Stylish Stools

Blu Dot Real Good Stool

Who knew origami could be so strong? This powder-coated steel stool ships flat, then folds along laser-cut lines into a high-backed seat that’s as thin as paper, yet remarkably comfortable. And unlike that origami crane you made in fourth-grade art class, this sturdy little stool promises to keep its shape long past the end of the school year-or even the end of the decade. Designed and manufactured with Blu Dot’s commitment to affordability in mind, the Real Good Stool is available in four sleek color options for less than $200 apiece. That’s a real good price even your kooky elementary-school art teacher can afford. bludot.com

Magis Stool One

Keep your space stylish and clutter-free with stackable stools from German-born designer Konstantin Grcic. Made in Italy, the Magis Stool One’s minimalist design is crafted in die-cast aluminum with a polyester powder coat. Treated for use both indoors and out, it’s versatile enough to provide extra seating at your next party and serve as a complement to your poolside bar. Need to save space between uses? Simply stack these svelte stools into one tidy pile and they’ll fit practically anywhere. Available in both counter and bar height for around $400, the Stool One is a couple steps up from your typical guest seating-let’s face it: those dusty folding chairs in your closet aren’t going to impress your friends. magisdesign.com

B-Line Icon Stackable Stool

Munich-based designer Matthias Demancker takes reductionism to new heights with this stackable stool composed of nothing but two aluminum sheets bent and welded into one seemingly gravity-defying structure. If this stool’s severe shape, backless design and minimalist materials are a bit too stark for your tender sensibilities, have no fear. The Icon Stackable Stool also comes with a removable seat cushion, which brings a touch of warmth and comfort to an otherwise unforgiving design. At once both archetypical and avant-garde, the $995 Icon is available in red, black or aluminum and is finished in scratch-resistant varnish. hivemodern.com

Vitra W.W. Stool

Who needs to sit when you can gawk at this elegant, fantastical Philippe Starck creation instead? Technically a seat but in some ways more suitable for leaning, the W.W. Stool might just be more sculpture than anything else. Curious what inspired Starck’s imaginative design? Look no further than the name-W.W. are the initials of prolific German filmmaker Wim Wenders, for whom Starck designed this stool in 1990 as part of an ethereal office ensemble. Built in sandblasted aluminum and produced by Vitra, you may just need a hit film of your own to afford the W.W.-it retails for nearly $5000. vitra.com

Kartell Spoon Stool

Cuddle up tight to this curvaceous stool that’s the epitome of flexibility and comfort. While other contemporary designs trend toward sharp angles and straight lines, the Spoon Stool combines the quintessential minimalism of modern design with the approachability of smooth edges and a rounded seat back. Designed by Antonio Citterio and manufactured by the Italian powerhouse Kartell, the $620 Spoon Stool also features high-tech gadgetry, like a gas pump height adjuster cleverly hidden inside its smooth stem and a handle completely concealed within the seat itself. With this happy union of total comfort and high-function design, this is one stool you’ll definitely feel like spooning. kartell.it