What is the ideal worktop for a kitchen island?
Last Updated on June 20, 2023
When done right, kitchen islands can be the heart of the kitchen – a place for families to gather, enjoy meals together, share stories and offer a practical storage solution for cumbersome kitchen appliances.
However, when done wrong, they can be anything but, becoming an impractical use of space and a bit of an eyesore within the home. As such, it’s important to get their design right from the get go – and that starts with the worktop.
Put simply, choosing the right worktop can make a kitchen island, helping draw the eye and allowing it to act as the kitchen’s focal point in the way it should.
But, it isn’t just looks that kitchen island worktops can help with. Each type of worktop comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, meaning that the ideal solution for one person could be entirely different for someone else. So, how can you decide which is right for you?
Well, that’s where we can help. Join us as we run through some of the key questions to consider when deciding on the ideal worktop for your kitchen island.
What will you be using your kitchen island for?
First of all, kitchen is not just a place where all the meals are prepared, it is actually the centrepiece of every home. Kitchen is where people are spending most of their free time not only cooking, but socialising and spending time together. Therefore, the perfect kitchen island worktop should be a combination of aesthetics with functionality.
A kitchen island, should not only be the centrepiece of a kitchen, but it has to provide the much needed extra storage space that every household needs. But the practicality aspect of the kitchen island should not only be measured by the amount of extra storage space it offers, but also by the comfort that it provides.
There are certain aspects where you will have to consider before you make final kitchen designs.
The size and the location of the kitchen island has to be well planned in advance.
Especially for small kitchens it is important to consider the existing kitchen layout first and then calculate the exact dimensions of the island carefully. A large kitchen island may create a lot of discomfort in small kitchens, as it will make roaming around very difficult, which will hamper your productivity in the kitchen. You will have to allow at least 92-95 cm of walk aisle, to allow sufficient space for fridge, hob and dishwasher openings.
It has to be designed in a way to accommodate your workflow. If the kitchen will be used simultaneously by multiple people, the work stations has to be designed in such way to increase the efficiency and save time.
Will you be using your kitchen island as a breakfast bar?
Although major modern kitchen designs encourage opting for large island worktops, however if the island workstation will be simply used for cooking and storage, then any island worktop larger than 1000mm in width might create discomfort as it will be hard to access.
What is the difference between a kitchen island and a breakfast bar?
Despite kitchen island and breakfast bars sharing many common features, they are still quite a lot of differences.
Kitchen Island is a free-standing unit that can come in wide range of shapes and sizes. It has a base made out of kitchen cabinets, most often matching the existing cabinets and a kitchen worktop on top. For aesthetic appeal, the kitchen worktop extends to a minimum overhang off the kitchen cabinets or finishes with a waterfall edge on both sides.
On the other hand, breakfast bar is not necessarily always free-standing, it can also have a peninsula shape, either located at the beginning or end of the kitchen. Breakfast bar worktops can also be installed a the end of the kitchens below the wall units of kitchen cabinets. The countertop of the breakfast bars extends over a larger overhang, to provide additional seating and dining area for the householders.
The main aim of the kitchen island is to provide additional storage and working area, while the main aspect of breakfast bar is to provide additional seating, dining area and also some additional storage space. But in principle, they can be used interchangeably as for many they are the same. For free-standing options, it is very common to have a countertop, different than the main kitchen worktops.
Will you need seating?
If you are planning on using your kitchen island as a breakfast bar, then it is important to think about your seating and knee space in particular. And, while you may not have thought it, this can have an impact on the type of worktop you should choose as well.
We all come in different shapes and sizes, after all. So, the last thing you want is to design a beautiful kitchen island only to find you’re too big to sit under the worktop comfortably.
As such, here is some general advice to follow when thinking about your seating arrangement:
- For convenience reasons, kitchen island worktops should have standard worktop height (approx. 89-94 cm), seats should be between 58 cm and 72 cm
- For mid-sized worktop heights (approx. 1.04 m – 1.09 m), seats should vary depending on the countertop height between 74 cm and 80 cm.
- For taller height kitchen worktops (approx. 1.10 m and 1.19 m), seats should be between 80 cm and 88 cm.
- You should also allow approximately 60 cm of width per person/seating and around 30cm of worktop overhang for leg and knee room. Households should pick the exact comfortable height of their island worktop.
How much is the maximum worktop overhang?
The maximum unsupported overhang should not be exceeding 250 – 300mm. For safety reasons, larger overhangs are only possible if the worktops have additional leg support underneath and for wood worktops additional steel reinforcement bars are recommended.
What is the ideal choice for your kitchen island or breakfast bar worktop?
Kitchen Island worktops having a worktop different than your main countertops is a very common practice these days. Combination of solid wood worktop with granite, quartz or marble is very popular, where the main countertops are made from granite, marble or quartz and solid wood used as an island worktop. Wooden worktops are very popular material for breakfast bars as they provide a beyond monetary benefits. Wood is a natural and highly durable material that radiates positive energy and creates a homely feeling. Solid wood breakfast bar will bind the whole families together, whilst being the centrepiece of all the unforgettable memories. If well maintained – wood worktops, especially oak worktops age well in time, just like a red wine.
Kitchen Islands are used in medium to high spec kitchens, and laminate worktops might not be the most ideal choice as they are popular among affordable kitchens. If you are looking for a kitchen island above 900mm in width, then laminate worktops cannot be even an option as laminate worktops can have a maximum width of 900mm.
Compact laminate worktops might be a good choice
If you are extremely busy and you are looking for a durable kitchen island worktop that does not require any maintenance, then compact laminate worktops would be a good option for you. Compact laminate worktops are water-resistant and come in a thickness of 12mm. They are known to be the improved version of laminate countertops, whilst being the perfect choice for households seeking sleek and slim-look kitchen designs. They have an anti-bacterial and easy to clean surface, that is highly resistant to highly acidic liquids such as cleaning products, wine, vinegar, orange juice and others.
Quartz and granite worktops are one of the most popular choice for kitchen island and breakfast bars
Quartz and granite are popular choice for a breakfast bar countertop material among high spec kitchens. They are known for their beautiful, resilient and highly durable nature. Granite and Quartz are associated with luxury and style. However, they are also known for their high price-tag. Unlike compact laminate and wooden worktops, they are not DIY friendly and can only be installed by highly experienced fitters.
What sets wooden island worktop surface apart from the rest?
Due to their warm nature, wooden worktops are nicer to touch compared to quartz and granite. This is one of the reasons why solid wood countertops are the favourite choice for kitchen island worktops. If you are planning to use the island for serving meal for your family, then wood worktops would be the favourite choice as well as it will radiates the much needed homely feeling that every kitchen needs.
Finally, will a kitchen island increase the value of your property?
Value of your property depends on multiple factors such as location, size, supply and demand. It is really difficult to measure the effect of having a kitchen island on the property price on its own. It will certainly make your property more attractive and sellable. A property price increase can be rather achieved by increasing the area of the property by extension or conversion.
Final thoughts
With so many factors to take into account, identifying the ideal worktop for your kitchen island can be a tricky thing to do. The exact dimensions of the kitchen island has to be clearly well calculated, before making the final decision. Considering all the benefits of the popular countertop options available, wooden worktops seems to be the favourite choice for a kitchen island and breakfast bar.