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The most stylish stools to shop now
A stool is a very useful piece of furniture to invest in – alone or topped with a smart tray if upholstered, they can be used as a side table for extra surface space, a footrest for when you're lounging watching television, or extra seating when you have multiple guests needing somewhere comfortable to perch at any given time. Stools look lovely in every room, whether a plush one used as a footstool in the sitting room, a stool with clever hidden storage nestled in the corner of a bedroom, to a rattan or wooden option as a statement piece in a bathroom. These are the best available now, at a range of price points, from under £20 to over £3,000.
The best stools to buy, at a glance:
- Best upholstered stool: NiX Thither Hexagonal Ottoman in regatta cotton, blue
- Best folding stool: Broste Copenhagen Nola Stool
- Best patterned stool: Sister by Studio Ashby Disa Cotton Pill Stool
- Best affordable stool: Habitat 60 Tam Tam Plastic Stool, blue
- Best wooden stool: Artek Stool 60, birch/orange
- Best rattan stool: Nkuku Taung Rattan Low Stool, natural
Our favourite stools to invest in
- 1/19
Thither Hexagonal Ottoman in regatta cotton, blue
A smart upholstered choice by Nicola Harding's NiX brand, available in a wide range of fabric options. We like this classic brown and blue stripe for an easy colourway.
- 2/19
Broste Copenhagen Nola Stool
With a sling style buttery leather seat and aged brass legs, this neutral stool can be neatly folded away if you're short on space.
- 3/19
Sister by Studio Ashby Disa Cotton Pill Stool
This is an appealing stool by Sister by Studio Ashby, with an eye-catching print in a zesty colourway.
- 4/19
Rander Ceramic Stool, red/white
A signature OKA piece, the red and white stripe of the Rander stool reminds us of a boiled strawberries and cream sweet. It can be seen in use as a plant stand in Alice Palmer's stylish home.
- 5/19
Kioto Oak & Woven Braided Stool
The woven seat and pale wood of this La Redoute stool is reminiscent of Hans J Wegner's famous chair designs, but at a far more accessible price point.
- 6/19
Alvin Footstool, lumi jacquard
Upholstered in a jacquard patterned fabric with textured, solid oak legs, this Soho Home piece is a stylish and opulent choice.
- 7/19
Lottie Outdoor Side Table, orange
With its glossy surface and bold orange colour, this stool would stand out in a sitting room or garden, as it is suitable for outdoor use.
- 8/19
Wicker Stools, green (Set of 2)
A summery pair of woven wicker stools that would look lovely in a conservatory or orangery.
- 9/19
Artek Stool 60, birch/orange
A design icon by Alvar Aalto, much imitated but never bettered. This sunny orange colour breathes new life into the piece.
- 11/19
Carl Hansen OW2000 Egyptian Stool
This luxurious, leather and wood folding stool is a Midcentury design by Danish designer Ole Wanscher.
- 12/19
Habitat 60 Tam Tam Plastic Stool, blue
A 1960s plastic classic from Habitat, the blue and bright red colourways are our favourites, but it's also available in black or white. It can even be taken apart to reveal hidden storage in the stool's body, so it's practical as well as wallet-friendly.
- 13/19
Vitra Wiggle Stool by Frank Gehry
A sibling of the iconic Wiggle chair, this stool is crafted from compressed cardboard, but is still incredibly sturdy.
- 14/19
POLSPOTTEN Clover Upholstered Bouclé Stool
This upholstered, deep emerald stool would make for comfortable additional seating when guests come over.
- 15/19
Bevelled Acacia Stool
You can't go wrong with a humble wooden stool, and this is an affordable and elegant version from Zara Home.
- 16/19
Constance Guisset Canova Stool
An organic, wonky stool in a deep, dramatic wine colour, that would work just as well as a side table.
- 17/19
The Rattan Harmonia Stool
Soane are known for their unparalelled, traditional artisanal rattan construction techniques, and this stool is a stunning example of this.
- 18/19
Bit Stack Stool by Simon Legald for Normann Copenhagen, red
Add a pop of colour and pattern to your living area or perhaps bathroom, with this plastic stool.
- 19/19
Aurora Footstool, moss
Available in lots of fabric options, we think this upholstered stool would look wonderful in the corner of a bedroom, or as a stool at a vanity unit.
