How to Style a Kitchen Island Breakfast Bar

Whether you’ve just stepped into a home with a kitchen island or you’re building your dream home and need to decide what this area of your home looks like, there are some key things to consider and know when styling your kitchen island breakfast bar.

What is the Standard Kitchen Island Size?

There are some standard dimensions and shapes for kitchen islands, each with their own benefits and features. You’ll want to decide what your priorities are for the island; does it function as just extra counterspace? Is it primarily a breakfast bar? Do you want some special features like a wine fridge?

To start, know your island shapes. The typical island is:

1. Rectangular: Great for any size space as you can customize its dimensions. It’s also great for flow around the room and doesn’t block in areas quite as much as other shapes. This is a common island shape that offers extra space, room for more cabinets, or a spot for a sink or dishwasher.
2. U-Shaped: These are not ideal for small kitchens. Instead, use the U-Shaped island in large kitchens where you will still have plenty of space to move around. This shape creates a more defined area within the kitchen, so use it wisely.
3. L-Shaped: The L-Shaped island gives you that little bit more space with that “chaise lounge” extension. A great option if you are using your island to store your sink and dishwasher because of that extra space that can easily create a workstation area.
4. Dining Islands: These islands are usually rectangular or L-Shaped and feature an extended countertop that acts as a table space. To this extended counter you’d pull up some counter stools or bar stools (depending on the height of the counter) and this would become your breakfast bar. This can be a part of a U-Shaped island, but it expands the footprint, so it’s usually only found in an extra-large kitchen space.

When it comes to the size of the island itself, the best general rule is that your island should be one-third the length of your kitchen. A standard height for kitchen islands is 36 inches or 42 inches if you’re including dining space. All other dimensions depend on your kitchen, but depth and height do usually match the rest of the counters and cabinets in your kitchen.

What Fun Things Can I Include in My Kitchen Island

Like we said earlier, your kitchen island can be so much more than just extra counter space. There are a few fun things you can build into your kitchen island.

1. Open Shelves: Though it doesn’t sound super exciting, the look achieved with open shelving can completely change the look and feel of your kitchen island. Use open shelves to not only store, but display and style, bowls and dishes.
2. Wine Fridge: This is the ideal item for anyone who loves to entertain. Wine fridges often come with a space for beer or sodas, and some shelf space for garnishes.
3. Sink: We love putting your kitchen sink into the island. This can be utilized to create better flow for your kitchen or just be better placement than anywhere else on your countertop.
4. Microwave and Dishwasher: The island is also a fantastic place for your microwave and dishwasher. Installing your microwave into the cabinet area of your island gets it off your countertop. While having the dishwasher in the island can just put it in a more accessible place.
5. Trashcan: Fun might be a strong word when describing adding your trashcan to your island. But it is functional. Again, hiding the trash in a drawer and placing it in a more central place makes for better flow in the kitchen and keeps it out of the way of walking paths.
6. Unique Storage: Now for the real fun stuff. Unique storage can be created for almost any of your kitchen needs. Some things we love in particular are cutting board and pan cabinets, spice rack cabinets, paper towel roll holders, knife drawers, flour and sugar drawers, and utensil drawers. All of these can save you counterspace, make your kitchen more functional and provide practical and logical storage for items that might be harder to keep organized.
7. Pet Bowls: We love our furry friends, so we were completely enchanted by the addition of pet bowls. Typically, this is added to islands by carving out a side of your island, creating an open shelf with in-set compartments for the bowls. Some people have even connected a spout in this space so you can easily fill up the water dish.

