How to Extend Kitchen Island (Explained for Beginners)

The kitchen island can be the focal point of the space with the multiple functionalities it provides. Wanting to extend the island for increased seating, storage and accessibility are absolutely understandable. You can extend your kitchen island through the method of adding tables, legs, countertops, and even extra seating.

How can I extend my kitchen island?

Extending your kitchen island is easier and cheaper than imagined, with a myriad of ways to show creativity. You can add tables to extend the island. You can also attach legs at the end to lengthen it; countertops and seating can help to enhance the extension as well.

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Kitchen islands simultaneously act as a work surface, a place for entertaining guests, eating meals as well as connecting loved ones. In a way, if you call kitchens the heart of the home, the island is the heartbeat. Wanting to extend said heartbeat is understandable for islands can also provide several amenities while showcasing your artistic designs.

There are multitudes of ways you can extend a kitchen island, including adding legs, seating, countertops, tables, and much more. A multilevel kitchen island can help with meal-prep, hiding unintentional messes with the backsplash. If you opt to go for an island that is taller, it can add a bar or inn-like vibe into your space. Extending an island can also help with increased storage space and additional amenities.

It is always recommended to consider the proportions of the kitchen before starting any renovation.

How to extend kitchen island with legs?

One of the easiest ways to extend a kitchen island is to attach wooden legs at the end. It is also one of the best ways to incorporate woodworking into your kitchen as well. Legs can be found both online and in wood shops.

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You will need to have the proper measurements before starting anything. Also, make sure to adjust the height of the legs, so it matches everything else stationed in the kitchen as well. Making the island legs similar to those around sinks or any other fittings can add to the balance of the design too.

How to extend kitchen island for seating?

Seats in the kitchen island turn it into a good place to hang out, be around people and enjoy your meals close to the warmth of the kitchen. Some are concerned that adding chairs or stools would take away the walking space, but that can be easily countered by using stackable chairs or low-backed chairs that don’t loom in the back.

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It is advised to keep around 24 inches of space for each person and build on it as you go. Said 24 inches (60 cm) allow enough breathing space and elbow room so one can be comfortable and work on their own thing. For children, you can cut it down to 50 cm.

The abovementioned legs or overhang counters can help to extend the island so you can increase seating as well without taking away space to move around effortlessly.

How to extend kitchen island countertop?

Adding countertops can outspread the kitchen island without harming the wallet. A rolling countertop that’s ready-made costs around $500.

You can also have an extension that is fold-away, which gives you both space and function when you need it. A foldup countertop can be supported with drop-down pegs or even chains. Just add it at the end of the island or the base cabinet for easy installation.

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The typical overhand or countertop adds 12 to 15inches to the island, granite countertops being the most common option.

How to extend kitchen island with table?

It is rather easy to extend the kitchen island with a table. It can be a custom-made table, something that’s entirely separate from the island, or something that’s just the natural extension of the island.

Combining the island with a table is a brilliant saver of space, especially when you consider so many families are opting to dine in their kitchen rather than having a separate dining space. It saves both time and space to just eat where you cook, especially when spare square footage is a rarity.

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These types of tables can easily be used for extending your kitchen island both for dining and adding extra space for guests.

Custom tables will make sure what you have is the only one in the world. You can just as easily just push a table you had before against the island. The aesthetics will tie in together if the widths of these two pieces of furniture match.

Extra tip: Using a different material for the tabletop can make the contrast look intentional, therefore bringing the focus onto it. For example, a warm wood top will coordinate radiantly cool stone or marble countertops.

What else should I keep in mind when extending my kitchen island?

Always measure and keep the proportions of other kitchen fittings and fixtures in mind when planning to remodel or renovate. Hastily built, unsuitably sized, and an inconsistently proportioned island can lead to inevitable frustration.

Find the balance of aesthetics and functionality for complete satisfaction.

Choose materials accordingly so it can accentuate the other furniture as well as be suited for kitchen use such as storage, prep space, or frequent dining. Wood and slab of stones such as granite are popular options that also allow customization.

How much does it cost to extend kitchen island?

Most families find a kitchen renovation, including the extension of their kitchen island, to be well worth it. If you are planning to just add a table to extend the island, it might cost you absolutely nothing, granted you had a spare table you could use.

The typical cost of island extension costs around $400. That being said, a homeowner can spend as little as $100 for a simple wooden table. But they can also go as high as $1500 for an extravagant rolling piece.

Other costs include plumbing repurposing, safely storing equipment, an interior designer, and junk/waste removal, which could substantially add to the budget. Each personal touch can add to the cost as well unless you are planning to DIY it.

How to increase height of kitchen island?

One of the easiest ways to increase the height of a kitchen island is to build a base around it. Levelers can also be a sturdy option.

A pull-out toe kick step stool can be a cheap, short-term solution for the members who are on the shorter side.

If you have countertops as the island extension, you can just build more shelves or drawers on it to raise the height.

It should be noted; however, that increasing height of the kitchen island can change how the entire kitchen looks as well as alter how you function around the kitchen.

Can an island extend beyond the kitchen?

Yes, an island can extend beyond the kitchen. As more and more 21st century homes adapt to compact spaces, turning the kitchen into a make-do dining area is well above expected. Extending the island beyond the kitchen makes it a transitional piece of furniture where one side can meal prep whilst the other side works on something else entirely unrelated to cooking.

What is a good kitchen island size?

The usual size is 80 x 40 inches, with around 40 inches of clearance for easy movement. The height is usually 36 inches but it can go up 42 inches. The minimum size you can go for is 40 x 40 inches, which will at least allow some practical preparation area.

When looking for an island, how easy it is to clean should also be considered. Keeping this in mind, the maximum island size can be something around 120 x 72 inches. This is a huge, enormous amount of level or multitiered space that could also become a hindrance if unneeded.

If you want multiple people working in your kitchen without any obstruction, you can keep a space between the cabinets and the island of 42 inches. Make it 48 inches if you regularly entertain or house people with disabilities or need wheelchairs.

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The island can be the focal showpiece while the rest of the kitchen takes after it stylistically. The expansion allows more convenient prep space, workspace as well as storage. A well-planned extension can provide both all-out comfort and functionality whilst enabling good traffic flow let it be by the means of tables, legs, or even countertops.