Kitchen islands are a relatively modern development, but have established themselves as a must-have item in large kitchens. A multi-tiered marble island, complete with an extra sink and plenty of bench space and storage, has come to epitomise the luxuriously appointed kitchen. In this article we'll deal with the basics of kitchen islands.

Kitchen islands provide extra work space and create a visual focal point in a room. For families who like to cook together, kitchen islands can ease the squeeze, providing more elbow room for everyone to get on with the job of preparing a tasty meal and preventing dinner-time spats. In open-plan living areas, the kitchen island can provide more options for interacting with others in the room - if your island faces your entertaining area, for instance, you can continue to interact with dinner party guests, even while you're wrapping a hunk of wagyu beef in prosciutto.

A well-placed island will anchor the room and allow for a smooth flow of traffic around it. The normal spot for a kitchen island is in the centre of the room. Make sure that it doesn't impede upon your work triangle - the space between the stove, the fridge and the sink. This is the essential working area in most kitchens, and impeding it will make the job of cooking a lot less efficient.

As a general rule, islands should be placed at least 91cm away from any existing counters, and 106cm is preferable. To get an idea of whether an island can fit in your kitchen, try moving a table or some boxes into the room and take a few measurements. But if you're stuck for space, there are still options available. Small cabinets on wheels can be an excellent choice for those with less room - they can be used as a kitchen island when extra workspace is needed, then rolled back when the work is done.

If your kitchen is huge, you could consider having two islands, with one acting as a work station and the other doubling up as a breakfast bar. Also, if the thought of people watching you prepare food is not appealing, you can use a two-tiered island to block your prep area from prying eyes and to create a barrier between the kitchen space and other space in the room. For those with an aversion to walls, a kitchen island is also an effective way to create a divide between rooms in an open-plan living area.