A kitchen island can be the centrepiece of your kitchen and your home, but to create that wow factor, it has to be right. Too big and it becomes an eyesore, too small and it’s wasted. It’s all about what separates the best kitchen islands from the rest: size, layout, and shape. This guide covers how to get all three right, whether you’re considering a custom kitchen island as part of a total renovation or a stand-alone addition to your home.
Why Size and Layout Matter More Than Style
When thinking about the design for a kitchen island most people overlook size and instead think about style. Style is obviously important, but it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters — the spatial planning of the island. No amount of style will rescue an incorrectly sized or placed kitchen island.
Modern kitchen islands play an increasingly important role in the layout of the home, not just the kitchen. In a typical open plan house, the kitchen island in many ways defines the ground floor plan. As such it’s not surprising that style plays a big part in the design brief for a modern custom kitchen island. Style dictates a lot of the detail — the choice of benchtop material, the cabinetry, the hardware. But style is largely secondary to ensuring that the spatial planning, including the placement and size, are exactly right for the space.
How Much Space Do You Actually Need for an Island?
Before considering the style for a custom kitchen island it’s important to work through your floor plan and think about the space that the island will occupy. The size of your kitchen island is dictated mainly by your floor plan and secondly by the number of people who will be using it at any one time.
It’s easy to get things wrong at this early stage in the design process, but there are some general rules of thumb that can be used as a starting point.
Minimum Clearance Around the Island
The first consideration when thinking about kitchen island sizes is clearance. The island needs to have sufficient clearance around it for people to move around, for appliances to be accessed and for drawers and cupboards to be opened.
These clearance measurements are taken from the edge of the kitchen island to either walls, other cabinets or to any appliances. As a rule of thumb, you need at least:
- 1,000mm clearance on any side where people are standing to cook or to access storage
- 1,200mm clearance if you are going to have a side with seating that extends out from the kitchen island
- 1,500mm clearance on either side of a kitchen island with seating if you are going to have chairs that are pulled out from the side of the island
These measurements are a good starting point when considering kitchen island sizes. Anything less than 1,000mm of clearance is going to lead to frustration as you move around your kitchen.
How Kitchen Size Determines Island Size
Once you’ve decided the amount of clearance that you want around your kitchen island it’s then possible to work backwards and determine the maximum size of the kitchen island.
As a general rule of thumb:
Kitchen Size | Floor Area | Recommended Island Size |
Small | Under 12 sqm | Small island or wheels only |
Medium | 12 – 20 sqm | ~900 x 1,500mm |
Large | Over 20 sqm | 1,000 x 2,400mm or larger |
Getting the size, shape and layout of a kitchen island right can be exceptionally difficult — once these decisions are made, the rest falls nicely into place. From compact solutions for smaller kitchens to larger bespoke islands with seating, integrated appliances and waterfall edges, we make sure every detail is right.
Get in touch with the Tuska Kitchen team at tuskakitchensjoinery.com.au
Choosing the Right Shape for Your Kitchen
Kitchen island shape is often influenced by the overall shape of the kitchen, although in reality it’s more about the layout. The right shape for your kitchen island will largely be determined by the space that the kitchen island occupies within the floor plan. The shape will also largely be dictated by the features that you are considering incorporating, such as seating, storage, cooktops or sinks. Different shapes will work best in different floor plans.
Let’s take a look at the various options.
Rectangular Islands
Rectangular kitchen islands are by far the most common — and for good reason. They fit into most floor plans, especially L-shaped or galley style kitchens. They are also excellent if you want to incorporate seating, with one length of the rectangular kitchen island being ideal for three or four people to sit and eat.
L-Shaped and Curved Islands
An L-shaped kitchen island is a good option if you are looking at a larger, more open plan kitchen. An L-shape can also help to define separate work zones within the kitchen.
Curved kitchen islands are becoming more and more popular, especially among those looking at a bespoke kitchen island that stands out. Curved kitchen islands flow and look more like furniture than traditional rectangular options. Curves are a good choice if, for example, you have an open plan kitchen where your island is acting as a central feature visible from the main living area.
Compact Islands for Small Kitchens
If you are working with a small kitchen it’s a good idea to consider a compact island. This doesn’t necessarily mean something very tiny — more something that is going to be a good fit within the floor plan. Something in the region of 500 – 600mm wide can work well for a small kitchen island, especially if it includes storage and a good sized benchtop for food preparation. If you have the option, avoid including seating with a small kitchen island as it is unlikely to be very practical.
Some small kitchen islands are on casters, which makes them very versatile as they can be wheeled away when not in use. If you are considering a compact island as part of a more complete kitchen renovation then make sure that the storage and benchtop options are right for you.
Island Layouts Based on How You Use Your Kitchen
Once you’ve begun to think about the size and shape of your kitchen island it’s then time to think about the layout. How you lay out your kitchen island will largely be dictated by how you intend to use it. If you have a large family that always seems to have breakfast at the kitchen bench, then you’ll want to think about a different layout than if you are someone who loves to cook but doesn’t enjoy eating at the bench.
Thinking about how you use the kitchen before finalising kitchen island custom designs is crucial if you want to get the most out of your renovation.
