The benefits of a kitchen island

Who hasn’t dreamed of a kitchen island where you can gather your family and friends? A kitchen island is a work surface in the kitchen that is completely separate from the traditional kitchen units placed along the walls. Most often, the freestanding kitchen island is fixed to the floor in the middle of the room, which allows you to use the surface around it. The kitchen island can be equipped with a stove, sink, countertop and storage space in the form of drawers or cabinets. This makes the kitchen island a functional and practical kitchen solution with a generous work surface. In addition, it is stylish and opens up many social opportunities right in the middle of your kitchen.

Areas of use – why you should have a kitchen island

A kitchen island is an incredibly practical and functional choice for the kitchen. With storage space, it makes your kitchen more organized and gives you a large area with room for all the utensils and ingredients you need for cooking. The countertop can also be used for serving, as a dining table, or as a place to socialise over a drink.

1. A kitchen island contributes to an organized kitchen

Can it be challenging to find storage in your kitchen? Kitchen islands offer plenty of storage that helps keep your kitchen more organized. In the kitchen you not only need space for tableware, but also for various tools that take up a lot of space in your cabinets. In a kitchen island you get more storage space and can place everything that belongs in the kitchen in its own designated place. In addition, you get a neat kitchen as you can easily put, for example, the food processor away in the island when you have guests. You can also hide that mountain of lunch boxes without it being at the expense of the look of the kitchen. The fact is that a kitchen island offers a lot of space, not only for storage, but also as a work and serving area where you can serve tacos with all the toppings and avoid crowding around the plates.

2. A kitchen island offers plenty of seating

A kitchen island can either replace your dining table or create more seating together with it. A kitchen island is perfect for creating many pleasant and relaxing moments with your family. With a kitchen island you get both a dining table and a large cooking space thanks to the spacious countertop. In the same way as you stand and cook at the stove on the island, the children can sit down and draw or eat beside you. And what child doesn’t love being lifted up to take part in cooking?

3. A stylish kitchen that opens up for social occasions

It is nothing new that the kitchen often becomes the gathering point of the home – whether it’s evenings at home with the family or when you are hosting friends. With a kitchen island, it becomes even nicer to spend time with the people you care about. Your friends can easily gather with a drink around the kitchen island while you put the final touches on the snacks. With the generous space of the countertop, it also makes a great social area for a board game. Or why not take the opportunity to tackle that 10 000 piece puzzle challenge?

4. A small kitchen island for a small kitchen

If you live in an apartment with a small kitchen, the dream of a kitchen island does not have to be over. There are many smart solutions for those who have always dreamed of a small island, even if you have a small kitchen. The fact is that a kitchen island with seating can be good for a small kitchen as you avoid the need for a dining table and free up much more space in a compact area. It also doesn’t have to be big – there are smaller kitchen islands that can even be portable if you wish. It can free up more space, which is often a common problem in small apartments, and even help you keep your kitchen more organized.

Tips when installing a kitchen island

There are endless types of kitchen islands to choose from. Before you decide to remodel your kitchen, it’s a good idea to clarify for yourself how you want it to look, what functions it should have, and how much space you have in your kitchen.

1. How do you want your kitchen island to look?

What style does your home have today? When choosing a kitchen island, it’s worth thinking through in detail how you want it to look. Should it blend in as part of your home, or would you rather have it stand out in a tasteful way?

2. Choose the right countertop based on your needs

One thing many people spend a lot of time on is choosing a countertop for the kitchen island. Perhaps this is because of the central role it plays in the overall impression of your kitchen. Many face the dilemma of finding a countertop with good quality and high durability – that is also stylish.

With that said, it’s a balancing act between functionality and style when you are choosing a countertop for your kitchen. For example, if you have small children or will be using heavy objects on the surface, a porcelain stoneware material may be the best choice, as it is both durable and easy to maintain. This practical material does not absorb liquids, which reduces the risk of permanent stains on a porcelain stoneware countertop. These distinctive features make porcelain stoneware a practical choice for a countertop. At Bricmate, you can choose from several different types of porcelain stoneware inspired by marble, limestone, or cement, allowing you to pick the look you like best.

Need help choosing a countertop? Bricmate offers countertops that can be custom-made to fit all types of kitchen islands – regardless of the size of the island or the kitchen. See our range of countertops.

Which features are important to you?

A first step when choosing the functions of your kitchen island can be to figure out exactly what you want to use it for and what is essential for you in your kitchen. For some, it may be important to be able to cook more advanced dishes, while others prefer it as a gathering point with seating. If you want to be able to cook on the kitchen island, you may need a sink placed close to the stove, which makes cooking much easier. It could also be that you only use the countertop as a place to chop food and serve it. When it comes to storage in the kitchen island, it’s also worth considering how much space you have – is there enough room for pull-out drawers, or would cabinets be a better option?

Adapt the functionality to the size

A kitchen island in a large kitchen can fulfil all your dreams, you can have the luxury of a sink and stove placed close together as well as that extra storage space you need. The dream of a kitchen island may, however, feel out of reach if you have a smaller kitchen. But don’t worry, there are options for small kitchens too.

One tip is to have a drop-down countertop that you can fold away, saving space when you don’t need a larger surface. This can also work well in a large kitchen if you occasionally need more space for a bigger group. There are also smart solutions with wheels on the kitchen island, which can free up floor space and give you a more flexible kitchen layout. For example, if you have a larger living room, one option is to place the dining area there instead and use the kitchen island only for cooking. However, many also choose to use the kitchen island solely as a dining table while cooking in a kitchen without an island. The best option for you naturally depends on your needs.