Island kitchen: The pros and cons
Dec 2025What sets an island kitchen apart
The advantages of an island kitchen
The disadvantages of an island kitchen
)
The island kitchen is the ultimate design for kitchens. Typically consisting of one run of cabinets and an island, it forms the vibrant centrepiece of countless living spaces around the globe.
Island kitchens take many different forms – the hob, sink and oven placement varies from one kitchen to the next, some incorporate an integrated dining and seating area, while others can feature dramatic extractor fans above the island. An island can also be readily combined with other kitchen designs, such as an L-shaped kitchen.
It's no surprise that open-plan designs have become increasingly popular in recent years; after all, island kitchens come with many advantages. However, this kitchen layout is not the best choice for everyone. It's essential to weigh up the pros and cons depending on your individual living situation.
)
An island kitchen usually consists of one run of kitchen cabinets facing an island.
Advantages of an island kitchen
Lots of extra storage spaceand no dead space in inaccessible corners if it is teamed with a single run of cabinets against the wall.
The island kitchen is perfect for cooking with guests.
It's a sociable kitchen design, especially with integrated seating
And generous worktop space.
The island acts as a room divider , which is perfect for open-plan kitchens/living spaces
Highly efficient kitchen design; if work zones are well-organised then everything is within easy reach
Disadvantages of an island kitchen
Kitchen smellsin the living area (incorporating an extractor fan is a must!)
Requires a lot of space (ideally at least 1.2 metres between the run of cabinets and the island); suitable for larger spaces
Trickier to integrate into existing homes (connections for water and power supplies are usually on the wall)
Costsare usually higher than for a single run kitchen, although this depends on the specific equipment and fittings
Island kitchens in an open plan living space are always on display, so keeping things neat and tidy is especially important
More about the different kitchen shapes:
)
)
)
)
)
All the pros and cons at a glance:
The island is the social and visual centrepiece of the kitchen and so need to be kept clear and clean.
No dead space in inaccessible corners, plenty of storage space and work surface
Not many steps are needed to move around this kitchen
An island takes up a lot of space, but also serves as the perfect room divider
It's trickier to integrate the island into an existing kitchen because the connections for the water and power supply need to run to the centre of the room
Got a question or ideas you want to share?
We'd love to hear from you!)