The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house as this is where most of the food is kept and prepared before you and the family sit down and enjoy a meal.
(Check out our favorite kitchen island plans.)
When the kitchen has a large amount of floor space to work with, nothing seems to be as convenient as a central location, like an island, to serve as a hub of activity.
The most convenient and easiest islands are shaped like an I due to it normally having a lower cost value to the design.
Some of these L-shaped islands can be as simple as a prep station that allows a cook to come up with culinary masterpieces or as complicated as becoming the primary location that holds all of the kitchen’s appliances in one place.
DIY L Shaped Kitchen Island Design Ideas
There are even some islands where it is actually the whole kitchen.
1. Bar and Grill Island
With just a counter-top grill as one of the highlights of this L-shaped island, you can grill up some kind of culinary masterpiece before the seated guests who are watching this form of entertainment. Enjoy a good conversation with some wine as you make good use of this handy island.
2. Big Buffet
This L-shaped island is great for kitchens that cater to a family who prefers to do things buffet-style. Instead of dumping all the food at the center of the table where diners fumble over each other to fill up their plate, the idea of lining up the prepared dishes like soldiers is great.
Strategically placed between where all the food is prepped and where the eaters are sitting, all folks need to do is line up, grab a plate, and take their turn picking away at what they want to fill it up with. Get some kitchen color design ideas here!
3. Cooking Station
Using the L-shaped kitchen island as a cooking station is genius. With the seating capacity of three on this island, perhaps you can show off your culinary skills before your guests as you show them how to make your veggies go air born from the frying pan without losing any of them.
Store all your pots, pans, and utensils in one convenient location on this island allows you to snatch and grab without having to venture too far off to do it. And, if you happen to have a fridge located directly behind you while you’re cooking, all you need to do is whip around to get what you need before whipping back to keep cooking.
4. Head of the Table
With or without the corner sink, this kitchen island allows the opportunity for someone to sit at the head of the table, so to speak, while the other diners gather to share good food and good conversation.
5. Keep it Cool
Storing a pair of mini-fridges into the kitchen island is a great idea, especially if you want to use it as a prep station. Usually, the storage of fruits and vegetables is to be kept in a cool, dark place. Full-scale refrigerators usually offer separate compartments whereas some of the more sophisticated models offer environmental control options.
Speaking as a professional cook, I actually use a mini-fridge strictly for fruits and vegetables while the main one holds everything else. This concept for a kitchen island is truly genius.
6. Long Stretch
For L-shaped kitchen islands with some stretch, not only does this design make it a handy workstation with plenty of storage options but it also has a table and chair setup that makes it wonderfully appealing. For families constantly on the go who don’t really care to lounge around a fancy dining room setup, this is great. What a great way to enjoy your breakfast together as a family, or an afternoon tea with your friends.
7. No Frills
This L-shaped island is set up like a prep station but without the seating. The small sink and the amount of flat surface space make it easy for a cook to do whatever needs to be done. It also can serve as a handy bar where you practice your mixology skills.
8. Peek-a-Boo
This very simple L-shaped kitchen island has a cooktop at its center with a cabinet underneath that can be either kept pushed in or pulled out. What a neat idea to pull the movable cabinet out after you’ve finished putting together your culinary work of art and use it as a surface for people to gather, take what they want, and go eat it.
If you feel the cabinet underneath isn’t worth your time, then go without. This is a great idea for cooks wanting an island in their kitchen but doesn’t have much space to work with.
9. Side By Side
Speaking as someone who is a cook by trade, the efficiency of being able to cook by stovetop with a sink nearby is awesome. When cooking, side-stepping from one spot to another without skipping a beat makes the process of transferring food from sink to counter to the stove can be a real time-saver.
This makes a cook become more efficient at what they do, which is great. The same can be said when a cook finishes frying up their meal and transfers the food from its cooking device to the plates on the counter and quickly into the sink.
This kitchen island is designed for efficiency with cooks who take what they do seriously, not wanting to be slowed down by inconveniences.
10. Simplicity Is Good
This is a nice and easy island that has a sink installed, along with a seating capacity for three people to sit together. If it’s simply to sit and chat over a cup of coffee while the food prepper is washing some fruit to share, this L-shaped island is perfect. If you don’t have much floor space to work with, this would be the ideal option to go with.
11. Simplistic
Sometimes, all you need from a kitchen island is a place to just sit and enjoy some java. Or, if you’re standing between the sink and the island, use it as a convenient food prep station.
12. With a Curve
Consider this L-shaped kitchen island having a slightly curved accent to take it a bit out of the norm. Hey, it’s still an I but done as if somebody bumped you while you drew that I with a pen. Compact enough to not take up much space, the cool bookshelf idea allows you to keep your cookbooks nearby.
