HOW TO DETERMINE KITCHEN ISLAND PLACEMENT

Here’s how you can determine kitchen island placement and how to make it more safe and functional

The number one dream in a kitchen design is a functional kitchen island. Kitchen islands can provide additional workspace, seating and create a conversational element to the space. The obvious next question is how to determine where to place a kitchen island? There are lots of things to consider when putting an island into your plans. First, do you have enough space to add an island and still have a kitchen triangle? Keep in mind your island needs to have more than enough work space around it on all sides.

The kitchen and bath guidelines is a great resource for kitchens as it will help with the space plan in any kitchen design. Their recommendation is for a kitchen that is going to have a single cook you need 42” of space between the base cabinets and the island. If you plan to have more than one cook in your space you need 48”.

The 48” of space between the island and base cabinets is what we like to recommend to clients. It allows for easier traffic flow throughout the space no matter how your kitchen is being used. While not all kitchen spaces allow for this, we believe you can work an island into the design as long as you have a minimum of 36” from base to island with the ideal being 48”.

The other two areas you need to consider when determining where to place you kitchen island is the amount of space you have on the side of the island as a walk through, as well as on the seating side of the island. To make this easier to comprehend we broke all information into the graphic below! 

Things To Consider About Kitchen Island Placement

When determining kitchen island placement, it’s important to consider how you will use the island. Here are some factors to consider:

-Know how much space do you have? The island should be large enough to accommodate the tasks you plan to use it for, but not so large that it becomes a hindrance in the kitchen.

-Based it on what type of layout do you have? If your kitchen is open-plan, an island may be a better choice than a peninsula, which would block the flow of traffic.

-What is your cooking style? If you like to cook and prepare food on the island, make sure there is enough counter space and storage.

-How many people will be using the island? If it will be used by multiple people, make sure there is enough seating.

-What appliances do you want on the island? If you want to include a stove, sink or oven, make sure there is enough room.

Once you’ve considered these factors, here are a few tips on how to determine kitchen island placement:

1. Measure your space and draw out a floor plan to help you visualize where the island would work best for you.

2. Consider the traffic flow in your kitchen and place the island where it won’t interfere with people passing by.

3. Make sure there is enough clearance around the island for appliances and people to move around comfortably and safely.

4. Think about how you will use the island and place it accordingly. For example, if you want an extra prep area, place the island near the cooktop.

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