A kitchen island is an essential part of a kitchen where the food prep starts and sometimes ends on the dining as well. Along with the use of its counter for making meals and eating them, your kitchen island can also provide storage for pots and pans, utensils, pantry items and even appliances like a microwave oven and a drink fridge. A kitchen island can be a source to introduce visual appeal to your kitchen as well. You can design your kitchen island with different themes such as farmhouse, rustic, modern, or vintage, you name it. We have gathered a roundup of kitchen island designs that will give you a lot of inspiration.
[toc]An Island with a Banquette
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Your kitchen island is not just a space to do preparation for meals. It is so much more. If you are thinking of adding a breakfast nook to your home as you don’t need the formal dining room all the time, then here is an idea. You can tap in for some space inside the kitchen island. After carving out some space, fit in a bench, that suits the size of your kitchen the best. Place a small dining table and a few chairs next to it, and you are good to go. Plating up breakfast and meals will be convenient when you have the eating area right inside your eat-in kitchen.
A Black and White Island
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This island has a white base and a black stone countertop that complements the white beautifully. The island has two levels. The level which is a bit higher serves as a bar table, and there are bar stools placed next to it. The lower level is used as a meal prep area. It also has a cooktop so that preparation, making, and serving of meals is done all at one station. The outer surface of the island is covered in tongue and groove panel that gives this island a cottage-like feel. There is a towel bar at the side of the island, and cabinets underneath the stovetop. The towel bar makes sure there is a towel or kitchen rag always at the ready for wiping away any spills from the surface of the countertop.
An Island with a Combination of Countertops
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If your kitchen island has two parts, you can also cover the countertop with two different types of materials. For example, this kitchen island is a combination of a unit with storage and a table. The storage and meal prep area has a beautiful tile countertop, and the table part has a wooden countertop. The island has shallow drawers in the upper part, and pull out shallow shelves in the lower part. So, all the plates and dishes can be stored in this island. The other part has a butcher block countertop and legs that let the floor be visible under it. If you observe it in detail, you will notice, the tiles of the island are the same as that of the kitchen backsplash.
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An Island with a Herb Garden
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This island in an L shape has a black counter and a cooktop. The front side of the island has shelves where you can store your cookbooks and even pots of herbs. It will be so much fun to have the herbs around while you cook your meals. The herb garden right inside your kitchen will not only flavor your food, but will also bring a fresh feel to your kitchen. Plants are soothing to the eyes and what great way it can be to add plants to your kitchen other than an indoor herb garden? You will have to take care of the garden so that the herbs stay fresh and don’t die off. It’s better to place the island in such a way that some sunlight reaches inside.
A Kitchen Island with a Pull-Out Dining Table
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A dining table inside a kitchen can be an additional element that takes up space when not in use. If you don’t eat inside your kitchen all the time, then you can get something like this. This kitchen island has a pull-out dining table surface that can be neatly tucked away once you are done with the meal. The benefit is that you get to save floor space, that otherwise table legs would occupy leaving less room for walking around your kitchen. The drawers of this island make sure you have enough storage inside your kitchen. You can store the knives, chopping boards, and other meal prep stuff inside the drawers for ease. The countertop is lacquered in gray color and the pull-out tabletop, and the sides of the island are white lacquered.
An Island with an Aquarium
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A fish tank is a great way to bring an exotic feel to your home. You might have seen aquariums placed in different parts of a home and most commonly a living room. But you can put a fish tank right inside your kitchen as well. How fun it will be to watch and feed the fish while you cook in your cooking haven! This island features a burgundy lacquered countertop, that has a sink and a stovetop, along with ample counter space for chopping, and mixing stuff for meals. Half of the island extends out into a bar counter that has wood covering it. The remaining half of the island is a fish tank with mesmerizing views of plants, rocks, and fish. It seems like a tiny under-the-sea world. If you live in such a climatic region where the heat rises a lot inside the kitchen, then make sure to have air conditioning or any other cooling method switched on for the fish to survive.
A Rustic Chic Island
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This island is a combination of modern and rustic style. If you want to introduce a hint of rustic flair in your kitchen, then an island like this would be perfect. Its color matches the color of the tiled backsplash in a fresh teal tone. The front of the island has wood boards which give it the rustic vibes. On top of the island, there is an engineered stone countertop. If you have an island already in your kitchen that is painted, then you can give it a makeover with wood boards on one side. In this way, you can spice up your kitchen island with less money, and you won’t have to swap it with a new one. Team up such an island with brown leather bar stools and brass pendant lights.
An Island with a Combination of Shelves
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If you design your kitchen island shelves in such a way that they suit the type of storage items exactly, then it will be a lot more functional. Two rectangular recesses inside this island can be used to store dishes or glasses. Below the bigger shelves, there is a shelving unit for storing wine bottles. On the side of both types of recesses, two square cubby shelves can be used to store your cookbooks. The white countertop extends out into a rounded rectangle bar table. The island is painted white from the outside, but the inner surface of the shelves is kept bare wood. The blend of white and wood looks beautiful. This island also has a cooktop so that meal prep and cooking can be done hand in hand.
