Ballard Designs Dayna Counter Stool Review

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I spent an embarrassing amount of time searching for the perfect barstools. I went to HomeGoods on a weekly basis scouting for the perfect set of 4 stools. I searched countless websites, and absolutely nothing came close to the Dayna counter stools from Ballard Designs. I’ve been stalking the price on them for months, and they finally went on sale for 20% off plus free shipping, so I bit the bullet and ordered them. And of course, they’re even cheaper now, because of course they are.

The reviews online are few and far between, and the reviews on the Ballard site mention that the white ones are distressed to look antique and that the gray looked “chalky”, so to say I was apprehensive is an understatement. The description on the site states “worn black”, so I was prepared for a distressed black stool.

But what I got was perfection.

The stools are a solid black with no distressing. The paint finish I would describe as satin—not chalky, not glossy, but in-between. They come fully assembled and packaged very well. We had no issues with damage or packaging. They weigh about 25 pounds.

I chose them primarily for their open back, which lends itself to the chinoiserie vibe I love. Visually I love how nothing is obstructed, so I get to keep that airy feeling I wanted in our home.

The seats were easily removed via some screws on the underside of the chair. We removed the seats, sprayed on two coats of fabric protector and put back the seats all in under an hour. In the future, I’d love to have the seats reupholstered in a more vibrant fabric, but the current linen look is totally fine for now. The seats are wide and comfy—I can sit in one for hours and surf the web on my laptop without feeling the slightest bit uncomfortable.

Under the feet of each stool we applied some felt pads to help them slide around a little easier on our tile floors.

For the upcoming holidays, I look forward to hanging mini-wreaths on the back with some wide velvet ribbon. These candle rings from Grandin Road are serving as my inspiration.

Overall, I couldn’t be more thrilled with the quality, paint finish, construction and shipping/packaging of these stools. They were worth the splurge, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone. D and I want to invest in the dining chair version for our tiny little breakfast/dining area to complete the look. Maybe in 2018 sometime.

If you have any questions about our Dayna counter stools,  please drop me a comment below.