*Today’s post was made possible by SONGMICS HOME, and features gifted product for the purposes of a candid review. All opinions are my own.

I know it’s so trite to say, but I can’t believe that it’s already November! It feels like Christmas 2024 was just a few weeks ago, and here we are a handful of weeks away from Christmas 2025. Time truly does fly. I’m already in full house cleaning mode ahead of the holidays as we plan to welcome guests, and my latest project is in the kitchen where I’m trying to decide between two stool options from SONGMICS HOME. Keep scrolling for more photos and my thoughts, and then make sure you leave your vote in the comments so we can decide once and for all which option to keep for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

First up we have the bar stools that come with built-in backrests. I love the feeling of being able to lean against a plush backrest, and especially love that these come with sewn-in back pockets, perfect for stowing away Christmas cards and other types of mail and magazines. The exposed stitching is a really lovely detail, and the upholstery is very wipeable, which is handy since John and I eat at this bar top almost every night. But do they feel a little too bulky for this spot? This area of our kitchen between the meal-prep zone and our snug lounge is admittedly a little tight, so I’m worried that the addition of backs on the stool makes them look a little too visually heavy for the area.

Then we have the backless bar stools. I love how the size and shape look a little more balanced in this spot, and they’re still very comfortable to sit in despite the fact that they don’t have backrests. I think the simpler silhouette here could offer more flow from sitting to standing when the room is crowded with family during the holidays, so I’m definitely torn. I appreciate that these backless stools still have the wipeable upholstery and cool stitching detail that the backrest chairs have.

It really just comes down to whether I want backs or not! Both options feature identical design details and comfort level, all except for the built-in back. Do you think they look too bulky with backs in our home, or does the added bonus of having something to lean on make up for the larger visual and physical footprint? Let me know what you think in the comments, and make sure you click today’s post links to shop the stools. They come in sets of two and are currently on sale (the backless version is less than $100 for the pair, and the two chairs with backs are under $145). Which would you choose?

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