When you think of a kitchen island what comes to mind? Maybe you picture a practical piece of furniture that holds things like cookbooks, stacks of napkins and maybe a bowl of fruit. Of course, a kitchen island can be home to those items, but it can also be a place where family and friends enjoy a meal. Consider a few simple tips on how to transform your kitchen island into your new favorite spot to dine.

Set Up Comfortable Seating

Comfortable seating is essential if you want to turn your kitchen island into a gathering place. Look for chairs with backs so family and friends can lean back, relax and enjoy the conversation. Seat cushions can make your chairs even more comfortable and add a little extra style to your kitchen’s décor. Be sure to leave some elbow room between the chairs so there is plenty of space to move. The number of chairs you get depends on the dimensions of your kitchen island. If you have a long, narrow kitchen, you can extend your island by pushing a rectangular table up against one end of it and adding more chairs.

Appealing Lighting

Soft lighting makes dining at a kitchen island a more pleasant experience. One idea is to put pendant lights up over the island so you can enjoy your favorite dishes under a pleasant glow. Pendant lights are available in all sorts of designs that can enhance the look of any kitchen. If you have a skylight above your kitchen island, the natural light can help set a pleasant atmosphere for breakfast or lunch. If you’re remodeling your kitchen and want a new island for meals, try consulting the creative experts at Alair Homes.

Young Court Custom Home
Photo by Alair Homes TorontoSearch traditional kitchen pictures

An Attractive Centerpiece

With the right centerpiece, a kitchen island can be just as appealing as a dining room table. A decorative bowl filled with water and a few floating tealight candles is one idea for a centerpiece. A small vase of flowers makes for a lovely centerpiece and doesn’t block anyone’s view. Other ideas for centerpieces include a bowl of colorful glass stones, a jar of potpourri or a scented candle. A pastel colored tablecloth is another choice if you want to dress up your kitchen island for a meal.

The Right Kind of Dishes

If you have a smaller kitchen island, you may want to purchase a set of smaller dishes to use when dining there. Using plates and glasses that are smaller can give you and your fellow diners more room on the table. You can get creative with the colors you choose for your dishes. One idea is pastel blue dishes with matching cups. If you prefer white dishes, try getting some with a little detail such as silver trim or a subtle flowery design that adds some interest to their appearance. You can be as creative as you want to be when you choose smaller dishes just for serving on your kitchen island.

Finally, if you have a rack of pots and pans hanging over your kitchen island, try dressing it up a little with some artificial English ivy vines or artificial flowers. The combination of all of these things can make your kitchen island the place to be!