Flash Furniture Metal Indoor-Outdoor Barstool Review 2024

Are you in the market for a sturdy and reliable indoor-outdoor barstool with an industrial aesthetic? Are you a heavier person, or do you regularly entertain guests who are? 

If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you’re going to like what you read in this review.

Let’s face it, finding good quality furniture that’s capable of supporting a lot of user weight can be a challenge, no matter what type of furnishings you’re looking for. Most of the big-name brands have decided to steer clear of that segment of the market, preferring instead to market to the mainstream, making furniture that’s capable of supporting between 250-300-pounds for the most part. Sure, there are more robust options out there offered by big, mainstream brands, but they’re the exception rather than the rule.

Fortunately, that fact has created an opportunity for smaller brands, and Flash Furniture and many others have stepped up to the plate.

We readily admit that we’re biased in favor of little Flash Furniture. They’ve been in the game for a long time, and they know how to make top-quality furniture. In fact, although they’re only a fraction of the size of big, national brands, their products regularly steal the thunder from the big brands, winning spots on a number of roundup reviews we’ve done in the past.

The Flash Furniture Metal indoor-outdoor barstool may be simply designed and have a few other shortcomings besides, but make no mistake: It’s a serious competitor. If you’re a fan of the industrial aesthetic, which this model brings to the table, then you’re going to be impressed.

In the sections that follow, we’ll tell you everything it has to offer, and we won’t pull any punches when it comes to describing the stool’s shortcomings. That way, you’ll have all the information you need to decide if it’s the one you’ve been looking for. If that sounds good to you, read on, and let’s take a closer look.

An Overview of the Flash Furniture Metal Indoor-Outdoor Bar Chair

As a mostly steel barstool, the Flash Furniture Metal Indoor-Outdoor Barstool has an unmistakable industrial look and feel to it. That’s the first thing you notice about it. At first glance, you may find yourself thinking that since it’s made mostly of metal, it would make a poor choice for outdoor use.

Not to worry though, it’s been coated to help it withstand the elements and prevent rust. Since they’re fairly lightweight, if you’d prefer to move them indoors when you’re not actively using them, that’s an easy thing to do as well.

Before we go further, let’s take a quick look at the core stats that define the model. Here are the basics:

In general, these are good numbers. We’re impressed by the amount of weight the stool is capable of supporting, and we love that you can buy either a 24” or a 30” high model, depending on your specific needs.

The seat dimensions are a bit underwhelming, and if you weigh close to the maximum supported limit of the chair, you’re likely to be somewhat uncomfortable trying to squeeze yourself onto the smallish seat. On the other hand, most people don’t invest in barstools to spend the whole day lounging in them. They’re meant to serve as occasional seating, and in that regard, the seat dimensions are acceptable.

If you decide you want one (or more), you can choose to buy this stool individually, or in packs of four, which is convenient if you’re buying several at once.

Also note that you can get yours in a wide range of color options, including:

There are a good mix of color options here, ranging from subdued, which allows these stools to blend politely into the background, to bold, eye-popping colors you can use to turn them into the centerpiece of your outdoor entertaining space if you prefer. Lots of different options here, and we love that.

Adjustability and Comfort

There’s nothing adjustable about the Flash Furniture Metal Indoor-Outdoor Bar chair, though again, note that when you place your order, you can select from either a 24” or a 30” height variant depending on your needs.

Comfort-wise, these are solid metal stools, so they’re not luxurious by any means. If you place them in the hot sun, they’ll get uncomfortably hot rather quickly.

The good news is that it’s easy to make them as comfortable as you like by introducing a seat pad of whatever thickness you desire. In theory, you could also add a seatback pad, though it may be somewhat difficult to get it to stay in place, owing to the fact that the back is mostly open space.

Again though, given that these are designed for use as occasional seating, we don’t have any serious complaints about comfort.

One final thing to note is that the seat is very slightly indented to help water flow to the center, and there are a handful of small holes in the center of the seat which allow any water that builds up on the seat to drain away. It’s a small touch, but we appreciate the attention to detail on display.

Minor Assembly is Required

Most of the furniture you can buy online these days will arrive at your door in a box and unassembled. These stools are no exception. Fortunately, Flash Furniture’s production quality is fairly high, and the instructions are clear. It will probably take longer to get the stool out of its box than it will to get it ready for first use, which is a very good thing.

Pros and Cons of Flash Furniture Metal Indoor-Outdoor Barstool

These stools are almost entirely self-selecting. You’re either going to be in the market for an all-metal, industrial-looking barstool, or you’re not. If you are, this one is offered by a good company with a reputation for making good quality, long-lasting furniture. If you’re not specifically looking for a stool with this aesthetic, then you’re not going to be impressed, no matter how many fun color options are available.

Final Thoughts: Flash Furniture Metal Indoor-Outdoor Barstool Review

Given all of the above, we can only give the Flash Furniture Metal Indoor-Outdoor Barstool a provisional recommendation. Having said that, if you decide to buy one or more of these, they’ll serve you very well and will last you for years with proper care.

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Official Manufacturer Support

References & Resources

• Flash Furniture, Official Brand Website.
• Flash Furniture Metal Indoor-Outdoor Barstool User Manual.
• Selecting Metal Furniture, Utah State University.
• Bar Stools – 7 Other Uses Besides in a Bar!, Ezine Articles.
• Defining A Style Series: Industrial Design? The Perfect Blend of Old and New, Freshome.