Can you put seating around a portable kitchen island? Design experts weigh in on navigating this tricky layout

The rise of the unfitted kitchen has changed how we approach kitchen design. Rooms that were once fitted with rows of built-in cabinets have evolved into rooms that are far more lived-in and multi-functional.

This shift has made portable kitchen islands all the more desirable, especially in smaller schemes. While a large kitchen island is still a favored layout, opting for a more portable design can make your entire kitchen more usable.

But often, the major concern with a portable island is the ability to add seating. It's one of the main draws of an island – having that informal seating area to create a more social feel to the space.

So, we've asked interior experts whether or not you can put seating around a portable kitchen island and the best way to create a seamless design.

Can you put seating around a portable seating island?

If you keep up-to-date with kitchen trends, you'll be aware of the emerging popularity of unfitted designs, with more and more people looking for ways to mix freestanding furniture into their kitchens.

While freestanding kitchen islands add a dose of traditional style and a sense of character to a space, portable islands add an extra practical element that can increase the functionality of every kitchen. But what's the deal with adding seating to moveable designs?

'Making seating around a portable island really comes down to thoughtful design,' says Fiona Ginnett, co-founder at HØLTE Studio. 'Stability is a must – look for a sturdy base or lockable castors to keep it in place.'

Once the portable island itself is secured, you can start to think about adding seating. Counter stools are usually the best choice here – they are smaller and easier to tuck away when they aren't being used, but still add a level of comfort.

But perhaps the main concern when designing a kitchen with a portable design is where you put the island and seating when it isn't being used. If you want a moveable island that can be used at the center of your space and then moved out of the way, make sure you have somewhere against the wall for it to be kept.

'A portable kitchen island can be a super useful way to optimize space where size is limited. A movable island can really help in this situation to be moved to allow for additional seating and then simply pushed against a wall to not block the kitchen area,' explains Jayne Everett, creative designer at Naked Kitchens.

Or, if your desire for a portable island is to add extra seating alongside a built-in island, there are more versatile ways to store the seating extension. 'The seating area can be pushed up to the end of an island to be used as a dining table and can then be pushed up against a wall to be styled as a console table,' she adds.

However, whichever method you use to bring in a portable kitchen island, one of the most important things to consider is the chair or stool storage. It's all very well being able to move your portable island to the side of the room out of the way, but what do you do with the stools?

'In our High Weald project, we designed a bespoke steel-framed island that doubled up on both seating and storage, keeping the space functional and flexible. We love the versatility of lightweight, backless stools that can easily tuck away,' says Fiona, who found this to be an easy and practical way to resolve the issue.

The best way to design a portable kitchen island with seating is to consider the space you're working with. Additional seating is always a good idea, but ensure you choose stools that can easily be stored, whether it's backless stools that slip under the island or chairs that can be stacked in a cupboard or utilized in other rooms when kitchen seating isn't required.

So, can you put seating around a portable kitchen island? Yes, you absolutely can, but it's important to consider where you will store the stools when the island is not being used as an island. Make sure you choose smaller seating like backless counter stools that can either be stacked, tucked beneath the countertop, or utilized as an accent feature in another room when they're not being used as island seating.