A kitchen island with seating is a great space-saving solution for smaller kitchens, as you can combine the kitchen table within your layout plan. If you live in a bigger home, however, kitchen islands with seating are an easily accessible alternative for having your morning coffee, breakfast or dinner with just two people while other family members are out.
A kitchen island can be a perfect addition to your interior, and it can tie the whole kitchen layout together. Plan out a countertop overhang so you have space for your feet and the seats and just like that, you turned your kitchen islands into a breakfast bar.
The perfect kitchen island is considered while planning the space design, yet you can always use one of those carts kitchen islands so you have a flexible option to be used for food preparation or for having breakfast.
If you are thinking about integrating a kitchen island with seating in your remodel, make sure to check out the list below.
A lowered kitchen island with seating in a two-tone kitchen
The two-tone kitchen cabinets in this gorgeous space offer a lot of storage opportunities, however, by picking out the upper cabinets in a lighter color, the layout doesn’t look too crowded. The kitchen island is made out of the same material as the dark wood kitchen cabinets used on the bottom and finished with the same beige stone countertop.
The back half of the kitchen island is lowered and turned into a bar which allows for dining chairs instead of high bar stools. If you prefer sitting on a regular chair this might be a great way to design your kitchen island as well.
via Nordiska Kök
A regular island module paired with bar stools
If you don’t have a lot of extra space available in your kitchen but still want to provide an extra seating opportunity at the island, it can be enough to place small stools in front of the storage modules. While it’s more comfy to have an empty space for your legs, this can work great while cooking.
via Himlekök
A U-shaped kitchen design with an elegant breakfast bar
The breakfast bar in this kitchen is perfectly balanced with the U-shaped layout of the kitchen design itself. The kitchen island connects the kitchen with the living room as well, which is a nice added bonus.
via Ask Og Eng
A terrazzo kitchen island with seating in dark wood
The terrazzo countertops in this beautiful kitchen with beige cabinets are also used to construct the kitchen island with seating on the back. While the color palette of the kitchen design is rather light, the dark wood bar stool stands out in this setting and offers a great spot to have a drink or to gather around come dinner time.
The sides of the kitchen island box the seating area in, which provides the layout with interest and clean lines.
via Nordiska Kök
A functional island with storage underneath the seating area
The island with seating in this beautiful kitchen design with blue cabinets is optimally used for extra storage. This spot is perfect for storing things you don’t need that often as it’s a bit less accessible than the other modules.
via &Schufl
A classic kitchen design with a breakfast bar
While most of the island ideas with seating in this list are more modern examples, you can achieve a perfectly functional island in a classic kitchen style just as well. The combination of the shaker cabinets with the marble worktop in this deVOL kitchen allows for a breakfast bar that is lined with shiplap in the back to add a classic touch.
via deVOL kitchens
An island with white cabinets and a light look
The white modern cabinetry in this kitchen is enhanced with an eye-catching stone counter that also comes back on the island tabletop that extends far over the storage module and is supported by a metal leg at the end. This approach makes the layout of the kitchen lighter and allows for plenty of seating space underneath.
via Nordiska Kök
A long island with seating on the back
The backside of this kitchen island is a great place to add stools when they are needed, yet it also allows for a spot to stand and work together on a dish. The elegant sage green color on the cabinetry pairs nicely with the wood and copper design details in this room.
Black leather stools stand out against a warm tone setting
The design and style of the island with seating follow the aesthetic of the kitchen, which results in a perfect balance between the two elements. The black leather bar stools add a delicate contrasting tone to the style of the space and create extra seating for guests.
via Nordiska Kök
A classic white kitchen island on white-soaped hardwood floors
In this classic-style white kitchen, the island with seating is the perfect center module. The two storage modules on the side of the island balance the look and the island provides a seat for three people.
via Himlekök
A marble island with seating and storage
I love the mixture of styles in this room: modern and minimal kitchen cabinetry with a marble counter pairs nicely with the historic features of this house. The storage drawers underneath the island add the perfect variation to the otherwise full marble construction, which holds two delicate wood bar stools.
via Nordiska Kök
A bar stool in a lighter wood tone stands out in the room
The combination of the bottom drawers and cabinets in dark bamboo is contrasted with white upper cabinets and a white counter that also comes back on the island with seating. The gorgeous statement stool is made out of a lighter wood tone, which makes it stand out in this room.
via Ask Og Eng
A long kitchen island with seating in a restaurant-like setup
This beautiful kitchen with white oak kitchen cabinets and black accent pendant lights has a kitchen island with seating that spreads over the full length of the space, allowing the placement of at least four bar stools.
This layout reminds me of a restaurant bar and it’s a great setup for offering your guests a drink while you are still cooking up something for dinner.
via Himlekök
A modern dark wood kitchen with matching bar stools
The seating area behind this kitchen island includes storage on the kitchen side and bar stools at the front. Since the material on the chairs is the same as the one used to create the cabinetry, they blend in with the rest of the space, making them more subtle and allowing for a more modern appearance.
via Nordiska Kök
kitchen islands can include a full dining table
This kitchen layout includes an island with seating that extends into the adjacent room. The kitchen island includes open and closed storage, a wine cooler, and a full dining table with four chairs. In a setup like this, you don’t need an additional dining table, as the massive counter is multi-purpose.
The beautiful brass light fixture above the kitchen island accentuates the length of the layout, while also offering functional lighting over the entire island. I love the way this kitchen merges with the home decor in this house.
via &Schufl
A wood counter meets a stainless steel counter on the kitchen island with seating
This kitchen island was designed to be used as a frequently used seating area, as the materials are picked out to ensure optimal functionality. The side of this perfect kitchen island that is used to cook and serve has a practical stainless steel worktop, while the side that is used to enjoy food with family or friends has an elegant wood finish that matches the wood tone on the kitchen cabinetry.
via Nordiska Kök
A kitchen island with a practical stainless steel countertop
This terracotta kitchen with stainless steel countertops has an interesting corner layout that is completed with a kitchen island with an open backside for placing bar stools. The stainless steel is a great tabletop as well, as you don’t need to worry about spills.
via &Schufl
A kitchen island with seating placed around it
The countertop overhang combined with the tick countertop on the island in this kitchen not only ensures a statement design look but also allows for seating to be placed on different sides of the island, making it easier to have dinner together with more people without having to sit in a row.
via Nordiska Kök
A grey marble kitchen island paired with wood elements
The back side of this beautiful grey marble kitchen island is turned into a spot for placing one or two stools, which can also be set aside for a cleaner look when not in use.
via Nordiska Kök
A black kitchen island paired with two beautiful bar stools
The black kitchen island stands out in this kitchen with grey cabinets in a beautiful way. The space underneath the kitchen island suffices for two seats and next to it you can find an additional storage cabinet to keep the island organized.
via &Schufl
A small kitchen island in a grey shaker kitchen
When designing the right size island for your kitchen, you need to consider the layout of the space, access points and empty space around all sides, and the functionality it needs to hold. I love the way the owners of this home placed the kitchen island perpendicular to the shortest side of the kitchen, which opens up the space.
The location of the island allows plenty of space for storage and seating, without taking away surface area in front of the other worktops.
via Nordiska Kök
