Top 7 Kitchen Island Ideas for Small Spaces

While a kitchen renovation is often a top-ranking priority, as it can breathe new life into your space, such a project often comes with a hefty price tag. Also, it may be difficult to design the space when you don’t have much square footage to work with, such as is the case in a studio apartment or small house. Nonetheless, when your home has little storage space, optimizing every available nook and cranny becomes all the more important. Hence, kitchen islands are more than practical, especially in kitchens with a restricted amount of space.

Below are 7 kitchen island ideas that may help you maximize the space available while helping you stick to your budget. 

As mentioned in our article 5 Kitchen Islands That’ll Transform Your Kitchen, before jumpstarting anything, it’s super important to assess the space this new piece of furniture will occupy. While the main idea behind such a functional unit is to round off your small space, you still have to be able to walk around your kitchen unencumbered. The islands listed below are easily made by a cabinetmaker or contractor, either of which will be able to advise you as to which material you need, as well as the installation process, if necessary. 

7 Small Kitchen Island Ideas

1. Wood pallet kitchen island

Source: côté maison

Considering the ever-present “zero waste” living, material recycling or upcycling is prioritized. The upside of wood pallets is that, not only are they versatile, but they’re also easy to find. Moreover, practicality-wise, pallets can withstand relatively heavy loads. As a result, you’re kitchen island can serve as a storage space for your dishware, cookware, and cookbook collection, if you’re so inclined!

Once the pallets are assembled, you can paint them in the shade of your choosing, which will add a pop of colour to your kitchen. You can also easily add some shelving for storage purposes.

Building a DIY Wooden Kitchen Island:

To get your hands on some wood pallets, contact your neighbourhood hardware store or head to the nearest eco-centre. You can also order wood pallets online through Uline. Then, you can try to design your very own kitchen island or recreate a plan found online.

Are you less than thrilled about the idea of throwing yourself into a DIY project, especially one that’s a bit time-consuming and requires you to be rather handy? 

Here’s a similar kitchen island, sold online via Etsy, that wasn’t made with wood pallets. 

2. Kitchen island that doubles as a table

Source: Decorcuisine

A small kitchen isn’t necessarily synonymous with blandness. If you’re hoping to create an inviting and user-friendly space, but lacking in the idea department to achieve your goal, this one is for you. On top of the additional storage that meets your needs, as depicted in the image above, you can pair practicality and aesthetic appeal by eliminating one too many kitchen cabinets, thereby creating a minimalist-inspired look. This idea is perfect for small, leased apartments in which you can’t really carry out extensive renovations.  

This unit can also serve as a breakfast nook-type area if you already have a dedicated spot for your dining table. In any case, such a setup is super practical, whether for weeknights when you’re busy cooking and helping the kids with their homework, or chitchatting away with your roommate. Come the weekend, it's perfect to gather around with your loved ones for a well-deserved drink to whet your appetite. 

Here’s a kitchen island that also serves as a table available in-store: TORNVIKEN kitchen island sold at IKEA. 

3. Industrial kitchen island built with repurposed pipes

Source: Dunnlumber

All you need is some hardware and a block of wood that’s to your liking, and there you have it! A kitchen island that’s both simple and unique, one that will add an industrial flair to your existing decor. To tie everything together and integrate some storage, you can add a few hooks beneath the plank, if possible, to store different kitchenware, maybe even a few drawers. Depending on your preferences, you can part ways with the casters for a fixed piece of furniture.

Here’s an industrial central island that can be purchased online, negating the need for any DIY endeavours: Williston Forge prep table available on Wayfair.

In the mood for a DIY project? You’ll find everything you need to make your own kitchen cart at your local hardware store. If you’re looking for DIY instructions, check out this website: This Old House, which features a bunch of helpful tips. 

4. Miniature butcher block kitchen island 

Source: cedartreefarmhouse

This island adds a personal and decorative touch to the space in question, while also enabling an ergonomic kitchen layout. While quite small, one can still manage to meal prep on it and use it as storage. Otherwise, make use of the shelf space to display a few decorative pieces or showcase your nice dinnerware. 

If you want to build an exact replica of the island showcased in the image above, the step-by-step instructions can be found on the Cedar Tree Farmhouse website. Such a project could be appealing to a professional cabinetmaker if you’re looking to get in touch with an expert to discuss what you’re looking for.

However, if you prefer to buy a similar island, instead of building it, this one might be more what you’re looking for: Covington Industrial Reclaimed Wood Kitchen Cart.

5. Custom kitchen island with a pull-out table

Source: decomg 

Here’s a solution that’s nothing short of ingenious to optimize your space while preserving its sleek aesthetic. This workbench-like kitchen island, folding against the wall, perfectly blends into the background as it’s the same shade of white as the wall. At first glance, it’s rather subtle but can be easily pulled out for additional counter space when needed. Beyond its functional and discreet aspect, this kitchen island frees up floor space when not used, making for a more spacious and organized kitchen. 

The second type of kitchen island depicted looks like a typical central island, that is until you pull out the retractable tier tucked away. Not only is this type of furniture versatile, but it also gives way to more floor space since the second tier can simply be wheeled back in when no longer needed. Then, for a pop of sophistication, a contractor specializing in natural stonework would be able to advise you accordingly should you choose to head the marble countertop route or be more inclined with other materials better suited to your aesthetic. 

In the end, if you want to integrate this type of unit into your kitchen, you’ll first need to commission a custom island from a contractor. Such a project can be carried out by a cabinetmaker or, if you’re remodelling the entire space, a kitchen solution specialist.

6. Time-worn furniture repurposed into a kitchen island

Source: myoldcountryhouse

Along the same eco-friendly train of thought as mentioned earlier, restoring a piece of old furniture that you already own can turn out to be the most appealing of all solutions. By adding a countertop made with the material of your choosing, it can swiftly turn into a prep table, while upcycling an old piece of furniture that you may otherwise have gotten rid of.

As with the previous examples, repurposing a dresser or other furniture into an island can very well be a DIY project. If you don’t feel as comfortable with your skillset, you can always commission a cabinetmaker. 

Otherwise, some of the kitchen islands retailed resemble antique furniture, or are made from time-worn items. The finest platform for the latter is likely to be Etsy, where a lot of artisans sell this sort of product. For example, there’s this one that was made in Canada: Artisanal kitchen island sold on Etsy.

7. Kitchen island with overhead storage

Source: côté maison

If you already have a central island but lack storage in your kitchen, consider installing an overhead rack hung from the ceiling. As seen in the first image, the kitchen is small and offers limited storage room. Furthermore, the island also doesn’t really have storage space. In such a case, a hanging rack might just be the ideal solution. 

Such a fixture allows you to hang pots and pans conveniently while adding an appealing decorative feature to your kitchen. Seek out the help of a contractor to ensure the result is hung securely. 

Thinking about buying a ceiling-suspended storage solution to optimize your kitchen into a more user-friendly space? The model shown below can be purchased online: hanging pot racks sold on Wayfair.  

Working with a Cabinetmaker to Build a Small Kitchen Island

If you’re somewhat handy, you could take a stab at replicating most of the examples shown above. However, doing so takes time, material, money, and a lot more patience! If you're not especially inclined to undertake a DIY project right now, consider collaborating with a contractor specializing in cabinetmaking. Naturally, you can always purchase something from IKEA or Wayfair but you may not find what you want. 

Then, your best option is to hire an expert. By that, we mean a woodworker or cabinetmaker if you’re looking for a wooden kitchen island, but you can also contact an interior designer, as they’ll be able to design a plan and find the right person for the job.