Kitchen design
Kitchen Island or Farmhouse Table? How to Choose
Islands add worktop and storage; a table adds a place to gather. How to decide what suits your kitchen and your space.
The centre of a kitchen can hold an island or a table, and the choice shapes how the room works. An island is a working surface; a table is a place to sit. Many British kitchens try to have both, but in most rooms one does the job better.
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Side by side
| Kitchen island | Farmhouse table | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Extra worktop, storage, sometimes a hob or sink | Eating, homework, gathering |
| Seating | Stools on one side, perched | Chairs all round, relaxed |
| Flexibility | Fixed in place | Can move, extend or be replaced |
| Services | May need plumbing and power | None |
| Style | Modern or Shaker, matches the units | Traditional, collected, cottage |
How much space do you need?
An island needs clear walkways on every side, and roughly a metre is a common guide, more where two people cook at once or a dishwasher door opens. A table needs room to pull chairs out as well. Mark the footprint on the floor with tape and walk round it before you commit.
The best of both
- A table-height island at one end, with chairs, works like a table that doubles as worktop.
- A narrow island plus a small round table in a bay or corner suits long kitchens.
- A butcher's block on legs gives a free-standing, movable work surface with a traditional look.
Lighting
Both need good light over the surface. See lighting a traditional kitchen.
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