Kitchen Peninsulas: How They Differ from Islands, Plus 20 Design Ideas

Same same, but different.

Most kitchens in Singapore are tiny, which means that having a kitchen island right smack in the middle leaves barely any room for walking around it.

Enter kitchen peninsulas. As their name suggests, kitchen peninsulas differ from kitchen islands in that they don’t stand alone. Instead, a kitchen peninsula has one end attached to a wall or pillar, serving as extra countertop space while demarcating where the kitchen ends – thereby ‘wasting’ less space, if you will.

There are, of course, several ways to build one in your kitchen, regardless of your kitchen size or structural pillars in the way. Here are some ideas:

1. The heart of a modern condo penthouse, this peninsula is perfect for entertaining with its multi-purpose design that includes storage, a sink and free space for food/drink prep.

2. If there’s no way to go through, you can always go around – like this wraparound peninsula with an understated quartz top and room to slot a wine fridge and dishwasher.

3. When life gives you a 134 sqm HDB executive apartment, you (can) make an extended kitchen peninsula that excels not just in storage but also style – much like this one, with a circular element centered at the bottom.

Explore: 11 Fab and Functional Kitchen Island Ideas For Your New Home

4. Play with colour to demarcate the different functions of your peninsula. Here, the dining area is done up with fluted panels while the storage section has the same blue laminates as the rest of the kitchen cabinets.

5. While it’s of a modest size, this peninsula is no doubt a charming nook for enjoying a meal or a cuppa.

6. An open-concept kitchen with boundaries sounds counterintuitive, but have a look at this two-tiered peninsula: the raised tier creates a comfy breakfast top while also concealing a potentially messy prep space from the living room.

7. This peninsula is a no-frills affair, blending seamlessly with the home’s soothing Scandi-minimalist palette and maximising the available countertop space in the kitchen/dry pantry area.

8. Worried that a peninsula will visually cramp up an already small kitchen? Skip the typical solid base and try a single support leg for an airy feel!

9. Open-concept kitchens are great until the cooking fumes waft all around the home. If you cook every day, you might want a flexible kitchen space that can be closed off like this one, with windows that can be pulled close over the two-tier peninsula.

10. This classy peninsula is a versatile space-saving solution for dining, working and socialising all in one – a great idea if you don’t need a formal dining space for just yourself.

11. Resale flats are known for their quirks, like this home with a triangular edge. That didn’t dampen any creative spirit, for the designer managed to fit a compact peninsula extending from the TV feature wall while leaving enough walking room in the kitchen.

One fun detail is how the edge on the TV wall side doubles as an open display shelf!

12. When your home’s shape doesn’t follow the ‘rules’ (that is, the typical rectangular layout), your peninsula shouldn’t either. Case in point: the angled peninsula in this 3-bedder condo, which follows a similar direction as the wall opposite it.

13. Integrating a mix of white, wood tones and black used around the home, this peninsula is the perfect example of creating a cohesive yet interesting feature.

14. Anchored on one end to an arched wall and a single column on the other, this peninsula seems to partially ‘close’ off the kitchen, creating a breezy semi-open space.

15. Let your colourful personality shine with a bold peninsula design that matches the rest of your eclectic home.

16. If you’re always craving the hotel experience, then you’ll adore this sophisticated peninsula with a quirky extended edge.

17. Even if you don’t have a full-fledged corner for a dry pantry, get vertical with open shelves at the peninsula for an easy-to-reach storage corner that holds appliances and serving sets.

18. A lovely baby blue peninsula with a black countertop for a pleasing contrast: need we say more?

19. Sectioning off the sink with a glass ‘barrier’ like is a rather clever idea, if you ask us. This creates a distinct dining area at the peninsula while maintaining the open feel.

20. This farmhouse-inspired peninsula backs a roomy dining booth, infusing rustic warmth and a cosy atmosphere for shared meals and quality time.

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