The Size of Your Kitchen Island Might Be Ruining Your Kitchen — Here’s How to Tell

2 hours ago 3

Want Your Business Featured Here?

Get instant exposure to our readers

Kitchen islands are a statement feature of a home. Unfortunately, sometimes that statement is simply, “Look how enormous my kitchen island is.”

One trend I’ve noticed of late, particularly in new builds, is over-the-top islands that are sometimes almost the size of a literal body of land in the ocean. I recently stayed in a vacation rental that had an island so large I think it might have actually been bigger than the studio I lived in during college.

There’s no reason for an island to be that big, especially if it has empty or unneeded cabinets, blind cabinets you can’t even access because of the configuration or size, takes away valuable space for something else in the kitchen, makes it harder to move around, or puts the center of the countertop out of reach.

So, if you’re planning a kitchen remodel, are looking at buying a new build, or just wondering whether your current island is doing your kitchen any favors, here are some things to keep in mind about your next island.

Is Your Kitchen Best Suited for an Island, Peninsula, or Neither?

I love kitchen islands. In fact, one of my favorite projects my wife and I have completed was a DIY kitchen island with custom end storage. However, not all kitchens are suited for one. That can be because of space constraints, layout, traffic flow, appliance placement, or something else. Sometimes a peninsula or no island at all is actually the best use of your space.

So, how do you know if your kitchen is best suited for an island, peninsula, or neither?

Start with how you actually use the kitchen. An island works best when there is enough room to comfortably move around all sides without interfering with cabinets, appliances, doorways, or the main path through the room. If adding one means squeezing through narrow walkways or constantly walking around an obstacle, it probably isn’t helping.

A peninsula can offer many of the same benefits, including extra counter space, seating, and storage, without requiring clearance on four sides. In smaller or narrower kitchens, that can make much better use of the available square footage.

And sometimes the answer is neither. Leaving the center of the kitchen open can give you more room to move, make cabinets and appliances easier to access, and keep a smaller kitchen from feeling crowded.

How to Figure Out What Sized Island Works In Your Kitchen

If you do opt for an island, there are a few things to keep in mind when designing your kitchen layout.

According to Emily LaMarque, founder and principal of Emily LaMarque Design Studio, homeowners should plan for at least 42 inches between an island and the surrounding cabinets, though 48 inches provides more comfortable circulation.

The island’s dimensions can also affect the countertop budget. Larger islands may require more than one slab, which can introduce seams and substantially increase material costs.

LaMarque also recommends planning utilities early. Any water, gas, or electrical lines serving the island need to be accounted for before the floor is finished. Cabinet access deserves the same attention. Back-to-back cabinets can add storage, but depending on the layout, some areas along the sides of the island may become difficult to reach.

Also, don’t forget to consider what is happening above the island.

“Pendant or recessed lighting can be great, but placing a range on the island can mean a ventilation hood floating above the island and blocking sightlines,” LaMarque says.

When a Bigger Kitchen Island Starts Working Against You

So, what are the red flags that your kitchen island is too big?

“A kitchen island is too big for the space when it’s too cumbersome to move and navigate around, when appliances and cabinets encroach on it when they are open, when it cuts off circulation and creates pinch points in the flow, and when you can’t easily reach across it,” LaMarque says. “If the oven, dishwasher, or refrigerator doors are open, another person should be able to pass easily around them.”

An oversized island doesn’t just create a layout issue. It can also be hard to clean or, if you’re still in the building stage, difficult and expensive to design around.

“Oversized islands are notoriously hard to clean in the center,” LaMarque says. “Finding slabs large enough to fit across oversized islands is another problem – be prepared to have at least one seam. Oversized islands with multiple slabs carry massive weight which needs to be structurally considered.”

Yes, islands are great. And if you’re a fan of them like me, I strongly encourage you to consider adding one to your home.

Islands can be a great transition for an open concept floorplan, add extra prep space and storage, or create a casual place for people to sit. Just make sure it works for your space.

But like any project, do what you want and what works for your home and family. Don’t design a house for resale value or what the next homeowner may or may not want, but what you’ll enjoy using every day.