The beauty of having an island with kitchen cabinets is the added storage. Aside from the aesthetics of the fancy wood and countertop, you can store large platters, serving dishes, and small appliance in the cabinets. Here's how to avoid some common home improvement mistakes and get the most out of your cabinets.

Dividing Your Kitchen Cabinet Space
The size of your island and the cabinet space you allocate obviously plays a big part in your storage capacity. Many people forget, however, to plan how to divide the cabinet space. This can be a critical mistake, because you may end up with cabinets that are too narrow or the wrong configuration for your needs.

As you plan the width and depth of the kitchen cabinets, think about what you store in them. Will the island be used just for plates and platters or do you plan to prepare meals there? Do you need space for large serving platters, tall pots, or small appliances? Here are a few home improvement solutions to help maximize cabinet storage:

• Add wider cabinets (24 to 36 inch) for large serving platters
• Add a cabinet with deep drawers to store cooking utensils
• Add roll out drawers to store pots and pans

Consider Island Seating
Many people love to have seating around a kitchen island, but forget to plan their storage accordingly. You don't want to store the toaster you use every day in the cabinet below the bar stools, for example. Instead, plan to store items you use infrequently in those busy spots.

Involve Your Contractor
Some people forget to talk with their contractor about storage before the cabinets are installed. This can be a critical mistake, because it is costly to change the cabinetry afterwards. By talking with the contractor, you can help ensure the layout fits your functional needs and works with the contractor's structural parameters.

By adding an island with plenty of kitchen cabinet space you can greatly increase your storage capacity. The key to avoiding these common mistakes is to think about how you use the space, plan carefully, and involve your contractor.