The Kitchen Island Alternative HGTV's Christina Haack Loves For Small Spaces

There's a reason your kitchen is referred to as the heart of your home. It's a place for connection and socialization, as much as it is for nourishment and preparing meals. When you're considering a kitchen remodel, you'll want to think carefully about the room's design, so that you can ensure comfort and functionality are a central part of it. When you lack space, though, this can be a tricky process, because you might have fewer options for how you're going to arrange your space. Adding a kitchen island, for example, might be out of the question. A peninsula, on the other hand, could be the perfect island substitute, according to expert designer Christina Haack. On an episode of "Christina on the Coast," the HGTV star suggested this genius alternative to make her client's midcentury modern style kitchen feel more airy. "Normally, I would suggest an island, but because the space is a little more narrow as opposed to wide, I like the idea of a big peninsula," she explained.

A kitchen peninsula is an L-shaped extension of the countertop that runs outward from either your kitchen cabinets or your wall. Just like a kitchen island, a peninsula is a way to maximize your kitchen countertop space. It's often a better fit for small kitchens because it provides the functionality of an island while allowing the center of the room to have an open, spacious feel.

From space efficiency to design versatility, there are plenty of reasons why a kitchen peninsula may be a more sensible (and stylish!) alternative to a kitchen island in your home. When you're working with limited square footage in your kitchen, the bulkiness of an island can easily create a cramped feel, and disrupt the room's natural flow. In other words, if your island is eating up a considerable amount of your overall space, preparing meals and moving around the kitchen can be difficult, especially when there are multiple people in the room.

Peninsulas, on the other hand, offer large countertops and more storage, just as an island would, but can sometimes utilize space more efficiently. That's because peninsulas jut out from existing cabinetry, leaving the middle of the space more open. This kitchen extension can often improve workflow efficiency, allowing the rest of the room to be more functional. Beyond that, adding a peninsula can be a simple way to make entertaining and gathering in your kitchen feel more natural and cozy. You may also want to consider installing kitchen appliances in the peninsula, such as a sink, or, as Christina Haack proposed in "Christina on the Coast," a gas stove. Don't forget to think about what light fixtures you're going to hang above your peninsula as well.