Kitchen Islands: Are They Worth It?

A home’s kitchen is undeniably it’s focal point. It’s a place where families can gather at the end of a long day, bond over the preparation of a favorite meal, and much more. So it stands to reason that when homeowners are looking to improve the functionality of their home, they tend to turn their eyes to this important space before just about any other. 

While there any many improvements that can be undertaken in the kitchen — from custom kitchen cabinets to modernized fixtures, to tiled backsplash — the inclusion of a kitchen island can create much more value for your family than simply adding storage and prep space.

Kitchen Islands: More Than Meets the Eye

So what is a kitchen island anyway? For the amateur chef or baker, it adds much needed square footage on which to organize and prepare a culinary delight. For others, the spacious drawers and cavernous cupboards offer a respite from cluttered countertops. For others still, it provides a natural place where families can congregate and spend time together while doing homework or preparing a meal. 

Like the various purposes for which they can be used, kitchen islands come in a variety of styles and sizes. For example, some of the more common options include:

• Rolling Carts. Less spacious than some of its counterparts, rolling carts can be easily moved against a wall when not in use. Ideal for smaller kitchens with limited space.
• Single or double tier. A double tier kitchen island creates an elevated surface where family members can have a quick bite or get homework done away from any potential spills or messes. 
• Tabletop. As the name implies, a tabletop kitchen island doesn’t contain a sink in order to maximize the prep area. 
• Full-service islands. These types of islands will include a number of different appliances, from a cooktop, oven, dishwasher, and sink. 

The Pros and Cons of an Open Kitchen with an Island

Like any home reno project that involves transforming a considerable portion of a room, there will be an associated list of pros and cons that you should consider before picking up that hammer. Home projects generally involve some sort of compromise — it’s pretty rare that you can expect to add value to your home without giving something up in return. With that in mind, here are just a few of the positives and negatives associated with installing a kitchen island in your home. 

Upsides to installing a kitchen island: 

• Additional storage capacity
• Additional seating area
• Room division between kitchen and dining area
• Extra space for organization/food preparation
• Numerous options for appliance placement

Downsides to installing a kitchen island:

• Disruption of your kitchen’s natural layout.
• The additional cooktop can be difficult to vent properly
• Adds significant cost to a kitchen remodel

Again, it’s important to take an objective look at your kitchen’s physical dimensions to determine if an island is warranted. If your pro list is longer than your con list, you’re well on your way, but it still might be advantageous to speak to a design consultant to get their take. 

How Big Should a Kitchen Be in Order to Properly Accommodate an Island?

It goes without saying that the bigger the kitchen, the more easily you’ll be able to include an island without impeding the usability of the space. With that and the type and style of kitchen island you have in mind, there are a few things to consider before opening up your wallet. 

First, consider the bare minimum footprint required for your island. To be functional, your island should be at the very least two feet wide (up to a maximum of four feet), and four feet long (if there are no cooking/cleanup amenities). If you plan on incorporating a sink and or cooktop, add an additional two feet to the length of the unit. Unfortunately, those aren’t the only measurements you’ll need to consider when determining if your kitchen is large enough to make including an island a worthwhile endeavor. The general rule of thumb is that if your kitchen doesn’t measure at least 8’ x 12’, including an island will be more cumbersome than it’s worth. 

If you’re looking at a double tiered island, you’ll need to make sure that the width of the eating counter is taken into account when considering the width of the island as a whole. Generally speaking, the eating surface can measure anywhere from 1’ to 2’; and there should be enough space to not only accommodate the seating, but also enough space so that free movement around the island is not impeded. 

Kitchen Island Styles

Like the different configurations outlined above, there are many different styles available. As you begin your search for a kitchen island in earnest, you may quickly come to the realization that more than one style is capable of satisfying your needs. If that’s the case, and all else is equal, the shape of the island could end up being the deciding factor. Available shapes include: 

• L-Shaped Island: Large footprint but comes with an exceptional amount of storage space.
• U-Shaped Island: Large footprint, a great deal of storage, seating, and provides ample space for appliances. 
• Galley-style Island: Functional, space-conscious design. Among the most versatile as this design can be accommodated in a wide variety of kitchens. 
• Circular Island: Provides a truly unique and interesting aesthetic, perfect for when you want to add your own personal stamp of style.
• Rolling Island: Utilitarian and non-obtrusive when it is not needed as it can be rolled away. 
• Furniture-style Island: A unique, non-permanent and budget-conscious way to add extra prep area but provides little in the way of storage.

 

How Much Can a Kitchen Remodelling Project Increase the Value of Your Home?

Before getting to the value added by your remodel, you should give equal weight to how much you and your family will enjoy the project’s outcome for one very simple yet important reason: most home renovation projects do not add a dollar for dollar value to a home’s sticker price. Having said that, it doesn’t mean that these projects are not worthwhile, it just means that you need to strike a balance between the amount of financial and personal value you expect to extract from a particular project. 

There are many great resources available online that will help you gauge what to expect in terms of the financial value added by a particular project. To give you an idea of how much value can be added to your home as a result of a kitchen renovation project, it’s important to note that the more you spend doesn’t necessarily mean it will generate the greatest return on investment (ROI). For example, in a remodelling cost/value survey conducted in 2018, minor kitchen remodels provided a greater ROI than a complete kitchen overhaul, converting about 81.1% of the cost into value compared to 59.0% generated from a major kitchen project.

A Kitchen Island is Worth Considering for a Number of Reasons – Let’s Ask the Experts from Build My Kitchen

With all of that information to digest, your mind may be reeling — and that’s okay. There’s certainly a lot to consider; things like the tradeoff between space and functionality, storage space and personal design preferences. You also have to make the right call in terms of how big of an island you choose and whether it’s a permanent fixture or something that can be moved easily when not in use. Fortunately, you don’t need to do it alone; the professionals at Build My Kitchen are more than happy to walk you through all these important considerations and more.

 

If Done Right, a Kitchen Island Can Elevate the Feel and Value of Your Home

Provided it meets your needs and anticipates those of a potential future buyer, a kitchen island is a great way to add personal and financial value to your home. Whether it’s to make your kitchen more functional or to create a welcoming place for your family to congregate, a kitchen island is one of the simplest yet rewarding home additions that you can make. We hope that this article has given you the insight on what you can expect and what to consider as you begin searching for your perfect kitchen island.