For many centuries, stool has been one of the most direct ways to sit in a “humane” way. If we think about it, chairs and stools are among the most poetic objects in furniture design: they help us create a posture that is logical and necessary for thinking, working and interacting. We write, work, chat, have conversations and relax sitting down, an action that, in nature, is done by very few animals and always for completely different reasons. Chairs and stools are design objects because they participate in what makes us human.
Stool designIn particular, they were among the first forms of furniture created by man: we can trace the earliest examples to Ancient Egypt, where folding stools were designed to be easily transported, following their owners wherever they worked. During the Renaissance and in the centuries that followed, the stool became the basis for the development of other domestic typologies, from chairs to small tables and movable seats designed to adapt to different spaces. This small piece of furniture was transformed from a secondary object to a protagonist after the Industrial Revolution and, in particular, with the birth of the modern movement.
Baiji ©Polimair_stool design
Groove Outdoor Stool ©Tom Dixon Design_stool
Sophia Pawn 06 ©Serax_stool design
Root stool ©Ferm Living_stool design
Metal stool ©Novaliving_stool design
Boat stool ©Nooma_stool design
Groove Outdoor Stool ©Tom Dixon Design_stool
Groove Outdoor Stool ©Tom Dixon Design_stool
Sophia Pawn 06 ©Serax_stool design
Sophia Pawn 06 ©Serax_stool design
Root stool ©Ferm Living_stool design
Metal stool ©Novaliving_stool design
Amanita ©Seletti x Marcantonio_stool design
Metal stool ©Novaliving_stool design
Boat stool ©Nooma_stool design
Boat stool ©Nooma_stool design
Amanita ©Seletti x Marcantonio_stool design
The reduction of forms, the search for basic structures and the possibilities offered by industrial production turned this seemingly simple piece of furniture into one of the most interesting fields of experimentation for designers. Designers like Alvar Aaltowith his own Stool 60in 1933, for Artek, or Max Bill and Hans Gugelot with them Ulm stool in the 50s and Achille and Pier Giacomo Catiglioni in 1957 with her Sharecropper and the Saddle because Zanotta reinterpreted not only the use of the stool as part of the home but its material, its flexibility, its composition and its function. They used this house dweller as a subject for experimentation.
Today, in increasingly compact homes, the boundaries between seating, storage and occasional surfaces have become more fluid and stools are the perfect object, which can be easily moved to different situations and has acquired a new value. A stool can sit next to a kitchen island, replace a nightstand, support books or plants, or simply provide an extra seat when needed.
For younger generations, it is also one of the easiest ways to approach design without making a significant investment, while remaining easier to introduce into a first home, both in terms of space and budget. Twentieth-century design classics still represent a significant investment, but many contemporary brands are proving that thoughtful design can be had at a more affordable price.
Here are 7 examples around €200 that explore different interpretations of this ancient but ever-evolving typology.
7 modern stool designs around €200:
Root stool with Firm Living it starts with the material itself: each piece is carved from a teak tree root, an element left over from timber production that would normally be discarded. Instead of hiding its imperfections, the design celebrates the natural imperfections of wood, turning each stool into a unique object. Compact and sculptural, it works equally well as a seat, side table or as a small presence in the room. Price: €199.00
With the Groove outdoor stool, Tom Dixon brings the language of industrial manufacturing to outdoor furniture. Made of weather-resistant aluminum, the stool is characterized by its raised ridges, a graphic detail that gives pace to a highly functional object. Lightweight and designed to withstand outdoor conditions, it reflects the idea of furniture as something adaptable between environments. Price: €226.00
Sophia Pawn 06 – Serax
Designed by a Belgian designer Marie Michielssen for Serax, Sophia Pawn 06 sits between furniture and sculptural object. Part of the Pawn collection, it was designed to move freely between different roles: stool, side table, bedside element or occasional surface. Its generous proportions and expressive surface transform a functional object into a piece with a strong decorative presence. Price: €220.00
Baiji – Polimair
This tiny and fun stool explores what happens when it is no longer used: thanks to an integrated clip system, several stools can be connected to create completely new furniture, from shelves and bedside tables to room dividers or totem sculptures. Instead of disappearing into a corner when not needed, the stool remains part of the living space, constantly switching between functions. Made from 100% recycled plastic – like everything else Polymair production – and thinking about compact interiors where each object is expected to do more than one thing, Signal it reflects a growing approach to design that values adaptability as much as aesthetics. Price: €190.00
This Metal stooldesigned by Kalager design for Novalivingfollows the tradition of industrial seating, where simplicity is not a limitation but a design choice. Its basic structure and light character make it suitable for flexible interiors, where objects need to be moved, rearranged and reinterpreted over time. A practical piece that reflects the same principles that made the stool one of the most durable typologies of furniture in history. Price: €170.00
Amanita – Seletti x Marcantonio
Not every stool needs to fade into the background. While many modern designs provide reduction and retention benefits, Amanita by Marcantonio for Selected takes the opposite direction, adopting storytelling as a design tool. Shaped like the iconic fly agaric mushroom, the stool belongs to the imaginative universe that has defined the long-term collaboration between the Italian designer and the brand, where nature, surrealism and irony constantly overlap. More than an occasional seat, Amanita introduces a narrative dimension to the home, reminding us that household objects are not only expected to perform a function, but can also express personality, humor and a sense of wonder. Price: €195.00
So if some stools embrace complexity, others prove that reducing an object to its basics can be just as rewarding. Hop off no. but belongs to the latter category. Made from solid wood, it combines the stability of traditional frames with a lightweight silhouette that feels contemporary without chasing trends. Available in three colors and designed in two heights, it’s the kind of object that moves effortlessly through the home, finding a place in the living room, bedroom or hallway without ever imposing. Its strength lies precisely in this balance between simplicity, durability and everyday versatility. Price: €172.00 (low) and €215.00 (high)