The built-for-two seating arrangement is great, especially for a couple that likes to sit together as they enjoy that morning cup of coffee. Hey, why not grab a cookbook to see what new meal for two catches your fancy?
Design Ideas & Inspiration
The L-shaped kitchen island is a popular layout for many homeowners. This type of layout offers ample space for food preparation, eating, and storage. It is also a great option for entertaining guests.
There are a few things to keep in mind when designing an L-shaped kitchen island.
First, the island should be placed in the center of the kitchen. This will allow for easy access to all areas of the kitchen.
Second, the island should be made from durable materials that are easy to clean.
Third, the island should have plenty of storage space. fourth, the L-shaped kitchen island should be large enough to accommodate a seating area.
When it comes to L-shaped kitchen island design, the sky is the limit. There are many different ways to customize this type of layout. Homeowners can choose from a variety of materials, colors, and styles to make their L-shaped kitchen island unique.
Benefits
There are many benefits to having an L-shaped kitchen island. This type of layout offers ample space for food preparation, eating, and storage. It is also a great option for entertaining guests.
Some of the other benefits of an L-shaped kitchen island include:
1. Ample counter space – The L-shaped layout of the island provides plenty of counter space for food preparation and cooking.
2. Seating area – The L-shaped kitchen island is large enough to accommodate a seating area. This is perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying a meal with the family.
3. Storage space – The L-shaped kitchen island offers plenty of storage space. This is perfect for storing pots, pans, and other kitchen supplies.
4. Easy to clean – The L-shaped kitchen island is easy to clean because it has a smooth surface.
5. Versatile – The L-shaped kitchen island is versatile and can be customized to fit the needs of any kitchen.
Drawbacks
There are a few drawbacks to having an L-shaped kitchen island. First, this type of layout can be slightly more expensive than other kitchen layouts. Second, the L-shaped kitchen island may not fit in all kitchens. Third, the L-shaped kitchen island may not provide enough storage space for some homeowners.
Some of the other drawbacks of an L-shaped kitchen island include:
1. Expensive – The L-shaped kitchen island can be slightly more expensive than other kitchen layouts
2. Requires a larger kitchen – The L-shaped kitchen island may not fit in all kitchens if you don’t have a big space.
How to build one for your home
Building an L-shaped kitchen island is a great way to add extra counter space and storage to your kitchen. This type of island is also perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying a meal with the family.
There are a few things to keep in mind when designing and building an L-shaped kitchen island. First, the island should be placed in the middle of the kitchen. This will allow for easy access to all areas of the kitchen.
Second, the island should be made from durable materials that are easy to clean.
Third, the L-shaped kitchen island should have plenty of storage space. Fourth, the L-shaped kitchen island should be large enough to accommodate a seating area.
Building an L-shaped kitchen island is a relatively easy project that can be completed in a weekend. Follow the steps below to build your own L-shaped kitchen island.
1. Choose the location for your L-shaped kitchen island. The island should be placed in the middle of the kitchen for easy access to all areas of the kitchen.
2. Cut the lumber to size for the L-shaped kitchen island. You will need four pieces of lumber that are 8 feet long and two pieces of lumber that are 4 feet long.
3. Assemble the L-shaped kitchen island frame. Attach the four 8-foot pieces of lumber together using L-brackets. Then, attach the two 4-foot pieces of lumber to the frame using L-brackets.
4. Attach the L-shaped kitchen island frame to the floor. Use L-brackets to attach the frame to the floor. Make sure that the L-brackets are positioned so that they will not be visible from the top of the island.
5. Attach the L-shaped kitchen island countertop. Use L-brackets to attach the countertop to the frame. Make sure that the L-brackets are positioned so that they will not be visible from the top of the island.
6. Install the L-shaped kitchen island sink and faucet. Cut a hole in the countertop for the sink. Then, install the sink and faucet according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
7. Install L-shaped kitchen island cabinets. Position the cabinets on either side of the island. Then, use L-brackets to attach the cabinets to the frame.
8. Install L-shaped kitchen island drawers. Position the drawers in the center of the island. Then, use L-brackets to attach the drawers to the frame.
9. Install L-shaped kitchen island shelves. Position the shelves on either side of the island. Then, use L-brackets to attach the shelves to the frame.
10. Add L-shaped kitchen island trim. Attach L-shaped molding to the top of the island countertop. Then, use L-brackets to attach the molding to the frame.
11. Paint or stain the L-shaped kitchen island. Choose a color that will complement the rest of your kitchen.
12. Add L-shaped kitchen island accessories. Install a towel rack, paper towel holder, or spice rack on the L-shaped kitchen island. You can also add a knife block, cutting board, or other kitchen essentials.
Building an L-shaped kitchen island is a great way to add extra counter space and storage to your kitchen. This type of island is perfect for entertaining guests or enjoying a meal with the family. Follow the steps above to build your own L-shaped kitchen island
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!