Many of us dream of a kitchen island. It's a place to come together with your nearest and dearest, cook and hangout. Today, you can almost say that the whole day revolves around the kitchen island. This is where the family gathers in the morning for a quick breakfast, this is where we enjoy a quick cup of afternoon coffee and in the evening, we cook while helping our children with their homework. The functional dream becomes an extension of our lives and is today more than just a beautiful accessory. It is part of our lives.
Below we've listed 5 things to keep in mind when planning your kitchen island.
1. Room for family & friends
Is there anything nicer than gathering friends and family around the kitchen island and socializing while the Saturday dinner is being prepared? The kitchen island then becomes an important spot in the home where you spend time with your family and guests. If the space permits, it is a good idea to prioritize seating around the kitchen island.
2. Adapt the kitchen island based on the size of the kitchen
In a small kitchen where a large kitchen island does not fit, a smaller island, with open shelves can work well. It also provides additional working space and storage, which is always beneficial in a slightly smaller kitchen.
3. Let the kitchen island blend into the room
A kitchen island that blends into the room is experienced more as a piece of furniture than anything else. Create the perfect furniture feeling by building an open shelf or a smaller display cabinet on one of the long sides. This works especially well if the kitchen is part of an open plan layout.
4. Electrical outlets
If possible, we recommend installing electrical outlets in the kitchen island to be able to plug in if needed, a hand mixer, baking machine or other appliance that requires electricity. It will then also be easier to cook or bake without having to run around the room. In addition, you don't have to worry about your phone getting low battery in the middle of cooking, so you don't remember the various cooking steps.
5. Kitchen island with built-in fan
If your kitchen is large enough, our recommendation for the best cooking experience is to place a stove with built-in fan in the kitchen island. It is both nice and social to be part of the community when cooking and a built-in hob removes both odor and soot effectively without taking up unnecessary space.
Some kitchen islands need to be anchored to the floor to avoid the risk of tipping over. We will inform you about this if that is the case.
Here we have also collected kitchen inspiration, kitchen furnishings, worktops, appliances, tips for kitchen renovation and guides on how to think when planning the kitchen.