Kitchen islands are so delightfully versatile: a place to chop vegetables, have a quick breakfast, or set up your work from home office. The good news is there are many layouts you can choose from, in different sizes and shapes, to make this design statement work in your home.
Whether you have a small space, or a large open-plan kitchen, there’s no doubt a kitchen island is a stylish and practical addition.
So with help from interiors journalist Jill Morgan, we’ve put together a handy guide to help you choose the right kitchen island shape for your home…
The U-shape kitchen island
Think of astylish arc of bespoke curvedunitsorregularbasecupboardspositioned to createthree sides of a square or rectangle.When it comes to worksurfaces, they can be gentlycurving orfeature90 degreecorners that echo the units below.This layout makes a dramatic focal point for guests to gather round.It naturallydivides the kitchen intozones, from a designated cooking area to an entertaining spot. The U-shape kitchen island works best in large, open place livingspace.
Pros:
- This is an ideal way to establish a‘cook-only’ zone
- Useful whenentertaining large numbers orin a busy household with young children
Cons:
- A horseshoe style island needsto be a good size to make it worthwhile– in terms ofprovidingstorage and seating
- This layout eats up valuable floorspace and you will need 100cm walkways on either side too
Double islands
Go for back-to-backbase units, positioned away from the wall,to form an extra deep workspace.It is usually rectangular or square in format, so it provides a separate food prep or work area. It alsocreates a more sociable setting,with cooking and entertaining taking place at the same time. This design includes both practicality and style as it allows you to add plenty of storage space through deep drawers andpull-outunits, while making a bold statement.
Pros:
- This style is extremely multi-functional
- You can include lots of storage space and an appliance or two
- It offers plenty of seats for your family or guests
Cons:
- Doubleislands are certainly a stand-out feature, however they’re not always a practical solution
- You will have to be able to reach the middle when prepping food, so keep it no deeper than 1400mm front to back
The peninsula island
This layout is formed by athree-sidedislandthatjuts out into the central floorspace whilesitting flush againstone wall.This island style helps you createtwo distinct areas within one large livingarea.Add an extraappliance, or indulge in a longedforwine fridge or drawerdishwasher to create a multi-functional design. Fora personalisedprepor eatingarea, you canoverlaya contrastingmaterial.
Pros:
- Perfect for creating a compact and efficient workspace within anopen-plan living space
- It helps establish a safe cook zone, away from small children
- You canvary the length of the peninsula to suityour layout, they don’t have to match the units they run parallel with
Cons:
- Getting theproportionsright is key, otherwise thewhole space canfeel cramped and awkward
- Think carefullybefore installing a sinkasthe extra plumbing can prove costly and thesurrounding workspace limited
- A fixed arrangement that can be awkward to navigate, particularly as households grow and needs change
- Seating areas tend to be small and only suited to quick bites and drinks
The multi-level island
This layout is perfect if you use your kitchen for multiple purposes.Rather than a casual breakfast barwith high-level stools, this design featureafull-size tableatamore accessible height.So you can use it as a home office during the day and a dining spot after you clock out. Or you can make sure you keep an eye on your little ones doing homework while cooking.
Lightingcan helpswitch the moodof the roomfrom practical tasklightingto softer,ambientlightideal for entertaining.Plus, choosing theright seating combo is also key. A banquette works great withfittedbase cabinets, helping toutilise limited floorspaceand create a cosy vibe.
Pros:
- Good for making the most of limited floorspace
- You can have extra workspace and a stylish dining spot
Cons:
- Canvisually dominate a small room
- Requires aneat and organisedapproachto ensure apleasant dining experience
The dining table
This type of design is more like a traditional setup, used as a preparation area as well as for dining – so materials should be tough. Pairchunky timber worktops andan inset sinkand heavy industrialstools foran urban style.Place it in the centre of a kitchen for the functions of an island, but with the added comfort to sit for longer with your family. This option offers plenty of sociable space and is a great option for a family kitchen.
Pros:
- It putsentertaining atthe centre of the kitchen
- It’s generous in size
- It makessure thateveryonecan dine incomfortand extra guests can be accommodated easily
Cons:
- Thesheer scale of the worktop can make reaching the centretricky
- Appliances need to be quietand extractionsilent yet effective tomake eating a pleasant experience
The simple box island
Small and simple, yet very effective, this island can sit parallel or at right angles to the main bank of units. This layout is ideal for gaining extra storage, seating and preparation space. You can add an extra sink or hob to make the most of the layout. Plus, it can help divide cooking and living areas.
Pros:
- This kitchen island shape isperfectformakingastylestatement andexperimenting with adaringmaterial
- Commission abespoke designorusecreative lightingto make ashow-stopping feature
Cons:
- Too many different colours and materials can appear messy and make a small room feel cramped so, study your colour palette before making a decision
- Not usually large enough to be multi-purposeor deep-enough to incorporatecupboards or drawers on both sides
- Thebackof thisislandcanappear flat and uninspiring
How about the look?
Your kitchen island could simply blend into your kitchen design for a sleek scheme. Or you could also use the opportunity and make a design statement with a bright colour, statement tiles, or by adding metallic elements.
Adding a different worktop is also a good trick, as it helps zone your space. And while your at it – and stepping away from the visual side for a bit – why not add some clever power sources, too? After all there’s always some device or phone that needs charging, plus it would make working from home much easier.
So, which kitchen island shape will you go for? Let us know in the comments…
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