Islands with Seating for Everyday Meals
Seating is one of the most popular options when it comes to custom kitchen islands with seating. Not only do they provide extra storage, they also give extra benchtop space and can act as a central gathering point for family meals. Seating at a kitchen island can also help to reduce the need for a separate dining room, especially if the bar stools that you select are the right height.
If you’re thinking about a kitchen island with seating then you’ll need to ensure that the overhang at the front is at least 250 – 300mm so that knees have room to fit. Many people go for bar stools, so ensure that the height of your kitchen island is right for bar seating. The standard heights are 900mm for the kitchen island and 1,050 – 1,100mm for a raised bar area.
Many custom kitchen designers are now offering the option of split level benching for custom kitchen islands with seating. By having the benching that runs along the length of the island at a different height to the overhang, split level benching allows you to keep the mess of food preparation out of view from the seating area.
Islands with Built-In Cooktop or Sink
One of the biggest trends in kitchen design at the moment is the inclusion of integrated cooktops and sinks within the kitchen island. This is a great way to free up space within the main cooking area while also creating a more sociable cooking environment. If you go with this option it’s important to remember that additional planning is required for the rangehood and for the plumbing. Rangehoods can either be standard units mounted onto the wall behind the cooktop or built-in units that require additional structural support.
Islands Focused on Storage and Prep Space
Not all kitchen islands are about eating or cooking — some are more about providing additional storage and counter space. This is a particularly good option if, for example, you already have ample seating space within your kitchen but not enough storage. Deep drawers, pull-out shelving, dedicated bins for rubbish and extra storage space for your stand mixer and other large appliances can all be incorporated into a custom kitchen island design.
Benchtop and Waterfall Edge Options
Once you’ve worked through the design options for your kitchen and confirmed the size and layout of your island, it’s time to think about the benchtop. The material that you select will have a huge impact on the look of the kitchen, but it will also dictate how practical the kitchen island is on a day-to-day basis.
Stone is by far the most popular choice. It’s hard wearing, available in a variety of finishes and colours and looks fantastic in any kitchen. Engineered stone is our preferred option — we love its consistency of colour and the minimal amount of maintenance that it requires. Marble looks stunning but it needs more care and attention than other materials.
Timber benchtops offer a different option to stone. They provide a warm and inviting look but do require more maintenance.
The waterfall edge has quickly become one of the defining characteristics of contemporary kitchen design. Waterfall edges are created when the material of the benchtop flows down the sides of the kitchen island, all the way down to the floor. Waterfall edges are particularly popular in kitchens with stone benchtops as they create a fabulous contemporary look that makes kitchen islands stand out.
Another benefit of the waterfall edge is that it makes a kitchen island easier to maintain and clean. The material down the sides is much easier to wipe than painted surfaces or timber panelling. Waterfall edges are also great for protecting the cabinetry from damage caused by heavy objects being placed on the edges of the benchtop.
Common Sizing Mistakes to Avoid
When renovating it’s easy to make mistakes when considering kitchen islands, especially in relation to sizing. Being aware of the most common errors before you finalise your plans can save significant time and money down the track.
Some typical kitchen island sizing mistakes include:
- Thinking that 800 – 900mm of clearance is enough — in reality you’ll need at least 1,000mm of clearance to work comfortably around the kitchen
- Thinking that the bigger the kitchen island the better — it’s easy to fall into the trap of making your island as large as possible, but in reality a little extra breathing room always helps
- Placing the kitchen island in the way of the work triangle — the work triangle formed by the cooker, the sink and the fridge should be the focal point of any kitchen, so make sure your island isn’t in the way
- Not planning for the lighting — the positioning of pendant lighting in relation to the kitchen island is a consideration you should think through carefully; if your pendant lights are off-centre it will be a dead giveaway that the lighting wasn’t planned
- Not thinking about the depth of overhang — if you’re going to have seating it’s easy to end up with bar stools that don’t get used because the overhang isn’t right
FAQ
How much clearance do I need around a kitchen island?
For 2026, warm and textured finishes are set to become much more popular, with many homeowners gravitating towards natural timber tones over white finishes.
Can I add seating to any kitchen island?
Not necessarily. If you’re going to have seating at your kitchen island you’re going to need an overhang of at least 250 – 300mm on the side where the bar stools or other seating will be placed. You’re also going to need at least 1,200mm of clearance on the side where the seating will be.
What is a waterfall edge on a kitchen island?
A waterfall edge is created when the material used for the benchtop of the kitchen island flows down the sides of the kitchen island, all the way down to the floor. Waterfall edges are a popular choice when it comes to contemporary kitchen design.
How long does it take to design and install a custom kitchen island?
? It really depends on the complexity of the design as well as the materials that you’re going to use. As a rule of thumb, however, you should be looking at between 8 – 16 weeks from the initial design meeting to installation. It’s always a good idea to speak with your local kitchen designer about your time frame so that they can advise you as to whether or not it is realistic.
What materials are best for a kitchen island benchtop?
The most popular material for kitchen island benchtops is engineered stone. It looks great and it is exceptionally hard wearing. Other materials that can be used for kitchen benches include natural stone such as marble and granite, and timber. Timber is a fabulous material, although it does require more
Can a kitchen island include a sink or cooktop?
Yes it can. Many people opt for integrated sinks or cooktops as part of a custom kitchen island. This is particularly popular in large kitchens. It does, however, require additional planning, particularly with regard to the installation of the rangehood and the provision of any additional plumbing.