Aim to keep about 900mm–1100mm between your island and the wall units. This sweet spot gives you plenty of room to move around, open cupboards, and pull out appliance doors without doing the “kitchen shuffle.” Too close, and things feel tight and awkward; too far, and you’ll be racking up extra steps every time you cook. The idea is to make the space feel open and easy to navigate, while still keeping everything close enough for a smooth, comfortable workflow.