Three Ways to Make Your Kitchen Island Functional

Islands are a wonderful upgrade to any kitchen. While they may just look like a nice place to sit and enjoy a meal, islands should also be functional. They should fit the specific needs of your home and both complement and complete your kitchen.

Seating arrangements

If you don’t plan on using your island to do much cooking or food preparation, you may want to include plenty of bar stools or chairs for dining. Don’t forget to take knee clearance into account so you aren’t bumping into the island all the time. If you’ll be using your island to prepare meals, you may not want as many seats so you don’t have to keep moving them out of your way.

Everything and the kitchen sink

Your island doesn’t just have to be a place to eat or serve a buffet style meal. There are plenty of island additions you can make including a kitchen sink. Dishwashers, stoves, cabinets, drawers, and wine cellars are just a few things you can add to your island to free up regular counter space. Be sure to add electrical outlets. You may need to arrange for plumbing or an additional gas line if you plan on having these extras built in.

Size and space considerations

It’s very important to make sure the size of your island is proportionate to the size of your kitchen. Islands don’t have to be rectangular, they can be square, oval, and even L or T-shaped. Be sure to allow plenty of room to be able to walk between the island and existing counters and to open all cabinets and drawers. A good rule of thumb is to leave a minimum of 36 inches of aisle space, with 42 inches between counters being ideal.

Other factors

There are a variety of countertop styles to choose from, and your island doesn’t have to match the rest of your kitchen countertops. You may also want to add extra lighting over your island. Blue Water Kitchens & More can help you improve and upgrade your kitchen. From kitchen design to cabinets and countertops, we have you covered. Schedule your free consultation today at 810-385-8791.