Grey shaker kitchen with copper effect pull handles. Kitchen island with storage rail and statement black and white worktop.

Kitchen Layout Ideas

Kitchen Island Ideas

To inspire your new look, we have gathered these kitchen island ideas that showcase different ways to transform your layout into an island format. From small spaces to open-plan designs, each kitchen island design can be tailored to suit any interior or budget and be customised to achieve a signature style in your home. There is also kitchen island inspiration from real customer homes to see how others have adapted this floorplan to suit their home life.

1. Symmetrical and shaker

The symmetrical appearance that shaker-style cupboards provide lends well to a kitchen island design as the border design frames the bank of cupboards for a refined and timeless look. These layouts are also a staple feature within framed kitchens, offering ample space for preparing food and transforming a room into a family dining hub.

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2. Look to linear

For a subtle approach to a kitchen island design, go for cupboard doors with integrated handles. The unadorned look creates a pared-back aesthetic with a horizontal line that draws the eye through a space. In a fresh neutral tone, a handleless kitchen island will help to make small rooms appear larger and open- plan designs feel more spacious.

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Greenwich Natural Oak Handleless EKES Island Main Set Shot

3. Open with oak

For a fresh take on an island centrepiece, consider adding a pale timber finish to your cupboards. Offering a Scandinavian-inspired theme, this island idea will offer a tactile material for a sensory backdrop. Combine with a neutral colour palette and a handleless design to ensure the look remains pared-back and soothing.

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4. Gravitate to gloss

Adding in an extra bank of cupboards in the centre of your room could easily zap natural light, darkening the overall appearance of a design. To counteract this, opt for gloss cupboards for your island unit to add a contemporary, high-shine finish that will make a room appear more luminous. For added style points, pack your plinths with plenty of lights.

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5. Muted and minimal

Meeting the current trend for understated interiors, softer finishes, such as matt, will transform a kitchen island, so it blends effortlessly into the background for a soothing effect. This is a great option if your island will be used to work, play, and dine, as it provides a blank canvas that can be adapted to suit your lifestyle.

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Chilcomb Paintable in dusky blue and charcoal

6. Block in colour

Create a personalised interior with our paintable doors, which can be customised in any hue. An island is the optimum place for adding a burst of colour, as it allows you to mix and match tones without committing your entire design to one shade. This idea also is also easy to refresh.

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7. Slim down your centrepiece

Scale down on size by opting for a narrow design made up of shallow depth cupboards for a small kitchen island idea. By freeing up floor space, it provides extra room to play with darker tones, like slate grey, that will add depth to a room without overpowering the space.

Explore Grey Island Fitted Kitchens

Pebble grey shaker kitchen with inset units incorporating a double oven. Kitchen island with cabinet storage.

8. Add a touch of glass

In designs with lots of cabinetry, glazed doors can help to break up a solid bank of colour and will add visual interest to a space. Glass door fronts bounce light across the room too, creating a bright and open feel, that complements both classic and contemporary interiors.

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9. Go for a centre stove

Placing a stove in the middle of an island creates a sociable hub where cooking, food prep, and family time can work in harmony. This is a great option for homes with budding chefs, as it allows the food to do all the talking when it comes to celebrations and social events. We recommend switching to a flush fitting device, like induction, to make it easy to clean.

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10. Extract at new heights

Reduce visual distractions around your island with a fan that sits flush to the ceiling. These sleek designs create a clean look that also creates clear sight lines – great when entertaining, so you can see all your guests. Flush-fitting models are also an investment for open-plan kitchens with an island as they whisk away fragrant smells and steam with ease.

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11. Build a storage base

One of the biggest appeals in building an island is the additional storage that it provides. Busy family homes can benefit from large cupboards, whether it is for keeping snacks on hand or for housing larger pots and pans. Including base cupboards help to ground a design and opens up the top of the room for a light, airy feel.

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12. A quick cutlery fix

If there is one idea you take away for your new room, then be sure to include a cutlery tray in an island for a truly functional scheme. Adding an additional drawer into your centrepiece is an inexpensive solution for a more organised layout, and it will sit seamlessly next to other kitchenware for an ergonomic flow within a space.

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13. Free up your island

Industrial design focuses on open framework and this freestanding kitchen island idea will offer a great focal feature that will elevate an engineered look. By cutting back on base units and using small drawer packs, your island will look like freestanding furniture, leaving plenty of space for a variety of day-to-day tasks.

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14. Mix your materials

Committing to one look is challenging, so combining multiple textures, such as stone-effects or metals, will offer a unique pattern that is versatile as years go by. Why not combine lavish marble-effect with rich gold metallic accents, for a luxury kitchen island idea full of high-end appeal for a showstopping centrepiece.

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Slate grey super matt kitchen with contrasting black handles, black kitchen worktop with two single built in electric ovens.

15. Break it up

Staggering the height of an island works well in larger spaces, as it adds architectural interest to break up the room. This trick is also useful for dividing areas of your home for different activities, also known as zoning. For example, adding a bar with seating to a lowered island section offers a great spot for dining.

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16. Create a cleaning zone

Dedicate an area of your island to washing by placing a sink beneath the surface to make cleaning up easy on the go. These designs also mean your counters remain uninterrupted, leaving more space for preparation areas and providing a streamlined and minimal effect.

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17. Prep like a pro

For well-seasoned chefs, allocated preparation areas are highly desirable, providing ample room for laying out multiple ingredients for the meal ahead. So, what better way to enhance this space than with a spray tap? Simply rinse your vegetables and be ready to cook.

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18. Plug in power

As modern life becomes increasingly tech-oriented, it is important for your home to follow suit. Great for creating a dual use space, power outlets are a small touch that will make a huge difference to your everyday life and work well for keen bakers who have additional devices.

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19. Work in a wine cooler

Create a refined and high-end design by incorporating a drinks cooler in your hub, like @hollybushhome. Freeing up space for larger equipment within base cupboards, the island is a prime spot for including a wine fridge as it ensures party supplies are always within easy reach – great for homeowners who love to entertain.

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20. Highlight with lights

Kitchen lights can often be an afterthought within a design. However, they can work to create ambience that is vital for the look and feel of a space. Accentuate an island with under-cabinet lighting that will keep attention on the central feature and add a premium touch that is great for evening meals.

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