The kitchen is one of the most complicated spaces to design in a house — and figuring out how to design an island can be confusing for homeowners. Houzz’s discussion boards are full of users asking for help on how to decide on a kitchen island size.

Kitchen islands are often the heart of the home, frequently preferred to a more formal dining area and definitely a hub during social gatherings. While there’s no set formula for figuring out how to size an island, some measurement guidelines can help. Think function, appliances, storage, counter height, layout, design resources – all of these are important to creating an effective and enjoyable kitchen island. Follow the slide show below for these six basic considerations you should have when planning your kitchen island…