropylene available in several colors. The Olly stool by Ingenia styles the space it occupies.
Perfect for modern kitchens with central islands and worktops illuminated by designer pendant lamps.
To pair with islands and peninsulas, we prefer tall, modern stools. The design of these pieces features contemporary lines, with a metal frame and ergonomic seat, but there are also more and more wooden solutions to meet current furnishing needs.
Modern and designer stools respond to the demands of modern living and the modern dweller—busy, yes, but unwilling to sacrifice comfort. These stools are ideal for defining multifunctional islands—where you can switch from work to lunch in no time—because they come with height adjustment mechanisms and a swivel base.
They are decorative pieces with contemporary elegance, perfect for creating sought-after contrasts especially in our modern kitchens, allowing us to personalize even minimalist spaces.
Its elegance is always noticeable. In this version, Lisa features a seat and backrest made of technopolymer. Soft shapes communicate a pleasant sense of richness and solidity; the tactile quality of the surface finishes and the choice of contemporary colors make the chair and stool staples of the trendiest contract spaces.
A stool that stands out precisely because of its refined design, use of cutting-edge materials, and ability to define and personalize spaces thanks also to the rich color palette.
Mustard-colored stool for kitchen
Mustard color is the most interesting choice for this stool, ideal for an eclectic kitchen or one decorated in dopamine decor style.
Let’s now look at 4 designer stools for a modern kitchen based on a particular style and atmosphere.
Today, a modern kitchen is also a space easily convertible into a study and work corner. A stool for a creative space is the Move stool by Altacorte.
The Move stool by Altacorte is a distinctive design element in oak wood, available in various colors and walnut. It is also swivel and height-adjustable, available in a version without a footrest or with a black steel footrest. Move combines the warmth of wood and tradition with originality and modern design.
The Igloo stool by Scab Design has a frame made of recyclable polycarbonate. It can be used both indoors and outdoors and is stackable, making it suitable for small spaces but with great demands. It is also available in a fire-retardant version.
The Atollo collection is inspired by ring-shaped coral reefs, reflecting their curved and rounded lines. It is characterized by a metal rod structure that supports a padded seat quilted with a diamond pattern. While the stools find their ideal placement in the living area, the bench can become a refined addition to the bedroom. It can also be placed in passageways and narrow spaces.
Stool for loft or open space
For those who never give up the latest trend in furniture, who love to surround themselves with friends, organize parties and events, here is the perfect stool: Lisa Tecnopolymer Go Green by Scab Design.
SCAB supports ecology and limits waste by producing furniture made from 60% certified recycled plastic, obtained using energy generated from renewable sources, and itself 100% recyclable infinitely in a virtuous process aimed at not introducing new plastic into the environment. Completely eco-sustainable products, without ever compromising on high technical standards. SCAB designs the future and colors it green, protecting the planet.
Choose the green stool: an iconic color now more than ever.
In the living room, we have several options, basing our choice not only on the functionality of the stool but also on how it will integrate into the environment to best define the style. Usually, the living room already has other seats such as the sofa, possibly armchairs or designer chairs, so the stools should communicate—stylistically in particular—with these decorative elements.
In a living space, stools are perfect as extra seating when you have guests, but they can also help define specific zones in open-plan environments like lofts and open spaces.
Here are 3 original ideas to decorate the living room.
Always consider the size of the stools based on the available space. Place one or two stools next to the sofa to add extra seating, or maybe next to a bookshelf, or you can add some stools of different heights in the area where you listen to music or watch TV.
They reinterpret the seating styles of the 1950s through soft and graceful shapes. Stool with a metal frame that elegantly and lightly supports the seat and backrest, characterized by a rounded and welcoming silhouette. Comfortable and elegant, INES is suitable for those who love simplicity and the charm of classic materials.
Perfect for open-plan spaces such as lofts and open spaces, the Fluid / C stool by Zamagna features a metal frame and a plywood seat covered in various materials and finishes. A simple stool with a distinctive design, it stands out for its comfort and elegance.
Let’s not forget that in the living room, as well as in the kitchen, we can also choose low stools to use as shelves and support bases, or instead of side tables and coffee tables.
Sarong CP503 stool by Cipì in hand-crafted and wax-treated Teak wood
Stool made from a single solid Teak root, preserving the knots, cuts, and marks that time has created on the wood. Unique and always different shapes make each Sarong stool one of a kind. Entirely handmade, Sarong is treated exclusively with waxes and oils that enhance its “Natural” forms. Each piece is branded with a fire mark and is exclusive, just like the pleasure of owning it.
You might also be interested in:
Wooden stools for a green style
Modern stools in the bedroom
In the bedroom, stools can have many uses and don’t necessarily have to be chosen as seats. A high stool without a backrest could serve as a base for a bedside lamp if there is no space beside the bed for nightstands or drawers. A padded stool becomes a chic and cozy seat to place at the vanity or as a seat for your reading corner.
Abrey CS2042 stool by Calligaris
Abrey is the classic wooden chair/stool reinterpreted with comfort in mind. Chair, armchair, and stool share the wide backrest that wraps around the seat, supported by the rear legs. A detail that enhances the back of the seats.
Stools for Outdoor Spaces
If you want to create a relaxing corner outside, you can choose stools to furnish the chat area of your balcony or small terrace. Stools are comfortable and stylish seats, perfect also for defining the garden.
Read the guide to folding wooden chairs, for a refined garden
Stackable iron stool Alice CH150 by Vermobil
Clean and simple lines define the beauty of the surrounding space, in a collection where essential design becomes style. The Alice stool, available in all color variations, can be comfortably used even without cushions and is suitable for both outdoor and indoor settings.
Stackable Street stool by Ingenia Bontempi for indoor and outdoor use
The Street stool by Ingenia Bontempi features a fully lacquered steel structure and is stackable. Available in various finishes, its simple lines make it well-suited for both indoor spaces like dining rooms and living areas, as well as outdoor areas such as verandas and gardens. Available in two different heights. A seat cushion can be added as an option.
What do you think of these modern and designer stools?
Also read: Swivel stools with or without backrest — pros and cons.
