How To Choose A Kitchen Island
A kitchen island is more than just a functional element in your cooking space - it can provide additional storage, act as a design focal point, and be a gathering place for family between mealtimes.
Whether you’re considering a full kitchen renovation or just looking to enhance your existing space, your choice of kitchen island can make or break your kitchen.
Here’s our guide on how to choose a kitchen island that elevates your kitchen’s design and functionality.
1. Kitchen Style and Design
The kitchen island you go for should match your kitchen’s overall style. Carefully consider the colour, finish, and design to make sure your island complements your kitchen.
Colour: Select a colour which complements your kitchen’s overall colour scheme. Do you want to match a modern kitchen aesthetic with a bold shade or opt for a classic neutral palette?
Finish: Your island’s finish should complement your kitchen’s design elements. Rustic wood finishes add warmth and texture, which is great for farmhouse kitchens, while glossy finishes look best in modern kitchens with sleek lines.
Style: Choose an island design that reflects your kitchen’s aesthetic. Curved islands might look out of place in traditional kitchens, but can add to a trendy, contemporary space. On the other hand, rectangular islands are classic and can work well in traditional kitchens, but may not be for you if you want a standout piece that commands attention.
Understanding these potential functions can help you choose the best island to complement your kitchen’s practicality and style.
Carefully consider colour, finish, and design to make sure your kitchen island complements your kitchen.
2. Size and Positioning
Houzz’s 2024 Kitchen Trends study found that 42% of respondents preferred kitchen islands that were over 7 feet in length. However, even though larger kitchen islands are in favour, it’s important to make sure your island is proportionate to the space around it, otherwise it lacks in functionality and appearance.
It’s best to have a minimum of 90 cm (around 3 feet) of clearance around all sides of the island, as this is enough room to maintain comfortable movement around the kitchen space.
Your island’s size should enhance your kitchen’s overall layout. Too large and it will dominate the room, too small and it can get lost in the space.
Placement also matters as the island should match your daily workflow without interrupting the kitchen triangle - the optimum distance between the sink, refrigerator and stove. Proper positioning ensures your kitchen island improves efficiency, enabling smooth transitions between prepping food, cooking, and cleaning.
Aim to have a minimum of 90 cm (around 3 feet) of clearance around all sides of the island, as this is enough room to maintain comfortable movement around the kitchen.
3. Selecting The Right Shape
Many different kitchen island ideas are available in various shapes. The most popular choices are rectangular, round, square, curved, or pentagonal/hexagonal.
Rectangular and Square Kitchen Islands: Houzz’s 2024 Kitchen Trends survey found that rectangular and square islands are the most common kitchen islands, with 80% of respondents choosing the shape. These four-sided features are ideal for coordinating the kitchen area, as the island will always run parallel to additional work areas.
Round Kitchen Islands: Round islands are ideal for smaller kitchens, as they are usually on the small side, taking up less room. Round kitchen islands aren’t the best for seating multiple people, but you can still find options with innovative kitchen storage solutions and extra worksurface space.
Curved Kitchen Islands: These are best for modern kitchens, as their fluid curves look great in contrast with straighter lines. Though they are unique in shape, curved kitchen islands can still house extra storage, and depending on their size, may deliver additional seating.
Hexagonal or Pentagonal Islands: Multi-side kitchen islands are best for those who want a unique piece to complement a larger kitchen. Hexagonal or pentagonal islands have many sides that provide seating spaces and will easily stand out in a busy kitchen.
4. Kitchen Island Countertop Materials
Choosing the right material for your kitchen island is important, as it should match your maintenance, style, durability and budget requirements. Here are some popular options:
Granite: With a 6-7 rating on the Mohs scale, granite is a hard material that resists scratches easily. It’s easy to clean, but any stains or spills should be treated as soon as possible to prevent bacteria from weakening the material.
Quartz: Quartz is very strong, non-porous and doesn’t need to be sealed, so it’s easy to maintain over time. However, quartz can look artificial and may not complement homes as much as natural materials, like stone.
Marble: Marble is naturally heat-resistant and cool to the touch, but it scratches, stains, and chips easily if not cared for. Marble also requires frequent sealing to prevent discolouration, which adds to the overall cost.
Concrete: Concrete is durable, affordable, and can be coloured to replicate a range of finishes and styles. It resists heat and scratches well, but concrete requires frequent maintenance and sealing to prevent staining and cracking later down the line.
You can find out more about choosing worktop materials with our guide on what is the best countertop for a kitchen.
5. Kitchen Island Storage
One of the main benefits of a kitchen island is the extra storage space it can provide. Think about what you mainly use in your kitchen and the items you want to keep on hand.
Here are some ideas:
Drawers: Deep and wide drawers are great for storing pots, pans and dishes. If you want to keep heavy items here, check that your drawers and hardware are suitable to bear the weight.
Open storage: Open storage shelves are great for keeping aesthetic pieces on display, like baking tins, cookbooks, or attractive serving items.
Cabinets: A classic storage idea, cabinets are made for keeping pans, pots, and traditional kitchen utensils organised and out of sight.
Wine storage: Wine enthusiasts can look out for islands with storage designed for bottles. You can also find refrigerated drawers suitable for keeping white or sparkling wine.
Hidden appliances: Some larger islands are made with appliances integrated into their structure. Examples include warming drawers, built-in bins and microwave ovens.
Our experienced and skilled designers at Cwtch Haus can work with you to integrate space-saving features that work with your kitchen. We’ll ensure your space looks gorgeous and is practical for everyday kitchen tasks.
Contact us today to find out more
6. Kitchen Island Seating
Lastly, think about seating arrangements if you plan to use your kitchen island for socialising or dining.
Island Size & Seating Capacity: Smaller kitchen islands might be able to fit two or three bar stools, while larger islands have room for more seating.
Legroom and Comfort: Check that there is enough room for people to sit and move around the island without any issues. Keep legroom and comfort in mind. Counter stools are shorter and are best for islands of standard height, whereas bar stools are taller and work best with greater heights.
Choosing the Right Style: Your stools should match your kitchen’s design and overall feel. Sleek or metal stools can enhance an industrial-style kitchen, whereas wooden or cushioned stools add warmth and comfort to traditional kitchens.
The right seating will balance style and comfort, making your island a nice spot for casual conversations, meals, or entertaining guests.
Counter stools are shorter and are best for islands of standard height, whereas bar stools are taller and work best with greater heights.
How We Can Help
There we go! We hope our guide on how to choose a kitchen island helps you find an island that complements your kitchen’s style and functionality.
Still stuck between kitchen island ideas? We can help!
At Cwtch Haus, we can help guide you through each step of your kitchen renovation, so you choose the best kitchen island for your aesthetics and lifestyle preferences.
Call us today on 01437 765960 to find out how we can make your dream kitchen a reality.
