Is a Kitchen Peninsula or Kitchen Island Right for Your Home?
The kitchen is the heart of the home so it is essential that the design is right for your household. A kitchen peninsula offers so much – a place to prepare and eat meals, storage for kitchen items, and somewhere to sit with the family. But kitchen islands also offer these benefits. So, is a peninsula really right for you and your kitchen, or would an island be more beneficial?
You might be asking “what is the difference between kitchen islands and peninsulas?” Think of islands and peninsulas in general – one is alone in a body of water, the other is connected to the mainland. Likewise, a kitchen island is completely separate from the rest of your worktops and has four accessible sides. A peninsula, on the other hand, is connected to the rest of your kitchen.
Apart from this, kitchen islands and peninsulas will often share all of the same benefits, so why choose one over the other? The answers are the availability of space and personal preference. In our previous blog post about, creating islands for small kitchens, we discussed that for an island you should aim for at least 31” of walkway on all four sides – 41” if there is an appliance. However, this can be impossible for some and makes the utilisation of an island impractical. This is where a kitchen peninsula has the advantage. No walkways are obstructed and your work triangle is preserved.
If you do have space for an island, why would you opt for a peninsula? The answer to this is mainly personal and is based on design preference, liveability, and lifestyle. Let us consider design preference. Islands are a useful feature for retaining an open plan design – a peninsula can obstruct this open flow and confine the kitchen to one area. This makes a peninsula a fantastic option if you are looking to keep a clearer division between dining and cooking spaces – you can read more in our guide to broken and open plan kitchens. Your kitchen layout is another important consideration to make. Longer, narrower spaces are ideal for kitchen peninsulas whilst in a large, square room an island may be a better choice.
Finally, think about your lifestyle – if you use your kitchen for entertaining, an island can be a better choice too, because it allows the cook to prepare food whilst interreacting more easily with their guests. If you prefer more peace and privacy when cooking, or have children to keep from under your feet, a peninsula could be a better option for you.
Do you have a kitchen island but think that a peninsula might have suited your kitchen and lifestyle better? Perhaps you have a kitchen peninsula but wish you had chosen an island. Leave your thoughts in the comment below or share your peninsula pictures on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
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