Kitchens used to be plain, with just a refrigerator, a sink, and a cook top in different corners, and a table at the middle. But over the past few years, homeowners and designers have started to incorporate more amenities to make the kitchen a livelier and more pleasant room to be in. Kitchen designs have developed, and with it, the expansion of the kitchen itself, hence, the need for a workspace that can double as a mini entertainment area.

A kitchen island is basically a stand-alone counter, usually at the center of the kitchen, that allows access from all sides. A kitchen islands provides extra workspace and may also be used as a dining table or generally a place for anyone to hang out at. The island is usually the focal point in the design of the kitchen.

A kitchen island should not be in the way of the kitchen work triangle—the sink, the refrigerator, and the cook top—but rather serve as the common stopover for all three points. To avoid squeezing in between edges, make sure to have ample space—three feet or more—between the island and the rest of the kitchen appliances or fixtures.

An island has many uses. Should the sink or the cook tops be overloaded, you can continue slicing and dicing on the island. For quick meals, the island can also become the dining table if you add a few chairs or stools around it.

Most islands are stationary and are built in as part of the kitchen already. But some islands are movable in case you need it placed somewhere else or if it gets in your way. Movable types are the light islands, or oversized kitchen carts, that come with wheels or legs. Most heavy islands are not movable.

Islands designs range from a simple single surface table to a multi-level island where you can cook, eat, and wash up. Other islands are extensions of the work area, wherein it has a sink, a stove, shelves, cabinets, an oven, and plumbing. Some eclectic island designs include an island shaped like a painter’s palette, a large pair of sunglasses, or one with edges like the waves of the sea.

If you plan to have an island in your kitchen, consider the countertop and electrical outlets. The island countertop should match the designs of the kitchen, unless you plan for it to stand out. The electrical outlets are for appliances like blenders, mixers, etc.

Kitchen islands are not exempted from embellishments. Like the countertops, cabinets, and corners of the kitchen, the island may be decorated to match the look of the kitchen. A potted plant at the center will look good on a country kitchen island. Pots and pans hanging from an overhead beam of an island goes well with an Old World or rustic kitchen.

Of course, homeowners are not required to stop at just one kitchen island. Provided the kitchen has enough room, multiple islands are not impossibilities. The important factors to remember and consider before getting an island are the amount of space you have and the space left once the island is there. Movement should not be restricted and the island should be of actual use, and not just for decoration’s sake.