blogPros and Cons of Kitchen Island – Our Kitchen Design Tips

One of the main things people want to include in their modern kitchen design is a kitchen island. You firstly need to have the space for a kitchen island but you should also think about whether it suits your kitchen too. There are some great design aspects to a kitchen island and a number of positives but there are also some drawbacks that you should consider too. We have put together a guide to the pros and cons of kitchen islands and our design tips.

What Size Kitchen Do I Need?

If you are thinking about having an island in your kitchen then the first thing that you will have to consider is whether or not you have enough room. Although it is an ideal design aspect for many, you should be cautious of squeezing an island into your kitchen when you don’t quite have enough space. Guidelines suggest that you should have at least 42” or just over a meter clearance each side of the island. You can have a more narrow walkway if you deem this is only a walkway, but one of the biggest advantages to having an island is that you have a lot of workspaces. In order to have enough space, this would require a kitchen of at least 13 feet from wall to wall. If you have measured and decided you have enough space, the next step is to look at the advantages.

Pros of Kitchen Islands

There are a number of advantages to having a kitchen island that can help really transform your kitchen space. It can be a great way to open up your kitchen and make it a communal area where you can prepare food and still socialise with family or friends while prepping food. Some of the main pros of a kitchen island include;

• Additional Counter Space – one great bonus is the additional space you can use to prepare food in the kitchen. It can be difficult to get counter space, so it is ideal for placing any items in the kitchen.
• More Seating – a great bonus is also the fact that you will get additional seating around the island that can be treated as a breakfast bar. It provides a good informal place to sit, eat and socialise.
• Define Your Space – kitchen islands are often used in open-plan kitchens so they help to define the space. This can really define which space is your kitchen area and which space is the dining area.

Cons of Kitchen Islands

Although you might not think there are many cons to kitchen islands, there are some drawbacks that you should also think about. It is one of the main design aspects that many people want in their kitchen but they often haven’t thought about whether it suits their space. Some of the main cons of a kitchen include;

• Obstacles – if you don’t have a huge kitchen then you will likely end up having to go around the kitchen island to get to the fridge. It might seem like a small inconvenience, but this can get annoying over a long period.
• Appliances – to avoid having appliances too far apart, it often involves having the cooker integrated into the kitchen island. This can be off putting with people sat at the island or young children.
• Budget – you should also consider whether you actually have the budget to include a kitchen island, as it can actually add a great deal of cost to your new kitchen. Make sure you include the cost for all the materials.