Islands in small kitchens are a hindrance?

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We have a small kitchen about 4mx5m and were thinking about including an island but I can't help but think islands are overrated and in a small kitchen is probably more of a thing that gets in the way.

AIBU to think islands in small spaces are a good in theory but on a practical level a problem rather than a solution?

I wouldn’t say 20 square metres is small? I think it depends a bit on doors positioning etc. Can you have a U shape with a peninsula instead?

A 4 x 5m kitchen isn't small in my book! If you don't feel you have enough storage, have the island. If you do, consider a table instead?

All depends on placement of doors, windows, flow of foot traffic. It shouldn’t be in the way in a well-designed kitchen. I’m not a huge fan of islands, though, as they become clutter magnets and dumping grounds, particularly if they have the sink and dishwasher in them.

I've got a 5 by 4 kitchen. No way do I think that's big enough for an island. Neighbour has knocked through her kitchen diner to made double that size and has an island which works well.

First thing I did in our new house was to get the island unit ripped out. Bloody stupid things unless you have a barn-sized kitchen.

I think islands are really overrated and can get in the way. Can you fit a pantry for extra storage?

My house came with a small kitchen (smaller than 5m x 4m) that has an island and I don't like it, but it turned out to be useful when we had a not very mobile but otherwise independent elderly relative staying as it gave them a secure extra "handrail" at just the right height to hold on to while using the kitchen.

I think they're overrated, but only get one if you're going to use the entire thing for storage. Don't waste space for bar stools, if you have a dining table it will never get used. They're uncomfortable and impractical. You can get some deep drawers in there and store lots of stuff

I thought I really wanted one. Hubby was against it. Kitchen designer really against it. Love the space we have now, and the designer was right, it works better without.

If you haven't had a chat with a kitchen designer yet; its worth doing. It's part of the process of getting quotes from most major places

I have a huge kitchen and the best thing I ever did was take out the island. I had a dining table and sofa in there as well so there was plenty of room, just hated the island.
A big table is far more use and can be moved around.

We've just gone from a U-shaped kichen to an L-shaped with island. We didn't lose any storage, gained extra worktop space but the decision was purely influenced by flow of the room. DH not at all keen on islands (too Footballers Wives??) but the practicality of the new layout has won him over.

I agree. I think property experts often say this too

When we were looking at a new house, one had an island in the kitchen and you literally had to turn sideways to skirt past it. Whilst a lovely, high spec kitchen it just looked ridiculous!!

One thing I love about my kitchen is the wide open space.

Depends. If it is an enclosed room then I agree it is too small.
Our kitchen itself is about that size and I really like our island, but it is almost entirely open one one side to the dining space, and then a living space beyond that. so arguably it is a much bigger kitchen, depending on how you define it.

Our island is quite small by today's standards. I'm actually not a fan of huge islands. Our island is the perfect size to prepare food - I can comfortably reach the whole thing. It does not have a sink or hob on it and it never ever has any clutter on it at all - it is strictly a food prep and serving space. Anyone who puts a bag down on it is in big trouble!

I spotted this mini island/unit on Etsy and thinking of ordering one with castors on. I will be able to move it about as I need to then. Could be a good option for anyone with space constraints

I like them because friends/children can sit at them and chat to me while I make dinner. It’s sociable.

But only if you have plenty of room so the flow of the kitchen isn’t interrupted.

I bloody hate kitchen islands. We are house hunting at the moment and every kitchen has one, regardless of whether it is suitable. It generally means you can’t fit a decent sized dining table because the island is smack in the middle. Really annoying when I will probably need to remove an island. Breakfast bars are so much better, and don’t get me started as to the reason anyone wants a sink or hob on a small island!

I’d far rather have a table. We didn’t get an island because I felt it would be a dumping ground.

We are currently building a simillar sized kitchen and opting from a central table supposed to an island for this reason.

Anything but an island or peninsula!
So overrated, they will date quickly, usually look clunky. I just don't get the obsession.
Surely a table chairs and storage is better? Easier to change how the room is perceived, easier to change when you are bored with it? I don't get why a (usually) huge/disproportionate solid square box is so desirable

There are three points of entry/exit - main entry into and out of the kitchen (bottom left hand corner), entrance/exit to utility room (top left hand corner) and entry/exit to dinning room. Excuse the rubbish picture.

I think I am amongst those who feel better with a sense of space and being able to move freely without navigating a large immobile object in a smallish space. However, I feel I am missing out if I do not have an island (😀)

No island in that layout id say. If your kitchen and dining room where knocked though I might of but not with that many doors.

I love storage though

I loathe loathe loathe our peninsula, but our kitchen is so badly designed anyway. A 9m x 3m room was always going to be tricky but the peninsula just fucks things up so you can’t get a decent table in the dining end without squishing people against the peninsula, it flows the foot traffic down one narrow corridor so we’re always bumping into each other, it creates an unnecessary and shit corner cupboard and a big swathe of unusable counter space on the dining side, plus unusable wall cupboards above, and ends up as a dumping ground for shite. I want to burn it. Don’t get me started on breakfast bars. I don’t want to eat my breakfast perched on a STOOL like I’m on a shit lunch break in a busy London Pret on a rainy day.

Hmm that is a bit tricky with those doors to accommodate-what's the current kitchen layout? Any chance of moving the dining room door to line-up with the kitchen door iyswim? Or knocking thru to the dining room completely?

I love mine! It's huge and functions as a kitchen dining space too.

The layout has normal width worktop in an L on 2 sides with a built in fridge and pantry cupboard in opposite corners on the ends of the L. The other 2 sides of the room have narrow low cupboards which function as a window seat on one side and as a bookshelf on the other side. The island is half storage underneath and half table with bar stools that seats 6. There are no wall cupboards because there are large windows with lovely views on 3 sides.

I like it because the layout creates a mini kitchen at one end with the fridge, freezer, range and sink (with bin underneath) and the island opposite for food preparation so you can cook without moving more than a few steps. There is also storage for pans, knives and cooking utensils, teatowels, herbs etc all within arms reach at that end of the room. I suppose it would be more convenient to have the pantry cupboard in that area too but I am willing to put up with the inconvenience for aesthetics 😂

I like that the table end of island creates a social space for chatting or doing homework while I cook. I prefer having a wipe clean surface over a wooden table for messy activities and informal family dining, although we have a formal dining room too with storage for the fancy crockery, cutlery and glasses. We also have a huge utility room for laundry so there is no need for a washer and dryer in the kitchen.

I prefer to keep occasional use kitchen items like the slow cooker, mixer etc in cupboards so the worktops are clear and the room is quite minimalist. It might feel very cluttered having a huge island with lots of things on the worktops and wall cupboards. Ditto if you have full width worktops on all sides with a small island in the middle.

I think it will depend very much on the layout of the room, the placement of doors windows, routes to external doors, between the sink and cooker etc, whether it will work or not. Our kitchen planner came up with many terrible layouts that were impractical, cramped and ugly so I just did it myself 😂