Kitchen Island Ideas

A kitchen island offers some great added workspace to your kitchen, and it can also provide added storage. In its most minimalist form, a kitchen island may be just a simple table. At the other end of the spectrum, kitchen island ideas might feature a cook surface, dining area, storage space, wine cooler, bookcase, dishwasher, and just about anything else – including the kitchen sink!

Red kitchen island

An island can include a sink and extra storage or just offer another work surface.

Will It Fit?

When discussing kitchen island ideas, most designers will tell you that an island needs some “walking around space.” The basic rule of thumb is 48" to 42" between the island and the other cabinets, although you may get by with just 36", provided that the narrow aisle is not used as a primary traffic area.

Cabinet vs Furniture Style

When designing a fixed island, you have 2 basic styles. Cabinet-style is built from cabinets, just like the non-island area of the kitchen. They may be dressed up with some corbels or additional base trim, but the basic look is to match the rest of the kitchen. A furniture-style island is built to look more like a traditional piece of furniture that may be found somewhere else in the home. Here, the goal of your kitchen island idea is to make the island stand out. These pieces will often have legs or columns built into the design and will typically lack heavy-looking base molding.

Furniture island

A furniture-style island is meant to stand out.

Sinks and Cooktops

Because islands are usually centrally located in a kitchen, they are often set up with a sink or cooktop, two of the three main work zones in a kitchen. I have seen many islands with a sink or cooktop, and to a lesser degree, islands with both. These amenities cut down on some of the distance that a cook may have to cover to get things done.

In-Kitchen Seating

Another of the popular kitchen island ideas is to use the island, aside from the food preparation and cooking, as a place to sit down and enjoy the food. Islands can offer a handy place for a quick breakfast or lunch snack, saving a little time and effort from a trip to the normal dining area. Sitting areas can be at the same height as the main island, or they might be raised or dropped.

Island seating and storage

An island can be a great place for breakfast – and storage.

Mixed Materials

Having an area of the island set up with a butcher block top and a stone surface may provide for a robust cutting surface and an area for working pastry dough. In my kitchen, I have to switch out our oversized cutting board for the marble pastry stone the summer heat turns the pie crust mixture into a sticky goo. Having both surfaces ready all the time is a great kitchen island idea and a time saver.

Bookcases and Wine Racks

With furniture-styled islands, it is very common to incorporate shelving for special storage or for cookbooks. Many cooks find having their favorite reference materials in the same room a huge bonus. Storing a small collection of wine is also very handy, whether in a dedicated wine cooler or in a stylish rack.

Island wine rack

A kitchen island can include a wine rack for convenience.

Most of the examples I have given here are for fixed kitchen island ideas. If you have a cooktop or sink involved, your island has to be fixed. If your kitchen is small or you have the need for a smaller island, there are countless choices available in a cart style. With a set of wheels, these islands can be moved or positioned for optimal use. Despite their diminutive size, they can still serve a big role in the modern kitchen.

Figure out how an island would fit into your kitchen floor plan. Are you looking for more kitchen remodeling ideas?

Talk to a professional remodeler about kitchen island ideas today.

Updated July 26, 2018.

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