Kitchen islands are attractive additions without a doubt, so if you’re lucky enough to have one, you should be maximising the available space. Despite the fact that the majority come with open storage and drawers as usual, there is still a lot more that can be learned from these multipurpose focal pieces than is initially apparent. Allow us to demonstrate.

1. Use a Multi-functioning Cabinet Organizer Island

With a clever kitchen cabinet organising idea that makes goods hidden in the back easily accessible, you can make the most of every available square inch of storage space in your island. Make your island a multifunctional hub of efficiency by choosing an organiser with features like pullout baskets, a spice rack, and even a trash can. This will free up valuable workspace and storage space elsewhere.

To increase storage space, Life Organized creator and professional organiser Barbara Reich suggests installing ClosetMaid cabinet organisers in cupboards beneath the island.

2. Open Kitchen Island Storage

Create a lighter look with an open island. Drawers are ideal for storing utensils, while open shelves can be used for dishes, produce, or cooking supplies. Wire baskets hold similar items, while keeping the look bright and airy.

3. Kitchen Island Drawers

For kitchen island storage, consider alternatives to cabinets. Dishes, linens, and pots and pans can all be kept in deep, spacious drawers. Make sure the drawers and the hardware are built to withstand the weight if you intend to store heavy objects.

4. Kitchen Island Display Shelves

Make the most of your kitchen island’s storage and display space. Use open storage to display lovely things like vintage serving utensils, bright cookbooks, or unique baking tins. For more practical goods, like flatware, pair that with closed storage, such drawers.

5. Create a Charming Display with Open Storage

Don’t think that in order to create an ordered island space, you must store things away in an out-of-sight, out-of-mind manner. For those of us who aren’t minimalists, displaying gorgeous wooden boards, reactive glaze crockery, handmade glassware, etc. occasionally is pretty nice. A little collection of well chosen trinkets on display provides an island a cosy feel and charm. Use open storage and kitchen shelf ideas to exhibit everything from potted herbs to the aforementioned beauties as a way to “enjoy what you have.” Install a couple hooks on a counter’s bottom overhang so you may hang cherished kitchenware or mugs with ease.

6. Kitchen Island Spice Rack

To improve visibility in kitchen island cabinets, use pullout shelves and cabinets. Smaller things, like spice jars or bottles of vinegar and oil, can be stored in pullouts and are less likely to get lost in the depths of a large cabinet.

7. Kitchen Island Storage for Produce

Drawers, whether deep or shallow, are a crucial component of kitchen design since they give us a variety of storage possibilities. According to Graeme Smith, head of retail and commercial design at Life Kitchens, “deeper drawers allow you to store pots and pans, and the addition of shallow drawers on top of them are great for utilizing additional space, perfect for organising kitchen utensils like spatulas, corkscrews, and the like.

8. Incorporate a Rolling Cart

Put a roll-out cart behind the kitchen island, where it’s hidden but yet accessible, to expand your workplace and storage. For a useful food prep surface, choose butcher block or stainless steel or match the surface’s material to your island countertop. Extra-deep drawers beneath the cart on this kitchen island hold dry groceries, pans, and other baking necessities.

9. Custom Plate Racks

A bespoke plate rack can be used to transform the front of your kitchen island into a focus point. Serving trays are kept in place by wood dowels against a backdrop of beadboard painted in a striking contrast colour. Always measure your products to ensure clearance when considering island storage.

10. Kitchen Island Banquette

This island’s three functions are a prep station, a seating banquette, and a glass-fronted display cabinet. In front of the sink, the island’s working side creates a prep area. On the other side, the raised banquette offers lots of sitting and makes the most of the wooded view. A glass-door cabinet facing the dining room is located in the bench’s back. The storage capacity of the island is increased by the drawer under the seat.