It’s hard not to succumb to the allure of a kitchen island. This eye-catching feature has proven essential in the most stylish kitchens on both sides of the Atlantic, so it’s hard to believe adding one could be a mistake. But it might surprise you to learn that this is viewed less favorably in the real estate world.
Real estate agents warn that bigger isn’t always better when it comes to choosing Kitchen island ideas for your home. If your island unit in your kitchen seems too large and disproportionate, it can negatively impact the sale of your property. Here’s what the agents want you to know.
Large kitchen islands devalue your home?
(Image credit: Future)
If you’re thinking about how to add value, keep in mind that large kitchen islands could actually devalue your home. However, whether this is the case often depends on the size and location of your home. “Here in Manhattan, I see the impact of oversized kitchen islands with some regularity, and the impact on a home’s desirability and value can often be negative,” he says Jan Katz (opens in new tab)a licensed associate real estate agent at Compass in New York.
According to the agent, large kitchen islands can be particularly unattractive in properties built in the 1980s and earlier. In these buildings, owners have often opened up a galley kitchen by knocking down a wall and extending it into the adjoining living room.
“If the island isn’t designed with the overall proportions in mind and doesn’t fit into the larger living space, the result can be an island that intrudes too far into a living room,” says Ian. This open living room idea sometimes “eliminating a separate place for a proper dining table for six or eight – or a place to place a section or couch”.
(Image credit: Davide Lovatti/Future PLC)
In places like Manhattan, an open kitchen, formal dining area, and relaxation spaces are often high on a buyer’s agenda, the agent says. If the island takes away from either of the latter two, then it makes the houses “harder to sell”.
So large kitchen islands can be a problem in urban settings, but what about other places? Glen Pizzolorusso, a licensed associate real estate agent Glen Christopher luxury collection (opens in new tab) in Connecticut says the answer depends on the style of the kitchen.
“I’ve seen some massive islands in large open plan kitchens that look beautiful,” he says. However, he suggests that the popular kitchen idea “might turn off buyers in a kitchen where the island is disproportionate to the rest of the space.” “But people love big, well-proportioned islands,” says Glen.
(Image credit: Jeremy Phillips)
London based agent Robert Swann of Foxtons (opens in new tab)* South Kensington similarly refers to large islands among features that may deter buyers viewing your home. “A big island is fine, but if it takes up too much space, that can be a problem,” he says.
Should you reconsider your large kitchen island?
When Design kitchen islandIt’s important to consider its size in relation to your area, otherwise it can negatively impact your overall design – and consequently the price your home can fetch.
“An island can expand the storage and prep space in the kitchen, make it a more sociable place and create a fabulous focal point,” says Lucy Searle, global editor-in-chief of Houses & Gardens. “A good designer can help ensure that there are no disadvantages and many advantages.”
*Foxtons quote courtesy of magnet (opens in new tab)