Kitchen islands have become one of the most popular features in today’s kitchens. They provide an extra work surface plus much needed storage. The type of island that works best in your kitchen will depend on the space available and how you want your island to function.

First, decide if you want seating. There are many advantages of a kitchen island with seating but in many cases it’s not practical. These three islands have no seating but have a large storage area.

The islands below have combination storage and seating. Where you put your seating will depend on which side of the island has the most room. The easiest way to build a kitchen island is to group base cabinets together and top with a countertop. Base cabinets come in many shapes and sizes so you can easily achieve a custom look.

If you have odd spaces or unfinished ends, consider adding open shelving to display kitchenware. If budget is a concern, a simply designed work table style island is an easy DIY project. It’s recommended to add at least one electrical outlet to your island and in some areas outlets are required by building code depending on the island’s size. Having the main sink or a secondary prep sink in the island can help with the flow of your kitchen. Keep in mind the added cost of running plumbing into the centre of the room under the island.

Visit your local TIMBER MART for quality tools and materials to design and build your kitchen island today.