Kitchen Renovations: 7 Things to Consider Before Installing a Kitchen Island
Having kitchen renovations give you a chance to achieve the kitchen you’ve ever dreamt of. If at first, your target is just to redecorate the kitchen, then why not add a kitchen island? It’s one of the sought-after features that homeowners want.
A kitchen island is not just an added decoration to your kitchen, but it also provides a lot of benefits. Aside from additional counter space, you’ll also have more room for storage, dining, and cooking. So if you enjoy any of these, then there’s no doubt that you need to install a kitchen island.
However, before you get thrilled and excited, there are some things you should consider before adding a kitchen island to your kitchen renovation plan. If you want to know these things, then you should check the list below!
1. Function
First, ask yourself: “What will be the main function of the kitchen island once it has been installed?”. It can be an area where you prepare food or ingredients, a breakfast table, a kneading counter, or even an additional sink.
Once you figure out the reason for having a kitchen island, then you can add it to your kitchen renovation plan. However, you should keep in mind that you can also have a multi-functional kitchen island. That way, it’ll be able to serve its purpose of being the center of the kitchen.
For instance, you can cook or prepare snacks on one side of the counter, then your kids are doing their homework on the other end.
2. Space
Another thing you should consider is if you still have enough space to accommodate the kitchen island. Even if it’s a customized size, make sure you and your family can still move around once it’s şişli escort installed.
During the planning process, think about the workflow or the traffic in your kitchen. You can imagine different scenarios wherein your kitchen is filled with people, then assess if they can still move enough to do what they have to do.
Unfortunately, if your kitchen is around 12 feet, then it’s impossible to install a kitchen island. However, since you’re having kitchen renovations, then you can opt for a kitchen extension to fulfill your kitchen island dreams.
3. Money
Whatever part of the house you’re renovating, you should consider your budget first before adding other features. In this case, even if you have enough space or the kitchen island would fulfill its main function, you’ll need enough money to make it happen.
Having kitchen renovations cost a lot of money so you should consider your budget while planning. Otherwise, you might end up with unfinished renovations which will cost more. Additionally, it’s also not advisable to prepare the exact amount of money since there are times when you’ll need to pay more, so make sure to prepare the maximum amount you can spend.
4. Materials
Most of the time, materials used in making kitchen islands cost a lot, especially the countertop. Since it’s the center of the kitchen, it’s impossible not to spill liquids on it. Of course, the cabinets and drawers can be made from wood, but the countertop must be made of something that doesn’t absorb liquids.
Usually, countertops are made of marble, granite, and laminate. If you have enough money, then it’s recommended that you opt for the marble or granite countertop finish.
On the other hand, if the budget is tight, then decorative laminate will also suffice. Besides, the laminate finish is better than wood since it doesn’t get damaged easily.
5. Design
Now, let’s move on to the design. After considering the previous factors, you can now think about the actual design of your kitchen island. This time, you should think about the number of cabinets and drawers, open or closed shelving, and its relation to the rest of your kitchen design.
Do you have kids? Then maybe you shouldn’t opt for open shelving, but you still should secure locks even if you pick closed shelving. Normally, kitchen islands are rectangular. However, you can also try other shapes like oval or U, which depends on your preferences.
Although planning can be a bit overwhelming, you should take some time to think about the overall look of your kitchen. That way, you can assess if it’s going to be a seamless transition.
6. Size
Are you having some trouble finalizing the size of the kitchen island? When it comes to height, then you can have a two-tiered counter so that even kids can do some of their activities while you’re cooking.
The size of the kitchen island mainly depends on its function. But since it’s the first thing you should consider when thinking about installing a kitchen island, then this step will be easier than you think.
Moreover, since installing a kitchen island is just a part of kitchen renovations, then there’s a chance that you can also adjust other parts of the kitchen.
7. Add ons
Make the most out of your kitchen island. If possible, add as many features as you like to have an efficient kitchen center. You can install charging stations, outlets, and appliances to make use of the extra space.
In addition, you can install a built-in chopping board or kneading board so that you have a wider working area. However, you should make sure that you’ll be using all the additional features on the kitchen island.
Kitchen renovations can be time-consuming and costly. However, if you plan it thoroughly, you can still achieve the kitchen you’ve always wanted. Let us know if you have any kitchen renovation tips and ideas by leaving a comment below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Aliana Baraquio is a web content writer working for Waratah Kitchens, a family-owned company that specializes in the design, supply, and installation of custom kitchens in Sydney since 1994. As a writer, she is passionate about providing good quality articles that will help readers in making the right choice.
