Is A Kitchen Island The Right Choice For You?

Kitchen islands are a great vocal point for most kitchen-dining areas but, if you're not sure whether a kitchen island is the right choice for you, read on.

Is A Kitchen Island The Right Choice For You?

Designing a kitchen can be really exciting, as there are so many options available these days. And, if you are lucky enough to have a large amount of space in your kitchen-diner, you might even be considering installing an island.

However, if you are not sure whether a kitchen island is the right choice for you, read on.

Provides additional storage

Whether you have a big family, love to cook or are a keen baker, the chances are you will use a lot of kitchen appliances. In this case, having an island could be ideal, as it provides very useful additional storage for your gadgets.

By having extra cupboards that do not take up wall space, you can fit in lots of gizmos that enable you to enjoy your favourite hobby or store all the pots, pans and Tupperware boxes that your kids need without any problem.

Additional seating

Lots of people put stools against their kitchen island to create somewhere for their children or guests to sit other than at the dining room table.

This is great if you want your kitchen-diner to be a sociable space, allowing your friends to enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles while you prepare a meal for them; your children to do their homework as you cook their dinner; or for everyone to eat breakfast when in a rush.

If you like to invite lots of people round to your house regularly, it also gives you the option of seating more guests than your table allows.

Hides appliances

As well as providing additional food preparation space, kitchen islands can fit in sinks, hobs, cookers, fridges and freezers. This allows you to install some of the most important appliances of your kitchen away from the wall and spread them out a bit.

The kitchen triangle is essential to having a workable food preparation area, with the cooker, fridge and sink being in situated in the configuration of a triangle around the room. By having one of these appliances fitted in the island, it might make it easier to create a kitchen triangle, and therefore allow for a more efficient workflow.

Focal point

Many people like kitchen islands as they immediately create a focal point in the room. You can prepare food here without having your back to others in the room; you can pull up a stool and get people to stop and chat; and you can set up a nice flower display on it to brighten up the space.

Whatever you do, having something in the centre can really establish a different dynamic to the room, whether you buy a pre-owned kitchen or a brand new one.

But you need space

In order for you to install a kitchen island in your house, it is important to consider whether you have space for it. It is recommended to leave at least 36 inches of walkway between worktops to have enough room for travelling around the kitchen without feeling claustrophobic, and to be able to open the cupboard doors fully.

Therefore, you need to make sure your kitchen-diner is large enough to fit an island in to still allow you to have a comfortable cooking experience.

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