11 Fab and Functional Kitchen Island Ideas For Your New Home

Dishing out looks and practicality.

Whether it’s for food prep, dining or extra counter/storage space, kitchen islands can do it all. And it’s not just about functionality: an island is the perfect choice for a centrepiece that elevates the look of your kitchen.

We won’t keep you waiting – here are 11 kitchen island ideas to start with for your home reno!

1. Mix in a different finish for visual interest

Instead of sticking to a plain colour for the entirety of your island, mix in a different finish to create more visual interest! The veined marble finish of this island’s seating area elevates the understated luxury of the dining room – and if you don’t want to spend on actual marble, you can use marble-looking laminate finishes instead.

2. Have the kitchen island wrap around a feature column

We’re still trying to wrap our heads around this one! This stunning kitchen island is no doubt the focal point of the spacious area, wrapping around a feature column that connects seamlessly to the structural beams in this resale HDB that cannot be hacked.

The black-and-white theme of the shelving and island contrasts the feature column’s brick façade, creating even more visual interest.

3. Use an incline to separate prep space from dining space

Who said kitchen islands have to all be flat? This island puts a twist on the conventional design with a gradual incline that clearly divides the sink and prep space from the dining area. And don’t forget the gold-accented pendant lights and crystal light on the island that add to the luxurious feel.

4. Combine with a dining table for easy serving and dining…

This compact island is set at a comfortable serving height, with some storage nooks for dinnerware you can easily reach for. Combined with a dining table that can comfortably seat four, you have a practical set-up for meal time and hosting guests.

5. …or tier your kitchen island

What makes this island stand out is its two-tiered design: instead of combining your island with a separate dining table like above, have both in a single island!

6. Raise the bar for double duty

One way to make your island stand out and tick off two uses is to raise the bar – literally. Bring up part of your island for a bar-height counter while the kitchen-facing side remains at regular countertop height for all your kitchen prep (usually about 85-90cm).

Plus, the bar-height counter helps to visually divide an open kitchen from the living room.

7. Make your island the cooking station

While we’d all use kitchen islands for food prep, have you ever thought of using it as the cooking station? If you haven’t, it's time to take a leaf from this home with its modern country kitchen vibes.

Positioning the stovetop like this also lets you interact with others in the living room while you cook.

8. Break up the look with bold colours

If your island is at the heart of your kitchen, then you can really make it pop with a colour that contrasts the rest of your neutral-themed kitchen cabinetry, like this royal blue island. And if you plan to use a couple of appliances at the island, you could consider installing a power track with multiple movable sockets in it.

9. Give your kitchen island see-through legs

Colour isn’t the only way to make your island stand out! Instead of going with a solid edge, give designs like these ornately-shaped island legs a try; they also anchor the light countertop to the ground with visual weight.

10. Incorporate fluted details for texture

A standalone island in your dry kitchen with a similar finish as the rest of the cabinetry could end up looking too flat, so change things up with some texture! Besides the deep blue leg that grabs attention, this island’s dressed in wooden fluted panels that add texture to the space.

11. Use curves to soften edges

If your kitchen is all sharp and straight lines, soften the look with curves in your kitchen island – like this wooden island that contrasts the defined shaker cabinets not just with the material/texture but also the curved edges.

We’ve only scratched the surface with these ideas, so we say go and explore more if you’re still looking for a kitchen island that hits the sweet spot!

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