One of the most common questions when planning a new kitchen is whether to go with an island or a peninsula. Both layouts add extra worktop space and a natural spot to eat or gather around, but they ask very different things of a room. As Girardi Arredamenti, a custom kitchen maker regularly asked to weigh in on exactly this kind of layout question, points out, the decision comes down to three practical factors: how much floor space is actually available, how open the kitchen is to the living area, and where the electrical, water and extraction points are — or can realistically be moved to.
What’s the real difference between an island and a peninsula?
An island stands free on all four sides, fully detached from the rest of the cabinetry. It can carry the hob, the sink, or simply act as an extra worktop and breakfast bar. A peninsula, on the other hand, stays connected to a run of cabinets or a wall along one side. It takes up noticeably less floor space and often works as a natural divider between the kitchen and the living room.
The practical consequence is clearance: an island needs walking space on all four sides, while a peninsula only needs it on three — or just two, if it’s set against a wall.
How much room does a kitchen island actually need?
As a rule of thumb, leave around 90 cm between the island and the units facing it — and push that to 100–120 cm if two people will be cooking at once, or if that gap doubles as the main walkway into the living room. On top of that comes the island’s own depth, which usually starts at around 90 cm once a hob or sink is built in.
Islands shine in open-plan, generously sized rooms. In narrower kitchens, they can quickly turn into an obstacle rather than an asset, which is why designers typically confirm the exact numbers with an on-site survey before anything is drawn up. A simple trick for anyone still unsure: mark the island’s footprint on the floor with masking tape and physically walk around it as if the cabinet doors were open. It settles the question faster than any floor plan.
When does a peninsula make more sense?
The peninsula is the more flexible option when space is tight, or when the kitchen is long and narrow. It keeps the room easy to move through, gives you a casual breakfast counter, and separates the kitchen from the living area without closing it off completely — and it can become a real design statement in its own right.
Among the projects Girardi Arredamenti has completed, one favourite pairs a cantilevered solid-wood peninsula top with a horseshoe-shaped painted metal leg, matt white lacquered base units, and a black stoneware worktop. In another, set in a loft-style apartment with sloped ceilings, a peninsula with an induction hob turned out to be the natural fit for an irregular floor plan where a free-standing island simply wouldn’t have worked.
And when should you choose the island instead?
The island is at its best when the kitchen opens directly onto the living space and there’s enough room to walk freely around it on every side. At that point it stops being just a worktop and becomes the real meeting point of the home: you cook facing the living room instead of a wall, guests or family can sit on the opposite side, and tall units along the back wall take care of appliances and storage.
A good example is a laminate kitchen finished in warm beige and oak-effect tones, topped with a marble-look stoneware worktop — proof that choosing an island doesn’t mean settling for a stripped-back, minimalist look. More finished examples of both layouts, island and peninsula alike, are gathered in Girardi Arredamenti’s kitchen portfolio.
Island or peninsula: the short version
• Go with an island if the kitchen opens onto the living area and at least 90 cm of clearance can be kept on every side.
• Go with a peninsula if space is limited, the room is long and narrow, or the goal is to separate the kitchen from the living area without closing it off.
• Either way, decide early what will actually sit on top — hob, sink, or just a worktop — because that choice drives all the plumbing and electrical work that follows.
Hob or sink on the island: what does it mean for your utilities?
Putting a hob or sink on an island isn’t just a design choice — it has to line up with where the utilities are, or can be run. Induction needs a dedicated electrical supply at the right spot; a sink needs both a water feed and a drain; and either one usually calls for extraction, whether that’s a ceiling-mounted hood or an integrated downdraft unit built into the worktop.
In a new build or a full renovation, all of this is straightforward to plan from scratch. In an existing kitchen, it can mean opening up the floor to reroute pipes and cables — which is exactly why induction is often the most practical choice for an island: no gas line to extend. On the installation side, the kitchen units, appliances, sink and hood are typically fitted by the kitchen company’s own team, while an electrician and plumber handle the final connections, whether that’s a trade the client already works with or one the company can bring in.
How do you know which one is actually right for your kitchen?
The safest way to decide is to see it rather than imagine it. Once accurate measurements have been taken on site, a good next step is a 3D render showing both the island and the peninsula version of the same kitchen, so the clearances and the flow into the living space can be judged properly before committing to either one.
Frequently asked questions
Can an island fit into a small kitchen? Usually not comfortably — if roughly 90 cm of clearance can’t be kept on every side, a peninsula is almost always the more practical choice. This is one of the first things checked during an initial survey.
Can you actually eat at an island or a peninsula? Yes — with an overhanging, cantilevered or slightly raised worktop section and a row of stools, either layout works well as an everyday breakfast counter.
How long does a made-to-measure kitchen take, start to finish? On average, around two months, depending on the brand, materials and appliances chosen.
