10 Stunning Stools

This garden stool from J.C. Penney stands 19 inches tall and is amazingly well-priced--listed at $129, it's usually offered for much less (most recently $69). The stool is woven from readily renewable water hyacinth, making it an environmentally sustainable furniture choice, as well as a pretty, practical one.

Mecox Gardens sells a variety of garden stools, but this one is a classic. The glazed ceramic finish makes it ideal for indoor or outdoor use (the holes on the top promote drainage), and it can serve as either seating or a handsome side table. The Square Amber Ceramic Stool measures 13 by 14 inches, and sells for $250.

Made from recycled tree limbs that were left for waste, this handsome, versatile Timber Block Stool resembles a number of similar pieces that have surfaced in recent years. This version, however, is particularly well priced. Rustic, but tailored, it's ideal for spaces where you want to introduce a sense of texture and wood tones without getting too lodgey. Use them singly as stools or side tables, or gang them for a coffee table. Each piece is 15 by 15 by 20 inches high, and is sold by VivaTerra for $369, or two for $725.

Mecox Garden's Yellow Crackle Ceramic Garden Stool features an exquisite perforated design. A handsome addition to a garden room or patio, or ideal accompaniment to a bedroom chair, the stool sells for $295.

As the name suggests, this Woven Iron Solution is made from iron, so its durable design will work indoors or out. Suitable as a stool or side table, it can also be flipped over and use for wood storage or trash. The stool stands 19 inches high and 19 inches wide, and is available from Wisteria.com at a very reasonable $99.

Add a touch of handcrafted artistry to your home with this Garden Seat: Temmoku & Yellow Pours from Guild.com. Craftsman Michael Jones treats these wheel-thrown stoneware stools with a dripped glaze, giving each piece a one-of-a-kind quality. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, the stool stands 20 inches high and retails for $675.

Charles and Ray Eames designed these stunningly simple Walnut Stools back in 1960 for the lobby of New York City's Time Life Building. They're just as provocative and appealing today. Handcrafted on a lathe, the stools can function as seats or side tables, and are available in three different designs. Use them singly or combine these modern classics in a group for a chess-board effect. The stools are available for $799 each from Design Within Reach and through other retailers.

Exquisitely simple, the Japanese Stool from Gulassa & Company is crafted from blackened steel and features a slightly concave top. Crisply contemporary, it marries Asian simplicity with modern materials, making the stool ideal for both modern and traditional interiors. Line up a pair alongside a coffee table or stash a set under a console table for overflow seating. They even look good on their own. (I should know--I have one.) The Japanese Stool is available through designers and architects at select showrooms nationwide.

Philippe Starcke designed these stunning La Bohème stools for Kartell. Available in two different designs, these vase-like pieces are fabricated from transparent polycarbonate in red and yellow, and can be used indoors or out. Great for seating or a side table, La Bohème retails for $200 at Unica Home.

The Spool Stool from Room Service Home is similar to the Eames Walnut Stool above, but is a bit more playful. It stands 18 inches tall and comes in either a pink, blue or pistachio lacquer finish, making it ideal for a child's room or family room. Buy several in the same color or mix them up--at just $199-$225 each, you can afford to get carried away!