Trendy Ways To Turn Your Island Into A Functioning Dining Table

Kitchen islands have many functions: They serve as a place to prepare food, display meals, and entertain guests. However, in recent times, the island has also doubled as a dining table for many homeowners. This trend has likely emerged because it has become popular to convert your formal dining room into something more useful, like a children's play area or home office. Homeowners have instead started gathering in the kitchen to dine because it's more convenient since the food is cooked right next to the table.

To use your kitchen island as a dining table, it should include an overhanging countertop that extends at least a foot past the rest of your counter so that your seating can fit underneath. You'll also want the top of the seat and the underside of the countertop to be about a foot away from each other. Additionally, if you really want the island to feel like a table, keep it the same height as or slightly lower than adjacent counters.

The typical island is rectangular, with storage cabinets on one side and seating on the other. However, if you want to make your island suitable for dining, there are a few innovative ways to do so. For instance, choosing an extra large surface would give your kitchen a modern look while providing more space for additional seating.

Another interesting option recently gaining popularity is including two islands in a kitchen design. If you did this, you could designate one for storage and food prep and the other for dining. Including a walkway between the two surfaces could improve the functionality of the space. Many also add an extension onto their island without any storage space, allowing chairs to slide underneath the countertop easily. If you're debating which layout suits you, consider the size of your kitchen, as there should be at least 3 feet of space around the dining island.

Another way to make this kitchen feature look chic is by choosing proper seating. Generally, it's best to use chairs or stools with backs, as they will be more functional and comfortable. They will also make more of a statement in the space since they're larger. If you wish to embrace a kitchen aesthetic that's currently very popular, choose stools or chairs that offer natural materials like wood, cane, and leather. If you wish for them to stand out, upholstered chairs with a pop of color could also upgrade your kitchen's appeal.

When deciding how many seats to place around the island, consider a few factors, including how many people are in your family, how many guests you typically entertain, and how much room you have for each chair. Each seat should be about 1½ to 2 feet apart, so allow for at least this much room. If you have young children in your family, investing in adjustable chairs may be best so that the height can change depending on who's using the seat.