What to Consider When Adding a Kitchen Island
Adding a kitchen island is a popular upgrade. Here’s what you need to know about kitchen island design, and kitchen island alternatives.
A kitchen island can be a game-changer for cooking, gathering, and entertaining in your home. But if you’re considering adding one to your kitchen, there are several factors to keep in mind to ensure it fits well within your space. Our design and construction experts have shared the following guidelines and insights for adding a kitchen island to your space.
Adding a Kitchen Island to Your Remodeling or Refacing Project
Improveit specializes in kitchen refacing, which transforms the look and feel of your kitchen in a manner of days, rather than weeks or months with traditional remodeling. The process involves refreshing your existing cabinets, and replacing your door and drawer fronts for an all new look. We can also replace your countertops and add specialty inserts to improve your kitchen organization.
While refacing focuses on the appearance and functionality of your kitchen, Improveit’s process is flexible and designed to give you the kitchen you’ve always wanted. This includes replacing or adding new cabinet boxes when needed, including adding a kitchen island for additional storage and workspace.
Kitchen Island Design Considerations
Before you get started with your kitchen island design, there are a number of questions to answer. We’ll go into each of these below:
- Can I fit an island in my kitchen?
- What’s the minimum size for an island?
- How much space is needed between the island and perimeter counter?
- How do I design kitchen islands with seating?
- What are my kitchen island design options?
- What do I do if my kitchen is too small for an island?
What are the Minimum Kitchen Island Dimensions?
There are no requirements that say a kitchen island must be a certain minimum size. Generally, minimum kitchen island dimensions will depend on the size of the base cabinets available from your kitchen remodeler and how much room you have to work with.
Improveit designers recommend a 36-by-48-inch island as an ideal size, adding 12 square feet of countertop workspace, as well as plenty of storage space in the cabinets below. Having said that, their minimum kitchen island size recommendation would be about 24-by-36 inches. This size offers much less work area, but can serve as a much-needed landing spot in some kitchens.
How Much Space Between Counter and Island Edges is Required?
The first step in adding a kitchen island is ensuring that you have enough space on all sides of the new island cabinet. The minimum amount of space needed between your perimeter countertops and your kitchen island is 36 inches. In most cases, this gives enough space for your oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator doors to open fully without hitting the new island.
Having said that, many Improveit designers suggest 42 inches of clearance for a more comfortable work environment. This is also something to consider if you’re interested in a kitchen island with seating.
Accommodating Kitchen Islands with Seating
If your design dreams include a kitchen island with seating, allow for about 24 inches of countertop length per person. In the 36-by-48-inch island mentioned above, this would allow two people to sit comfortable along the long side of the island. And don’t forget about knee space. A 15-inch countertop overhang is recommended for kitchen island seating.
Be sure to have plenty of clearance behind guests as well. Designers recommend having at least 42 inches of clearance on the seating side of the island to allow for easy movement behind stools or chairs when guests are seated. With this in mind, kitchen islands with seating are ideally positioned along the open side of an L-shaped, U-shaped, or in-line kitchen. If your seating area backs to a wall or more cabinets, be sure to have plenty of clearance for opening cabinet doors or for people to walk behind.
Kitchen Island Design Options
Once you know you have enough room to add an island to your kitchen, it’s time to start designing! Many homeowners prefer that their island cabinets and countertops match the rest of the kitchen, while others use it as a chance to make a design statement. Consider trying a complementary or contrasting color for the base cabinets in your island, or use a different countertop surface for the island to set it apart from the rest of the perimeter countertops.
Exploring Kitchen Island Alternatives
Is My Kitchen Too Small for an Island?
Sometimes the dimensions of your space are too tight to add a kitchen island. Thankfully, the Improveit team is here to help you with kitchen island alternatives so you can still maximize your workspace, storage, and style. Here’s how:
- Extending Cabinet Runs. In some cases, you may have room to add a cabinet onto the end of your existing cabinet run. This can be done with both upper and base cabinets and extends your storage space by 1 to 2 feet. Keep in mind that adding a base cabinet will also require replacing your countertop so you gain the extra workspace and keep a consistent style throughout the kitchen.
- Upgrade to a Pantry Cabinet. If the goal of your kitchen island is to add storage, consider adding a full-height pantry cabinet to your space. This can be added to the end of a cabinet run, or can replace an upper and base cabinet configuration. Remember that if you take out a base cabinet in this scenario, you also lose its counter space.
- Add Storage Accessories to Your Existing Cabinets. Instead of more storage, your kitchen may benefit from better use of the space you already have. Improveit offers pull-out cabinet shelving, lazy susans, and interior accessories like spice racks and trash pull-outs to give your kitchen more functionality and better use of space.
Improveit’s Solutions for Adding a Kitchen Island
With your own designs in mind, your island can serve as a small landing place or large work area, and as standout focal point or a beautiful extension of your kitchen design.
Ready to explore your kitchen remodeling and refacing options? Improveit is here to help. Our team of on-staff designers can assess your kitchen space, discuss design options, and determine whether adding a kitchen island or exploring kitchen island alternatives is the best option for you.
Reach out today to learn more!
