If you’re designing a new kitchen, it can be easy to assume that installing or renovating a kitchen island is a requirement because in almost any kitchen you see, you’ll find one. However, before blindly following every other homeowner, do some soul-searching (and some analysis) to see if an island is really the right move for you. Below we’ll examine the pros and cons of this popular feature to help in your decision-making. Largely this choice will depend on the space in your kitchen, your family’s lifestyle, and your personal preferences.
Pros
With information and inspiration at our fingertips these days, there is probably at least some collective wisdom at play if everyone is making a very similar choice in their kitchen design. In this way, kitchen islands are very popular for their practicality. For instance, having a kitchen island allows for the kitchen work triangle to be part of your kitchen renovation layout. To learn more about the kitchen work triangle read our past post, What is the Kitchen Work Triangle.
Another bonus is that it allows for a lot of “extras” including extra meal prep surface, extra seating, and extra storage. Finally, an island can create the space needed to add a second sink to your kitchen. From washing veggies to cleaning up after craft time, who can’t use an extra sink?
Cons
The biggest deciding factor will almost certainly be whether or not you have the space for an island. Cramming an island into a space that is too small or narrow to support it is the design equivalent of jumping off a bridge because everyone else did it.
If you find that you don’t have the space for an island, you can still cash in on some of the above perks like extra prep space, seating and storage with the use of a peninsula. This can also be a less expensive way of fitting in some of those extras if your budget is tight.
Overall, you need to make the decision that looks and feels right to you. You may feel that having a large anchor in the middle of a room like a kitchen island makes the room feel too heavy. If that’s the case, follow your gut. If you’re not sure what decision to make, book a FREE consultation with your local Fairview Millwork and Kitchens designer who can walk you through all of your options.
