If you’re looking to finish your kitchen, bar area, or other seating arrangement with a set of sustainable bar stools (or counter stools) then you’ve come to the right place.
How To Source Sustainable Bar Stools and Counter Stools
I was looking for sustainable counter stools last year because my husband and I’s apartment had a large countertop and no room for a kitchen table.
We liked how the layout utilized the small space efficiently, making it feel like we had more space than we really did! However it’s not as easy to find beautiful counter stools as it is to find other sorts of dining chairs!
After borrowing my parent’s barstools for a few months, we came across the perfect set of mid-century modern-esque secondhand counter stools from the peer-to-peer resale app OfferUp.
There are many ways to source sustainable bar stools or counter stools. And which way is right for you depends on your budget and circumstances!
Secondhand Apps
This option is usually the cheapest, but may require a lot of time searching and picking up the items.
We used OfferUp, because we were on a pretty tight budget, had the ability to wait (since we could borrow my parents’ stools), and weren’t ready to invest in our “forever home” (we don’t know if our future living spaces will require counter stools).
Curated Secondhand Sites
These tend to be the second most affordable option for counter stools, bar stools, or any other piece of furniture. You pay a bit of a premium over something like OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace, because the pieces are more curated, the photography is typically way better, and some places may even handle the shipping and logistics for you!
Here are a few to check out:
- AptDeco: Advertised as the easiest way to shop secondhand furniture, AptDeco provides a professional delivery service, including pickup, delivery, and assembly within the contiguous U.S.
- Kaiyo: Another online secondhand furniture marketplace that handles the delivery for resellers and shoppers!
- Chairish: mecca for vintage furniture (typically on the more expensive side)
New Eco-Friendly Bar Stools and Counter Stools
You may want to shop for new sustainable counter stools and bar stools if you don’t have as much time to hunt for treasures on the secondhand market, want to invest in a long-term piece of furniture, or have a very specific set of aesthetic preferences.
You might also look for new eco-friendly counter stool options if you want to make sure your stools are non-toxic, and made without harmful chemicals.
Below are some vetted resources for finding sustainable bar and counter stools! Transparency note: this guide contains affiliate links. As always we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability that we love — and that we think you’ll love too.
Our Favorite Places to Find Sustainable Bar Stools & Counter Stools
1. Made Trade
Materials: Recycled Aluminum, Reclaimed Wood, Sustainably-Sourced Wood
Highlights: Durable, Repurposed Materials, Suitable For Outdoors
Price: $460+
Sustainable lifestyle retailer Made Trade has a selection of eco-friendly stools designed to last for lifetimes. Their sustainable bar stools and counter stools from Emeco are made in Pennsylvania from repurposed materials and are designed to commercial-grade standards. Many options are also suitable for use as outdoor furniture!
2. Maiden Home
Materials: Solid Ash or Oak Wood | Fabric or Leather Upholstery
Highlights: Handmade to Order in North Carolina, Woman-Founded, Solid Wood
Price: $850+
Maiden Home is a women-founded direct-to-consumer furniture brand with some of the most gorgeous earth-minded furniture you’ll find. And that includes their organic, contemporary sustainable bar stools and counter stools that are expertly crafted to order by North Carolina furniture artisans just for you.
3. Medley
Materials: Domestically Sourced Wood, CertiPUR-US®-certified foam
Highlights: Made-to-Order, Crafted in California, Solid Wood, In-Home Trial
Price: $695
Handcrafted in California to your specifications with quality sustainable materials — like domestic solid alder, walnut, and maple wood — Medley’s sleek modern furniture is as sustainable as it is beautiful. The company has one eco-friendly counter stool available, called the Jasmi Counter Stool as well as other dining chairs.
4. Greenington
Materials: Solid Moso Bamboo, Some Leather Upholstery
Highlights: Tree-Free, Ergonomic Design
Price: $630+
Greenington is among the most popular sustainable furniture brands for a reason. As a founding member of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, Greenington uses 100% solid Moso bamboo for their furniture — a material they claim is 20% harder than red oak. They offer eco-friendly counter stools and bar stools in a stunning variety of finishes.
5. VivaTerra
Materials: Teak Wood, Banana Bark,, Repurposed and Reclaimed Wood
Highlights: Natural and Recycled Materials, Artisan Handmade
Price: $379+
Green lifestyle online retailer VivaTerra has plenty of sustainable stools, including bar stools, counter stools, bathroom stools, accent stools, and garden stools. You can even find a full kitchen island set or repurposed barrel bar set, each complete with two stools. Check out the product icons to see each item’s sustainability qualities.
6. Pottery Barn
Materials: Reclaimed Wood, Recycled Aluminum, Recycled Plastic
Highlights: Expertly Crafted, Natural and Repurposed Materials
Price: $159+
Furniture brand Pottery Barn has recently been expanding their sustainably sourced collection, so you may just find your new eco-friendly bar and counter stools there. Their collection features stools made from reclaimed and recycled materials in a range of aesthetics, from farmhouse chic to mid-century modern.
7. West Elm
Materials: Sustainably-Sourced Wood
Highlights: Quality Products, Use of Some Responsible Materials
Price: $219
Another larger furniture retailer with a sustainably sourced collection is West Elm. Their selection is a bit smaller, but you can still find an eco-friendly bar stool / counter stool made from FSC-Certified wood from responsibly managed forests or contract-grade mango wood sourced from trees that no longer produce fruits.
Looking to complete your eco space?
Check out our full guide to sustainable furniture brands and our guide to non-toxic furniture brands.
Pin this sustainable stools guide for later:
