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What Type Of Kitchen Island Is Best For Your Kitchen?

If you’re in the midst of a kitchen remodel, you might be thinking about getting a new kitchen island. When you start doing your research you’ll see that there are several types of kitchen islands to choose from. How can you pick the best one for your kitchen? Check out these guidelines!

The Galley Kitchen Island

Best For: Any kitchen that has enough space for one. This includes 1-wall kitchens and corridor kitchens, but galley islands can be placed in just about any layout. 



Pros: The classic kitchen island we have all come to know and love. They can be thin or wide depending on the space you have. Galley kitchen islands are popular for bar-style seating. You can incorporate appliances or sinks if you’d like, though it will be more difficult with narrower islands. You can easily turn a galley kitchen island into a work of art with a waterfall countertop that extends over the sides. This can make the plain island look much more sophisticated and unique.



Cons: They are seen in many homes so they aren’t very unique. Narrower galley kitchen islands don’t give you too much extra space, and incorporating appliances or adding an extra sink can be hard. Some homeowners are looking for a more creative island style and find gallies a bit bland. 





The L-Shaped Kitchen Island

Best for: Very open and large kitchens with a lot of space. L-Shaped kitchen islands take up quite a bit of space, so you want to avoid installing them in narrow kitchens. Layout isn’t as important so long as you have a lot of room.



Pros: You get a lot more countertop space. One portion of the L can be used as bar seating, and the other could have a sink, a stovetop, or house appliances/kitchen items. You’ll get more cabinet space than with a Galley Kitchen Island because of the larger size. The corner piece could be a bit awkward in terms of storage space, but many L-shaped kitchen islands have corner cabinets to maximize the space. 



Cons: An L-Shaped kitchen island can make your kitchen seem much smaller. If you start with an open-concept kitchen, you might lose some of that space with an L-Shaped kitchen island. This type of island will not fit comfortably into many homes because most kitchens are not big enough. You can always get an island that is longer on one side than the other, but be sure the width is accounted for as well. 

The U-Shaped Kitchen Island

Best For: Very large kitchens with a lot of open space. Typically, these islands are in homes that are completely open concept from the kitchen to the dining room/living area. 



Pros: You get even more countertop and storage space with a U-shaped kitchen island. You also create a sort of work area for meal preparation because you’ll be surrounded by counter space on three sides. You can use any of the three sides as bar seating, or bring out bar stools for all three sides during parties and family gatherings. Many U-shaped islands will have a sink, and some have dishwashers or ovens. If you have the space, this kitchen island is perfect for you!



Cons: Although the storage and counter space you’ll get with a U-shaped island is incredible, few people are lucky enough to experience it. As we said, you need a very large and open kitchen. This style is great if you’re designing a home, but it may not be feasible for a remodel. Much like the L-shaped kitchen island, you’ll lose some of your open-concept and close off a space. If you need the counter space more than you need the floor space, it’s a great idea!

The Rolling Kitchen Island

Best For: Smaller kitchens that would benefit from having the option to move the kitchen island out of the way. They’re also great for kitchens designed to look Victorian or industrial. 



Pros: With a rolling kitchen island, you can have extra counter space when you need it, and roll it away when you don’t. This is perfect if you don’t really have enough room for an island, but think they’d be useful in some situations. You can bring it into the kitchen when you’re prepping for a large meal, wipe it down, and store it somewhere else until the next time you need it. 



Cons: You cannot have appliances or sinks in the rolling kitchen island for obvious reasons. It’s really only meant to act as extra counter space and storage for occasions when you need it. Rolling kitchen islands don’t give the same effect as permanent islands, and they can be a bit lacking in quality depending where you get it. 



We hope this small guide has helped you to figure out what kitchen island would be best for your home. There are plenty of innovative ideas out there to allow you to install the island you want in any type of kitchen, but these are the basic “do’s and don’ts.” If you’re interested in a new kitchen island, call Ventura Stone! Our team of experts will finish off your island with some gorgeous stone countertops. We have a wide selection of granite, marble, quartz, and more so you can make your vision come to life. Call (805) 654-1834 to get started!