Kitchen is the heart of any home, and kitchen islands have become an integral part of a contemporary kitchen design. A modern kitchen complete with a kitchen island is the perfect place for the family to eat, relax and spend some quality time together. Here are some basics of kitchen islands and kitchen island decor ideas that can help you jazz up the space making it one of the focal points in your home.
What Is A Kitchen Island?
A kitchen island is a free-standing counter that may or may not have storage below. Usually complete with some kitchen stools or high chairs, a kitchen island may also be used as additional counter space for cooking, cleaning or prep. A kitchen island is generally accessible from all sides, and often becomes a magical tool to transform the space into a much more functional and efficient design feature to suit the needs of the entire family.
What Materials Can You Use For Kitchen Islands?
Wooden Kitchen Island – One of the most epic choices for a natural yet royal look, bring in the wooden countertop for your kitchen island. With some beautiful knots and grains of the natural wood popping out with polish work, an all natural piece of wood is sure to stand out in any kitchen. Use it as a stark contrast against a clean, white, contemporary kitchen, or merge it to an all wood design, a wooden kitchen island will bring in warmth and comfort to your space.
Vintage Kitchen Island – A reclaimed piece of wood painted in white for a complete vintage look is the perfect choice that suits a rustic farmhouse kitchen. A classic way to tone down the modern sharp look rendered by the high end appliances of today, a vintage kitchen island will give coziness and old school charm to your kitchen. Pair some vintage chairs and throw some colorful cushions for back rest to complete the the look.
Granite Kitchen Island -The standard choice for a kitchen countertop, pick your favourite shade of granite to top of the wooden cabinetry of the kitchen island. A pepper granite is a great choice to introduce some playfulness in an all white kitchen as it gives depth without drawing much attention. Black granite looks classy and is quite easy to maintain, while white quartz is a great alternative for your kitchen island countertop.
Marble Kitchen Island – Giving an absolute feel of luxury and class, marble is often a choice made by people looking for the finest. Pair a marble kitchen island with some chrome or gold accessories, or go for matt black – either way, the contrast makes it vibrant and interesting, while the marble adds to grace and elegance making the kitchen island an iconic spot within the kitchen space.
Lacquer And Tile Kitchen Island – A clean and contemporary choice for kitchens in the recent times is lacquer and tiles. Lacquer gives a shiny glossy look that makes furniture look high end and modern, while dado tiling makes the kitchen island much more convenient to manage. Match your tiling to the lacquer, or create a unique design with patterned tiles that transform the vibe of your kitchen completely to a more quirky and fun look.
What Are Some Design Forms For Kitchen Islands?
Regular Rectangular Kitchen Island – The classic kitchen island design is popular for obvious reasons – clean edges, clear cabinetry space underneath, counter workability and efficiency are the top factors. While you opt for this classic design form, you may choose to keep the island free of any cabinet storage which will also make your kitchen space look larger and visually lighter.
Curved Kitchen Island – Add a bit of drama and play to the regular kitchen island by curving the shorter edges for a rounded look and a warmer feel. You may opt for rounding both the edges for the island, or choose to keep the one closer to the kitchen countertop straight while rounding off the one farther for a more dynamic look. The round edge portion of the kitchen island can be a cantilever giving the feel of a luxury design.
Irregular Kitchen Island -In the case you are designing your home is a rustic style, the most apt design for your kitchen island is the natural form of wood. Let the irregularities in the wood edges become the striking feature of your kitchen island. Let the form flow along with the lines of the natural wood, and let the knots highlight the rawness of the material that makes the design all the more rustic, warm and inviting.
Angular Kitchen Island – In case of an irregular shaped kitchen plan, design your kitchen island to follow the lines of the plan. Run your island in an angular way, creating distinguished areas to suit your needs. As much as the shape adds dynamism to the overall space, experiment with materials that highlight this irregular design to make it a focal point. You might as well separate out your cleaning and prep area from your dining area while using such a design to your advantage.
What Are Some Pretty Kitchen Island Decor Ideas?
A kitchen island already attracts attention, and not much needs to be done over and above to make it look pretty and presentable. However, these simple ideas can elevate the overall look of the island and the space altogether.
Use A Clear Vase – Place a clear glass vase on your kitchen island and put some green stems or fresh colorful flowers to bring life to the area. Opt for some eucalyptus stems for a minimalist look, or go for some tulips for a cheerful look. Alternatively, pick some colored glass vases in different shapes and sizes and place them in a cluster for a simple yet classy look
Display Your Finest Wines – Invest in a sleek modern wine holder to display your finest wines. A shiny steel holder can become a highlight on a kitchen island of any material. The contrast that it would create with a rustic wooden countertop can be rather fascinating or it can be the perfect complement to the luxurious marble countertop. Alternatively, you can also place a wine bowl to hold your bottles, fill it up with ice cubes and enjoy a good evening with your friends and family.
A Fresh Fruit Basket – Pick a large acacia wood bowl and fill it up with fresh fruits and liven up your dining area. A perfect way to stock up on snacks, ensure the family eats healthy and laughs heartily as you all gather around the kitchen island to catch up on your day.
Condiments and Spices – Spruce up your kitchen island by stocking up on handy condiments and spices for your meal times. Salt and pepper shakers, oil and vinegar bottles, as much as chilli flakes and other favourite seasonings are great add-ons for an island decor. Arrange these in a tray, that would also make it much more convenient to be moved if needed.
What Lighting Can Make Kitchen Island Stand Out?
Lighting over the kitchen island is primarily used as task lighting. While a kitchen island quite often becomes the focal point of the space, the lighting decor cannot be ignored.
Pendant Lights – By far, pendant lights are the best suited for kitchen island decoration. A wide variety is available for selection, and the height of the pendant lights can be adjusted to suit your needs. Add on to the number of pendant lights depending on the length of your kitchen island, but a cluster of three if suited, is the most popular. Opt for sleek yet stylish pendant lights for a classy and rich look.
Linear Chandeliers – Multi-light fixtures that are often elongated to cover a wider length are linear chandeliers. These may be as elaborate or as minimalistic as you would prefer, yet can manage to be the centre of attraction within the space. Quite often playing with form or color, these linear chandeliers make a statement of their own. Such linear chandeliers pair well with recessed ceiling lights for overall lighting.
Statement Lights – A statement light may be a single light unit used multiple times, or a unit of lights that stands out for its shape, size, color or material texture. Striking looks and a complete transformation of the look and feel of the space, is the reason for their popularity in recent times.
Which Elements Elevate The Look Of Kitchen Island?
Some add-ons and accessories add to the overall look of your kitchen island and create a warm and invite vibe for the entire family to gather around and spend some good times.
Adding Stools And Chairs – A kitchen island can maximise utility and functionality with sufficient seating around. High chairs or bar stools are perfect for kitchen island counters, especially when there is a dedicated dining area. Match your materials and colors for these accessories to complement the design style of the kitchen, and a mini dining area for some quick snacking is ready!
Install Your Appliances – Jazz up your kitchen island by installing the latest kitchen appliances and work around a high-end work station complete with all your daily requirements. Break in the harsh look of the appliances with the comfort of natural materials like wood and stone. An optimum balance of modern electronics and your preferred design style can be best sought right within your kitchen for maximum comfort.
A Color Pop – A custom design with colorful tiles, or some bright flowers around, an eccentric kitchen sink, or a similar whacky design idea might just be the missing piece to your puzzle. A yet another way to add some color to your kitchen island is by using paint for the cabinetry below. So go ahead, play around and experiment.
