Have you ever noticed the kitchen is the one room in a house where people congregate? So, if you’re contemplating adding an island to your kitchen, to give you more area for people to socialize, you might want to go ahead and do it. A kitchen island is practical and stylish.
The kitchen island serves as a place for guests to sit while talking to the host who is busy cooking and cleaning the kitchen. It can also help facilitate traffic flow and can provide additional storage. There’s no doubt an island is practical, but it can make your kitchen more stylish, too.
One of the most important features of a kitchen, the island serves as a stylish centerpiece. As a result, most modern kitchens benefit from having an island. But before diving into the project, make sure you think about the style and design you’re looking for in a kitchen island.
Creating the unique style of your kitchen island
Do you want to buy a traditional island at your local home improvement store or do you want a more stylish and unique one? If you choose the latter, there are many options to think about.
- Convert other pieces of furniture. An island doesn’t have to be an expensive and installed piece within in your kitchen. You can convert almost any piece of furniture into an island. Pick out an old dresser, sofa table, bookcase or filing cabinet. Then grab some lumber, a countertop, and some brackets and you can create an island that provides counter space and storage. You can even make it more functional by adding additional storage with hooks, paper towel holders and spice racks.
- Make your island unique. You can add some common items to your island to make it unique. Add a chalkboard, corkboard or even a bar for a kitchen towel to add some character to your kitchen. You can even save space by adding a table to one side of the island to extend your seating and add another dimension to the piece.
- Add character to your island. There are a few different ways to add character to your island. You can add trim to dress it up, paint it a bold color, or even use distressed wood for the countertop to give it a vintage look.
Designing your practical kitchen island
Once you choose the style you want for your kitchen island, the next step is making your island practical and functional in your kitchen.
- Consider your space. Make sure to leave enough space surrounding your island so you can easily move around it. According to the popular home design website, Houzz, the ideal measurement for the amount of space around your island is forty-two inches.
- Think about your workstations. If your island serves as a prep area for cooking, think about the location of your recycling, trash, and most importantly your sink. Your main sink would complement your prep area well. You may even want to consider adding your dishwasher to the island, as well. If adding appliances to your island is part of your plan, a cooking surface provides the opportunity for the host to socialize while he/she makes a meal.
- Decide on seating. Since people are going to congregate in your kitchen, a functional island should have ample seating. First decide how many seats you want and then consider seating area specifications. Each individual will need a space 24 inches wide and 12 inches deep.
- Add storage. Kitchen islands are great places to add additional storage. Large drawers are useful to store cookware, utensils, and linens. Wine storage can be functional and stylish, and open shelving provides space to display colorful serving dishes.
Now that you’ve thought about the style and design you’re looking for in a kitchen island, it’s time to dive into your project.