Tips for Styling Your Breakfast Bar

Our best tip is to keep it simple. The ultimate purpose of the kitchen island is to be more workspace so crowding it with random things—no matter how much you love them—is not helpful. Instead, we recommend these key styling principles for your kitchen island:

• Choose a large vase. It’s not breakfast related, but we love a large glass vase like the Hammershøi Vase or the Wabi Vase. Something like this adds a louder accent piece that grabs attention while also being a way to display fresh-cut flowers. It’s the perfect bit of décor that creates impact without completely taking over.
• Select items based on how you use the island. Don’t crowd out breakfast. Focus the purpose of your breakfast bar island by selecting the items you truly need in that space. If your island doesn’t have the sink in it, then you probably don’t need the paper towels there either. Instead, consider putting a napkin holder there. Consider other breakfast needs like a cutting board and maybe even a knife block like the Miyabi Artisan Knife Block Set, or even the Dimple Bottle for water and juice.
• Choose chairs that complement your cabinets. You’ll want to make sure whatever counter or bar stools you choose complement your cabinets and countertops, whether that’s in color or material. They are an added element and shouldn’t stand out like sore thumbs or be clunky in your kitchen. Smooth-front cabinets would look fantastic with something like the Ombra Counter Stool, while more classic cabinet styles should be paired with the Tonia Counter Stool. If you have a more modern kitchen we love the Fat Bar Stool or the Halikko Bar Stool With Backrest.

Essentials for Your Kitchen Island Breakfast Bar

Beyond the fun and unique elements we can build into the kitchen island, there are some pieces we highly recommend for the countertop and breakfast bar aspect of the island. These pieces serve your morning routine, keep meals easy, and look fantastic while doing it.

Blueprint Bar Chair 65 - Hallingdal 65

This beautifully balanced bar chair from Form and Refine is designed by Herman Studio and truly captures the serenity of Scandinavian furniture. The softness of its curved backrest is contrasted by the stricter linework of the overall construction. And with the added comfort of the cushioned seat, the Blueprint Bar Chair becomes a fantastic place to settle in and enjoy good company.

Alcoa Vase Large - Light Grey

The Alcoa vase is subtle and refined with an architectural silhouette that adds intrigue to more minimalist spaces. But what we love most about this vase is that is can be used for flowers or you can use it to style your utensils.

Stone Pendant

We’ve talked about lighting for kitchen islands before, but we had to mention one of our favorite picks. The Stone Pendant light features gorgeous marble and a brass details that help reflect the light and spread it around the room. It’s small and elegant and looks fantastic when grouped over a kitchen island.

Sekki Coffee Pot

The Sekki Series rediscovers the magic of traditional manufacturing through its creamy glaze, bespoke expressions, and beautiful, curvy silhouette. This slow-drip coffee pot not only brews but also acts as a carafe to keep your coffee warm. Plus, it looks amazing on the countertop!

Convivio Cookie Jar

The Match Pewter Convivio Cookie Jar is sweet and elegant and the perfect addition to a breakfast bar. Use the handcrafted jar to store cookies, of course, or other sweet treats, sugar packets, tea bags, or anything else you might want out, but displayed beautifully.

Curvature Paper Towel Holder

Something so simple and basic as a paper towel holder is transformed into an art piece with the Curvature Paper Towel Holder. The elegant twist of the holder is seen just above the roll of paper towels, but the overall shape still allows the roll to spin easily so you can tear the paper towels without trouble. You can also match the Curvature Paper Towel Holder to the Curvature Towel Holder and Hooks.

Nium Bowl

The Nium Bowl looks like a flower floating on your countertop. We couldn’t resist recommending this Ferm Living bowl because we know it would make the perfect fruit bowl for your breakfast bar. Enjoy its beauty and functionality as it becomes an essential part of your morning and breakfast.

Find Kitchen Essentials at HORNE

There are so many ways to make your kitchen the perfect heart of your home. For us, a breakfast bar island is definitely a part of that. Because it takes a place and gives it real, family-centered purpose. It builds out an area of your home that might be closed and shut off and makes more welcoming and accommodating. Whether you already have an island or want to install one, we recommend making it a breakfast bar and styling it to suit your everyday needs. Find everything you need at HORNE, from lighting to counter seating to décor.