How To Get The Most Storage Out Of Your Kitchen Island

Flexibility and space tend to be the most important factors of all kitchen designs. Having ample room for pots, pans, and various utensils is a necessity to ensure efficiency and freedom of movement when tackling long cooking sessions with recipes. Even more to consider for those longer recipes is where to store the numerous spices that can easily clog up space in any cabinet. The most practical solution here, as long as the space permits, is utilizing a kitchen island. Kitchen islands can serve as a place to eat, store cooking-related items, and completely enhance your experience in the kitchen. However, some kitchen islands are constructed incorrectly and simply exist as taking up much-needed space. To avoid this mishap, your kitchen island should adhere to three important design rules: open space, cabinets and a countertop that provides room for seating.

Open Space Throughout the Island

One of the most unattractive outcomes of kitchen island designs can be the presence of what looks like a large, unusable block. To avoid this poor, counterproductive design, open space must be provided in the bottom half of the kitchen island. This allows you to get ample storage out of your kitchen island and can also be modified to give your feet a place to rest while eating meals. The open space can also act as a section of your kitchen that allows quick access to your most-used dishes and cooking supplies, without having them get lost in the numerous cupboards in your kitchen. Additionally, the open space can also lessen the burden of trying to squeeze irregularly shaped bowls throughout your kitchen and can technically provide storage for machines, if needed.

Cabinet Storage

Equipping the kitchen island with cabinets on all sides is ideal for maximizing storage. Similar to the rest of your kitchen, the island cabinets can hold all types of items, but should primarily contain items that are used constantly. This transforms the kitchen island into a zone that permits easy access to tools used in prepping food. As a bonus, drawers can be attached to add even more storage space, especially for daily utensils that you don’t want to mix up in other parts of your kitchen. Cups, coffee mugs, and measuring devices can also be placed in these cabinets, effectively making your kitchen island a prep station.

Countertop Design

Perhaps the most underrated part of your kitchen island for maximizing storage space is the design of the countertop. Besides being a flat surface, the countertop should go slightly beyond the dimensions of the island, providing shelter for stools or chairs below while not impeding access to the drawers and open space. 

Final Thoughts

With careful application of these design rules, your kitchen island acts as a prep station, place to eat, and, most importantly, a pivotal part of your kitchen that provides ample storage space. Gone are the days of feeling cluttered and frustrated by having too little storage or space. Following these three steps will provide you with the most storage out of your kitchen island, and the feeling of a spacious, organized kitchen.