9 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Short Kitchen Island
With some smart planning, you can fit an island or a breakfast bar into just about any cooking space
Need more work surfaces or just a sociable spot to perch? Take a look at these well-planned kitchens to find out how to squeeze in that island or breakfast bar you want.
2. Take a U-turn
The owners of this bright, open-plan space have cleverly tucked their kitchen into the area next to the stairs. And the U-shaped design has created an instant breakfast bar.
Opting for white and pale grey features, including the benchtops and stools, helps this substantially sized seating area blend in.
The owners of this bright, open-plan space have cleverly tucked their kitchen into the area next to the stairs. And the U-shaped design has created an instant breakfast bar.
Opting for white and pale grey features, including the benchtops and stools, helps this substantially sized seating area blend in.
3. Go around a corner
If your kitchen is located in an open-plan room with a partition wall, get your place to perch by making use of the space as these homeowners have done. One run of cabinets continues beyond the wall, and the benchtop turns the corner to form a ledge for bar stools to sit neatly under. It’s a really efficient way to use an awkward, unused area.
This idea can be adapted for a room with structural pillars too.
If your kitchen is located in an open-plan room with a partition wall, get your place to perch by making use of the space as these homeowners have done. One run of cabinets continues beyond the wall, and the benchtop turns the corner to form a ledge for bar stools to sit neatly under. It’s a really efficient way to use an awkward, unused area.
This idea can be adapted for a room with structural pillars too.
4. Book a table
Instead of opting for an island-breakfast bar, why not try a wall-fixed table? This one fits nicely at the back of this narrow kitchen and is the perfect spot for a glass of wine beside the window. And the curved design avoids the danger of sharp edges.
If you can’t install a wall-fixed model, hunt around for a tall freestanding table you can fit into a spare corner of the room.
Bringing back the kitchen table
Instead of opting for an island-breakfast bar, why not try a wall-fixed table? This one fits nicely at the back of this narrow kitchen and is the perfect spot for a glass of wine beside the window. And the curved design avoids the danger of sharp edges.
If you can’t install a wall-fixed model, hunt around for a tall freestanding table you can fit into a spare corner of the room.
Bringing back the kitchen table
5. Custom design to the space
In this kitchen-dining area the owners have managed to fit in quite a roomy island. The L-shaped footprint of the cabinets to the left could have presented a problem, as there might not have been enough room to pass between the ‘wall’ and the island. To overcome this, the designers cut a corner off the island’s tabletop to provide easier access.
In this kitchen-dining area the owners have managed to fit in quite a roomy island. The L-shaped footprint of the cabinets to the left could have presented a problem, as there might not have been enough room to pass between the ‘wall’ and the island. To overcome this, the designers cut a corner off the island’s tabletop to provide easier access.
6. Stow storage in the surface
This overhanging benchtop is super clever. Not only does it create a seating space, but it contains three nifty drawers too. But it gets better – a simple partition creates storage for glasses above the built-in wine cooler.
This overhanging benchtop is super clever. Not only does it create a seating space, but it contains three nifty drawers too. But it gets better – a simple partition creates storage for glasses above the built-in wine cooler.
7. Float away
To create the illusion of space, it’s a good idea to keep furniture off the floor. The benchtop here is extended from the kitchen cabinets to form a floating peninsula breakfast bar. The lack of base cabinets gives the room a feeling of flow. The designers also have thought carefully about the bar stools, choosing white tops to melt into the surface and wooden legs to blend into the floor.
Read more kitchen stories
To create the illusion of space, it’s a good idea to keep furniture off the floor. The benchtop here is extended from the kitchen cabinets to form a floating peninsula breakfast bar. The lack of base cabinets gives the room a feeling of flow. The designers also have thought carefully about the bar stools, choosing white tops to melt into the surface and wooden legs to blend into the floor.
Read more kitchen stories
8. Go along the walls
The compact kitchen here has plenty of storage along two walls, so the other wall has been utilised for a streamlined breakfast bar. Two swivel stools are tucked under and can be turned around to face each other or the chef. The narrow surface is large enough to enjoy breakfast and a glass of wine and some nibbles in the evening.
The compact kitchen here has plenty of storage along two walls, so the other wall has been utilised for a streamlined breakfast bar. Two swivel stools are tucked under and can be turned around to face each other or the chef. The narrow surface is large enough to enjoy breakfast and a glass of wine and some nibbles in the evening.
9. Size doesn’t matter
Sometimes even a small extra work surface is enough to make a difference in a busy kitchen. The compact island here provides a useful spot for preparation and even includes a handy cabinet. Anything larger wouldn’t have been able to fit in the space, so the size of this one is ideal.
Sometimes even a small extra work surface is enough to make a difference in a busy kitchen. The compact island here provides a useful spot for preparation and even includes a handy cabinet. Anything larger wouldn’t have been able to fit in the space, so the size of this one is ideal.
For more surface when needed, an extra benchtop slides out from below the existing one.
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Tell us
If you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation!
More
Browse more compact kitchens
You don’t have to go large to get a hardworking breakfast bar. Not only is this mini peninsula big enough for two bar stools, it also has a cabinet and shelves for extra storage. This end-of-bench surface even helps separate the kitchen from the adjacent living space.