Small Kitchen Island Ideas That Save Space
Small kitchen island ideas that will actually fit in your space.
With decor magazines and online mood boards boasting big kitchens and islands, finding the best small kitchen island ideas isn’t always easy. This guide will give you twenty small kitchen island ideas that work in every home to save space.
1. Complete With a Kitchen Island Set
If you’re looking for small kitchen island ideas that come with seating, look no further than a small kitchen island set. These sets usually include a small-but-functional kitchen island and an extended counter space for two seats. Typically, the seats can be stowed away inside the island, making this a compact option if you’re trying to save space. An added bonus? You won’t need to worry about finding seats that match or that are the right height for your island.
If you have a very small or galley-style kitchen, a narrow kitchen island is best. Narrow islands are small kitchen island ideas that can be stored away in tight spaces and brought out when you need a prep area. Many of these narrow islands also feature shelving and drawers to hold utensils, extra pans, and more. Opt for a narrow kitchen island that comes with all of the features of a bigger sized island like locking wheels, stools included, towel rack, butcher block, breakfast bar and more.
If you plan to use your kitchen island as extra counter space, you’ll want to be sure that you’re able to prepare food on it. One great small kitchen island idea is butcher blocks. A butcher block is a sturdy piece of hardwood that can withstand sharp knives, pounding mallets, and other high impact occurrences that are bound to happen in a kitchen. Ensure your new small kitchen island is safe by opting for one topped with a butcher block. Butcher blocks are typically laminated, so you won’t have to worry about getting splinters or about it absorbing odors and liquids.
Any home chef knows how handy it is to have a towel on standby. For sudden accidents or recently washed hands, having a towel in close proximity is necessary. Keep your towels on hand with this small kitchen island idea. Kitchen islands with racks will make sure your towels are easily accessible. A towel rack can be used to hold other kitchen accessories and tools as well. With an S hook, your towel rack can be home to cooking utensils, plastic bags, and more.
Looking for small kitchen island ideas that are convertible? Try a drop-leaf kitchen island. A drop-leaf island has an extended piece that can be propped up or put down. They’re commonly seen as tables with seating for as little as two and as many as six people. This is the perfect solution if you are looking for an island to be a food prep area, countertop, and dining table.
If you have a small kitchen, odds are that the options for storage are limited as well. Small kitchen island ideas with storage are a smart solution. If you need a place to store bulky kitchen countertop appliances, opt for a kitchen island with cabinets. If you have smaller items like utensils or spices that need an organized place to sit, opt for a small kitchen island with drawers. If you plan to store your kitchen island against the wall, be sure to place the drawers on the outside so you can access your items without having to pull it out each time you need something.
A round island is guaranteed to save space in a tight area because it will likely be a bit smaller than one with corners . Not only is it a great small kitchen island idea for those who need to move around the area frequently, but a round island also offers the ability to seat more than two people. Depending on the size, a small, round island can have up to four chairs around it.
One of the best small kitchen island ideas is a portable kitchen island.Portable kitchen islands offer a feature that built-in countertops can't: the ability to move around. These wheeled islands will let you bring ingredients to the stove or roll into the dining room for easy buffet access.
Everyone loves saving money and kitchen islands can get expensive. Try a more affordable option by shopping for small kitchen island ideas that are under $150. Kitchen islands at this price still offer amazing features such as portability, storage, and more. If you’re working with a tight budget and need a small kitchen island that’s more affordable, check out these reasonably priced small kitchen island ideas. This way you can have your island without breaking the bank.
If you’re looking for small kitchen island ideas, odds are you’re running low on counter space. A small kitchen island can provide the extra room you need to house bulky appliances such as microwaves, air fryers, toaster ovens, or pressure cookers. Small kitchen islands have the flat surface these appliances need to sit sturdily out of the way so you can have open space on your counter for your other needs, such as coffee pots, canisters, or room to prep your meals.
Is your kitchen needing a color pop? A small kitchen island with a colorful base can do the trick. Small kitchen islands that sport a base color adds a nice contrast to a kitchen that’s all one color. If your kitchen is a light color, such as white, beige, or gray, pair it with a cart that has a darker base. If your kitchen has a dark color, throw in a light base. But we love this idea not just for the color contrast, these small kitchen island ideas still pack functionality and space-saving qualities with their storage compartments and slender size.
Running low on kitchen/dining room space? Convert a small kitchen island into your dining table. This small kitchen island idea optimizes your small space by offering seating, a place to dine, and a less bulky setup. Since the island is small, it sits in the middle of the kitchen like a true island, or it also works when placed off to the side against a wall.
Make your kitchen items easy to grab-and-go thanks to a small kitchen island with open storage. This small kitchen island idea makes your space ultra-functionable by providing tiers of shelves with enough space to house extra pots and pans, dinnerware, small appliances, or canisters that your cabinets and counters don’t have room for.
A small kitchen island with a compartment for a trash can offers a major space-saving feature by concealing your trash. This opens up space in your kitchen where a trash can would sit to free up a corner or wall space. Plus, the top surface extends functionality even more with space to store kitchen items or prep food by adding more countertop surface.
Store your wine until you’re ready to sip-and-dine with a small kitchen island that includes wine storage. These small kitchen islands let you build your own bistro that frees up counter or cabinet space by giving your wine bottles their own place to call home.
Dress up your kitchen with a furniture-style small kitchen island. These pieces sport wooden materials with detailed legs, like in the picture above, that make the island look intricate and elegant in your kitchen while still providing storage space, surface space, and sitting capabilities.
Just because you may need the functionality of a small kitchen island doesn’t mean you have to skimp out on style. If your kitchen has a beachy vibe, build your aesthetic with a coastal small kitchen island. These islands are typically white to keep the area bright and airy – reminiscent of a day at the beach.
If you like the rustic aesthetic, a rustic small kitchen island can be the perfect complement to your small kitchen. These islands highlight the materials of this aesthetic with predominantly wood frames. The wood grain pops to add detail and charm to your rustic kitchen, while still giving you space for storage.
A beautiful (and functional) design element in a farmhouse kitchen is a small kitchen island. Incorporating colors and materials from the farmhouse aesthetic, these kitchen items highlight your taste while still maximizing your kitchen area.
Highlight the colors and features of your industrial kitchen aesthetic with a small kitchen island that matches! Industrial small kitchen islands incorporate the black steel and metal bars that characterize this aesthetic, along with dark wood grain.
Now that you’ve seen some small kitchen island ideas, it’s time to make your space function and space-saving savvy!
