The kitchen is truly the heart of the home; it’s often where family and friends gather for all sorts of occasions. It’s important to have organized space and still be warm and inviting. Modeling a kitchen to make meal preparation easier is also something to keep in mind.

Is a kitchen island the best choice, or are there other, better options to explore? Read on for some pros and cons of islands so you can make the best decision for your own kitchen.

Pro: Additional Storage

A kitchen island can be designed with drawers and cabinets, which allow for more storage space that can be used to organize special servingware or even dry or canned food. In some kitchens, the addition of an island can almost double storage space while also allowing for easy access of items that would otherwise be stored in hard-to-reach places.

Con: Occupies Floor Space

While a kitchen island allows for more storage and the chance to organize the space accordingly, it takes up floor space, which can make it impossible to have a table or breakfast nook in your kitchen. Also, it could block refrigerator doors, freezer drawers, or other cabinet doors from easily opening. Be sure to take this into account when deciding on the size of your island.

Pro: More Counter Space

An island can not only be a great place for social gatherings, creating crafts, or doing homework. More practically, it can be used for both preparing a meal. An island adds counter space, which helps all the aforementioned tasks be accomplished more easily.

Con: Difficult to Install

A kitchen island is a great idea on paper, but actually installing it can be a pain. It takes time, patience, and a lot of work to install a kitchen island. Professional installation is almost always required and can be pricey. The kitchen could be out of commission for days up to weeks or more, depending on what all needs to be done. Plan your kitchen renovation with this in mind.

Pro: Extra Seating

A kitchen island can be used as an extra dining area, with bar stools or kitchen chairs, depending on the height of your island. A change of scenery can be nice, so moving from the dining room to the island can be a nice change of pace. If you choose to use your island for this purpose, be sure you leave room beneath the island’s counter for the stools (and diners’ legs) to fit under.

Con: Child Hazard

With an island as the centerpiece of the kitchen, it can be a hazard for through traffic. Kids running through the house usually do so without caution, and an island in the middle of the kitchen can be cause for bumps, bruises, or other injury. Additionally, children could find dangerous utensils in the island’s drawers or cabinets that would otherwise be out of reach. An effective child-proofing system can easily avoid this issue.

A kitchen island has many positive attributes. Extra storage, more elbow room, and a central meeting place are all great advantages. On the other hand, there’s the expense and time it takes to install, and limited floor space should be considered. If the pros outweigh the cons in your personal situation, then get ready to design your perfect kitchen island!

Lorena Brockman is a young and upcoming blogger who has a wide variety of interests and writes how-tos, product reviews, original recipes, and articles about many different subjects. Head to JennsBlahBlahBlog.com to read Lorena’s items and to learn more about her.