A kitchen island offers many benefits — an extra countertop, more storage, a place where family and guests can sit, improved circulation. But while the advantages of an island may seem straightforward, designing one isn’t. There are countless considerations that go into how an island looks and functions. Here are 5 of the best benefits kitchen islands offer.

Seating

By far, the most recommended feature for a kitchen island is seating. “If possible, we encourage seating at least at a portion of the Island,” architect Michael Klement of Architectural Resource says. “Given our kitchencentric lifestyle, whether our clients like it or not, the island will end up becoming the gathering point.”

There are a lot of ways to approach island seating, so be sure to discuss the pros and cons of each with your design or remodeling pro.

If you expect that the seating will be used mostly for doing homework or having a quick snack, you might want all the seats facing the same way. If you like being able to look at the person next to you, you might want seating on two sides of your island.

Keep in mind that you’ll want at least 24 inches of space between each seat for people to feel comfortable.

Outlets

Building code requires at least one outlet for an island, and more depending on the size of the island. So you’ll want to consider the best spot for your outlet or outlets. Be sure to talk with your design or building pro to get their advice and recommendations.

That way you can plug in a blender or mixer right on your prep surface, or you can use the outlets to charge phones and other devices.

Secondary Fridge

Placing a beverage fridge or fridge drawer in your island can be a great way to let people grab a drink or snack without disrupting the main work triangle in your kitchen. A good spot is at or near the island end that’s farthest away from the main action

A beverage fridge on the outer side of the island lets family members and guests grab drinks without getting in the way in the main traffic area. During parties, the countertop above can serve as a drink-making station while still leaving plenty of work surface on the other side of the island for the cook.

Prep Sink

If you choose not to put your main sink in the island, consider adding a prep sink instead. “It allows two people to prep and cook comfortably,” designer Jamie Roddy of Eden LA Furniture and Interiors says. If you use your island surface as your main prep area, it means you can rinse items right next to where you’re working, rather than rinsing items in the main sink and dripping water on the floor as you transfer them to the island.

One suggestion is to position the prep sink off to one edge of the countertop, preferably near the refrigerator, so you can quickly transfer vegetables and other foods right to the basin to rinse. Plus, placing it off to the side keeps a large work surface free on the island that you can use for chopping or as buffet space when entertaining.

Pullout Trash and Recycling

As mentioned, your island is likely to become your main work surface. And that makes it a good spot for a pullout trash-and-recycling center, like the one designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn designed for the suburban New York kitchen seen here. This placement allows you to wipe food scraps and crumbs right off the surface into a bin.

How to Get Your Pullout Waste and Recycling Cabinets Right