Many modern kitchens now include an "island" - an area similar to any other work area in the kitchen but standing apart, quite often in the centre of the kitchen. There are a number of good reasons to include a kitchen island into your design, but also quite a few considerations to weigh up first.

A pretty immediate advantage to having a kitchen island is the fact that it gives you more storage and working space. Kitchen units are commonly hung against the enclosing walls and after taking into account doors and windows, this can significantly constrain useable space in a kitchen.

Another great benefit is visual - a kitchen island will add interest and help make your kitchen more "connected". Installing cupboards and work tops around the edges leaves a rather boring space in the middle and you end up spending a lot of your time walking from one area to another.

Some folk like to use their island as either an informal gathering point or dining table while others put it use as an additional task area with ovens, hobs and/or sinks installed. But whichever way you prefer to go, one trick not to miss is the opportunity to bring in some fresh new lighting.

Suspending kitchen pendant lights from the ceiling above an island is a very popular and highly effective way of both introducing useful task lighting and adding an elegant decorative feature.

And of course nowadays no modern kitchen is complete without some element of LED lighting. A kitchen islands is intrinsically a centre-piece feature that demands and can absorb a lot of attention, and there are few more stunning contemporary effects than plinth or floor-level lighting using LED spots or light strips.

However a kitchen island is not the right answer in all cases. There are undoubtedly few better ways to improve both the visual appeal and functionality of a large kitchen than installing an island unit. But where the smaller kitchen is concerned you should think carefully before committing yourself.

This is not to say that a smaller kitchen won't necessarily benefit from the introduction of an island, just that you should ensure you're not losing space you can ill afford, making the space tight and uncomfortable and basically incorporating something that looks like it doesn't belong. An island should always integrate with a kitchen, not dominate it.

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