Kitchen island ideas for designing a multipurpose space
More and more, homeowners are forgoing the formal dining room or home office setup and embracing the kitchen island as a multipurpose surface for cooking, eating, and working. A smart and beautiful island can fulfill all your functional needs while simultaneously serving as a focal point of your unique kitchen design. Let’s look at some ways for incorporating your kitchen island ideas into a multifunctional and modern space.
If you are interested in adding a versatile island to your kitchen, the Rebode Kitchen Jumpstarter tool can instantly display what works in your space. Simply complete our quick online quiz and share your goals, style, and budget, and you can instantly visualize your ideal design for your kitchen island and even connect with a local designer to start the remodel process.
Photo from MasterBrand Cabinets.
Kitchen islands as dining tables
In a recent designer survey, we found that 52% of modern kitchens include eat-in spaces for dining or seating. Installing an island in your kitchen can both ground the space and enhance the dining experience. By simply adding chairs, you can make your kitchen family-friendly and perfect for entertaining guests. Using your island as your dining table is also a great space saver, and an extendable tabletop can seat a crowd without taking up too much space—and provide increased functionality in your overall floorplan.
There are some kitchen island designs that we specifically recommend for dining use. The L-shaped island, for example, lends itself well to being a dining kitchen island, as it gives the cook space for food preparation while also allowing guests to converse at the table. The T-shaped island is another option, as it essentially bumps a table up against the island, providing plenty of seating for six or even more and giving guests the ability to face each other. Overall, dining kitchen islands are a great idea when you may have a tight space but love entertaining.
A T-shaped kitchen island is an optimal multifunctional surface for cooking and dining. Photo from MasterBrand Cabinets.
Another way to transform your kitchen island into a dining area is to add banquette seating, which can create a warm and cozy spot for the entire family to gather. Guests can still sit and comfortably chat with the chef while they finish cooking, or the whole group can relax back and enjoy a leisurely dining experience. Bench seating specifically provides a benefit that is often overlooked: extra storage that is hidden from sight.
Kitchen islands as work spaces
As increasing numbers of office jobs allow for remote or hybrid work, the kitchen is becoming the optimal flex space not only for cooking and dining, but also for working. Moreover, modern kitchen islands can be a great and spacious work station during the day that transforms into a preparation and dining space at night.
The spacious nature of kitchens, along with their easy access to outlets and snacks, makes them a great option for a calming and functional home office. Designing your kitchen island to serve as a desk also saves you space and therefore increases comfort and ease of movement in the heart of your home.
Getting started with selecting a kitchen island
Given the kitchen island serves so many purposes, we know that this design choice is not made lightly. That’s why we have the Rebode Kitchen Jumpstarter, which will help you discover what kitchen island ideas work best for your space in just a few clicks. From there, you can connect with a local kitchen designer who can help you bring your multifunctional kitchen to life with the perfect island.