Is Bar Seating a Must? A Kitchen Question From a Past Seller Turned Into Real Talk About Resale Value

Amy McCormick
Dec 1
3 min read

Before we dive in, if you ever want help thinking through your renovation choices or how they might play into future resale, I’m always here to walk through what makes the most sense for your home.

~ Amy McCormick / amy@thebellacasagroup.com

We’re kicking off our 2026 series, “Ask a Realtor,,” inspired by the real questions we get from friends, clients, and neighbors from time to time. Today’s topic came straight from a past home client's text while she was considering details for her new kitchen renovation.

“If a house has a kitchen island but no bar seating, does that lower the value or make it harder to sell? We aren’t planning to sell, but someday we might. Also... granite or quartz? Any thoughts?”

These are exactly the kinds of decisions people wrestle with when the contractor is waiting, samples are scattered across the table, and you’re trying to make choices that feel good now and make sense later. It's a great question to be asking, even if you plan to be in your home for decades to come, so props to El for reaching out.

*A kitchen designed by Amy McCormick, in her family's Central Oregon cabin.*

My take on islands without bar seating? Spoiler: It’s not a problem

I told her what I’ll tell you: Not having bar seating is absolutely fine if the kitchen's design and flow don't merit it.

In fact, I designed a kitchen island with zero bar seating because adding it, in spite of the fact that we were designing a massive island within a large kitchen and dining area, simply didn't make good design sense for the space. There was a natural walkway from the entryway to the great room. On one side, the kitchen with its massive island; on the other, a custom dining area with a 10-foot floating bench to go with a table that seats 12. Why squeeze bar seating in there when we didn't need it?

Instead, the oversized island served as a phenomenal storage solution, with cabinets on both sides, and became a gorgeous focal piece for the space - no bar seating needed.

Bottom line: Don’t force the space to work within a particular design. Design for the space (and the purpose) you have.

Next question: Granite vs. Quartz (What to know and what I really told her)

And honestly, you can go either way. They both have their pros and cons:

Quartz

Low-maintenance
Consistent patterns
Very current and desirable right now

Granite

Natural movement
Classic look
Super durable and easy to care for

But what matters most for future resale? Pick something timeless. Skip dramatic veining and heavy speckling (which tend to be the more cost-effective selections). And grey/white? Stay away! We are over it. Design is leaning warm and subtle again, with fun color pops & design elements in cabinetry, lighting, or hardware.

*A stunning client-designed kitchen from one of our 2025 sold properties.*

Renovate the kitchen of your dreams, yes, but keep “resale someday” in mind.

Even though they’re not planning to sell, my clients wanted to make choices that wouldn’t feel dated in a few years, or turn off future buyers. This is forward-thinking and a really great starting place as you consider renovation plans. There is a sweet spot: design for your life now, and let resale be guardrails for what you incorporate into the project.

A few simple rules help:

Pick finishes that age gracefully.
Keep the layout open and easy to move through.
Choose warmth over stark contrast.
Let the space lead the design. Keep the era of the home in mind. Don't strong-arm a design into a space it just doesn't fit.

When a kitchen is well thought out, buyers will notice - bar seating or not. There is a reason we call it the heart of the home, and a reason that a well-designed kitchen can sell a home in no time at all.

*Fun pops of color in this farmhouse kitchen from one of our 2025 homes sold.*

If you’ve ever wished you had someone you could text with questions like these…

You’re exactly who this “Ask Your Realtor” Series is for. We've got your back. We're here to help you make choices that feel good today and still make sense if “someday” becomes “soon.”