Are island benches a good feature to include in my new kitchen?

Hear from one of our experts.

1 Modern Kitchen with Timber Flooring and Black Ceiling
1 Island Bench with Leathered Granite
Pendant lights over island bench Tasmania

Island benches are a popular feature in many of today's kitchens.

They are actually somewhat of a throwback to the days when the family dining happened around a table within the kitchen area. Today island benches range from a simple cabinet with extra storage to ornate centre pieces complete with stone benchtops, underbench lighting, architectural tapware and more.

Whether or not an island bench is the best solution for your kitchen will often depend on the space available and the layout of your home. In some cases a more traditional wrap around style kitchen can be a better solution in terms of maximizing storage and bench space.

If your layout permits, there are a number of advantages to an island bench. They can be a great social gathering point, creating a hub where family times can be enjoyed, and friends can be entertained. They can provide a multi-purpose work area, somewhere informal to set up your laptop and catch up on your emails. And of course they can look great and become a special feature of your new home.

By thinking outside the square, your island bench can become even more special. If space is constrained, maybe consider putting your bench on wheels for more flexibility. If you aren't one for sitting up to the island bench, consider using the outward facing side for some extra storage, either open as a feature, or behind some nice matching doors. Consider different shapes too, this can help to maximise your working space.

For more inspiration, check out our kitchen gallery.


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