This Trendy Kitchen Island Style Looks High-End But Is Tricky To Maintain

A bundt cake tin isn't the only fluted thing making its way to kitchens far and wide. In recent years, fluted kitchen islands have become popular for their sleek, versatile appearance with scalloped or grooved edges. Stylish fluted kitchen islands can create textural depth and visual intrigue in a wide range of kitchen design schemes, from retro to modern. However, before installing the trendy design in your own home, it's important to note one significant caveat: Fluted islands are notoriously difficult to maintain. Kitchen island surfaces and floor-level cabinets are already easy to overlook (literally) during weekly deep cleaning sessions. Now, imagine introducing a kitchen island with a breadth of columnar indents (Read: increased surface area to clean) to the equation. Further, the grooves are also great at holding all sorts of dirt, including dust, food particles, and sticky spilled sauces. 

Like open cabinet shelving, fluted kitchen islands can showcase dirt in your kitchen if everything isn't kept tidy. And while a fluted kitchen island adds eye-catching style to the center countertop, it can also be a pricy investment. So, your cleaning routine and average level of dust and debris in the kitchen will be a key consideration before installing this type of island. Overall, unless you're willing to regularly clean the grooved surface thoroughly, it's probably best to go with another finish.

Even though fluted kitchen islands can be difficult to maintain, they still could be a great stylish element for your kitchen. But before installing one, start by adding on removable fluted paneling to your existing kitchen island to see if it's right for your design and lifestyle needs. You can also try adding fluted paneling to a portion of your kitchen island, preferably a surface or side that is less vulnerable to spills and splatters. Then, if you like it, consider a full-on fluted kitchen island that's a statement piece with columns reminiscent of ancient palaces. However, if it's too tricky to clean, the good news is that there are a myriad of other decor directions you can take.

For instance, you can give your kitchen a vintage feel with a wooden kitchen work table that doubles as a kitchen island and is usually less expensive. Or choose a center surface with built-in shelving or cabinets, instead of the fluted finish, to get more out of your kitchen island than just counter space. And of course, don't settle by focusing on just one stylish centerpiece option. Design the retro kitchen of your dreams by opting for a seriously groovy asymmetric island, or install a sleek stained wood or vibrantly painted kitchen island that makes a statement and is easier to clean than all those grooved surfaces.