When people think of kitchen islands they automatically associate it with restaurants and resorts. However, many of us don’t live in fancy restaurants or expensive hotels so what good would it do to have a kitchen island if you don’t have an empty floor space? Of course, having an island in your kitchen will give you extra counter space as well as free up the floor space that would otherwise be taken up by appliances such as the dishwasher. However, does a kitchen island need to be attached to the ground floor? That all depends on whether you have a one or two story home.
One reason to consider having an island in your kitchen is that many islands have a kitchen bar attached to them. If this is the case then you can simply hang the bar from the ceiling or put in a workstation area above the island. This will free up a lot of floor space that would normally be used for storing dishes, pots, pans, flatware, and other kitchen items. Even if your kitchen decor already has a bar set up consider adding a kitchen island and bar stools. This combination will give your kitchen that added professional touch.
Another reason to consider having an island in your kitchen is that many apartments have tight spaces. In fact, many apartments just don’t have enough room to have a kitchen of their own. If this is the case than adding an island is a great way to add some much needed space to your kitchen decor. This is especially helpful if you are in an apartment building where the kitchen is usually just a short walk away from the apartment unit you are living in.
However, do keep in mind that an island is generally only good if you have at least three feet of clearance on each side of the kitchen island. If you have little to no room to navigate around the kitchen or have small children who like to play in the kitchen then you are better off to keep your kitchen cabinets and countertops open. After all, you want your kitchen counters to be free of any clutter and bar stools in the kitchen area.
Now that we know why it is important to have at least three feet of clearance from each side of a kitchen island we need to determine what type of kitchen decor style we are going for. Do you want a traditional kitchen island with wood bench seating along with traditional kitchen cabinetry? Or do you want to go with modern kitchen decor with stainless steel kitchen accessories and under cabinet storage? The answer to this question will determine how much space you really need.
If you are looking for more space than you think then it may be a good idea to add an eating area or kitchen cart. You can add a drop leaf and an end table with matching stools to add additional seating. This is a great addition to a kitchen decor theme that will also incorporate kitchen islands. If you decide to go with a traditional kitchen island design then you may not need additional seating at all.
If you want additional storage than you may need to purchase some drawers, cabinets or shelves. If you are looking for a very organized look you can use a wine rack, pantry shelf or even a corner shelf. These items can be found at any home improvement store. Kitchen islands can be used for many things but they are primarily made for food preparation and storage. So, if you are looking for a kitchen island with more storage than food preparation you will probably need to buy a kitchen island that is specifically designed for this purpose. You can add beautiful stone counters to the island when you are designing your kitchen decor and can also add a granite counter top.
But even if you do not need extra storage space there are other ways that a kitchen island can be used. A kitchen island can be great for using as a breakfast nook where you can put a breakfast table and chairs in front of it. In the kitchen decor plan you can put a kitchen island beside a sink where you can store your hand dryer and other appliances. They can also be great places to put your microwave oven or even your garbage disposal.