Re-purposed Table Kitchen Islands
Recycling objects that are a little worn out but still usable is a trend getting popular more and more even after all these years. So, if you want to get a new island for your kitchen then instead of splurging on a brand new flashy island, think of some thrifty ways. You can recycle an old table into a kitchen island. Sand and dust it so that it is ready to receive a fresh coat of paint. Choose a paint color that goes well with the cabinetry. You can also choose complementing colors or the same tone. After painting the table if you don’t have any drawers or shelves, then you can hang some organizers to make it kitchen-friendly. If the recycled table has no surface at the bottom, add one so that you can store your pots and pans there. You can also add a new tabletop to the recycled table so that the surface can endure any processes that food prep might need. Sometimes we need to use some moist ingredients or warm pans, so the wood top should be able to withstand the moisture or heat. So, in very little money, you can make a statement inside your kitchen with a customized island.
A DIY Kitchen Island with a Pantry
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If you always wish to have all the ingredients or fresh produce for about three to four days right inside your kitchen, then here is a solution. You can build an island that can also function as small pantry storage. To make this storage packed island, you have to make a wooden frame first as per the plan showed. After that, you just have to fill the spaces defined with premade wooden crates in different sizes and shapes. This island is designed in such a way that you can use the front and well as the back. Not only this, but you can also use the sides of the island as well. There are some hooks where you can hang a kitchen towel. A chopping board is also there which can make food prep even more convenient. To make it even more functionals labels are added namely utensils, pasta, and snacks. Some shallow crates and shelves can store food cans, condiment bottles, and all kinds of food wraps and foils. You can store all the frequently used ingredients in this pantry island, and make your life easy. Just keep replenishing the ingredients whenever needed, and you are good to go.
A Rustic Island with Modern Amenities
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If you want to have some rustic focal point inside your modern kitchen, then you can think of building an island from reclaimed wood. Alternatively, if you are concerned about the durability of the aged wood, then you can give a rustic look to new wood as well. Both ways it is going to look amazing. Such as this island, which is built from new wood that is then stained to look aged timber. Along with its rustic outlook, there is a microwave and a beverage fridge fitted into this island. By giving a space for the microwave inside an island like this, you can save a lot of counter space and make the kitchen look tidy.
An IKEA Bookcase Kitchen Island Hack
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IKEA offers a lot of products that you can transform for purposes other than they are made for. For example, an IKEA Kallax bookshelf can become a kitchen island with a little modification such as this one in the picture above. You just have to get an IKEA shelf in a size that suits your kitchen and a tabletop. Attach the tabletop to the shelving unit and make sure the tabletop is a little wide so that it can extend into a table. Put chairs or barstools along with the bar table and store your stuff on the shelves. You can also attach a wood board for putting your pet food bowls.
A Reclaimed Pallet Wood Kitchen Island
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Shipping pallets are available everywhere these days. You might have seen a lot of pallet furniture in many homes. So, why not create something for your kitchen too from pallet wood? You can paint the pallets in the colors of your choice and then assemble them together into a kitchen island like this one. This pallet kitchen island though small has a lot of things going on. It has a shelf to store wine bottles, hooks to hang utensils and rags and a lower shelf for additional storage. This island is on casters, which means it is easily portable, and you can move it around the kitchen whenever needed.
DIY Salvaged Dresser Kitchen Islands
If you have an old dresser that has already lived its life inside your bedroom, and now you think it should retire, then think again. With a little love, you can transform that old dresser into a beautiful kitchen island. Leave the drawers in or take them out. That’s totally up to you how you want the storage to be. Either you can fix a butcher block tabletop on the island, or you can put a marble countertop. The paint can be vibrant, or it can also be a distressed look. You can also attach some hooks and a bar for storing kitchen towel. If you extend the countertop, it can become a table for a breakfast bar. If the dresser has no legs, you can attach legs to it, and also casters if you want a movable kitchen island.
A Kitchen Island Made From Stock Cabinets
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If you want to put little effort into building a kitchen island that looks graceful, then you can use stock cabinets. Stock cabinets come in all sizes, colors, materials, and finishes. So, you can easily choose from a plethora of options. After picking the right type of stock cabinets, you just have to find a sturdy tabletop, that can become the counter of the island. This island above is also created in the same way with its two ends of the countertop extending into two bar tables. So, you can prepare and serve meals side by side while enjoying convos.
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A $30 Kitchen Island
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This island is simple yet beautiful. It had a wooden frame that features a countertop, three storage drawers, and two lower shelves. The island has white paint and the countertop, and the two shelves have a contrasting color of stained wood. The white color gives it a cottage-like feel, and the stained wood gives it a rustic feel. The black drawer knobs are definitely a game-changer and give it an even more charming feel. Since this island has pure wood, it is sturdy, and the money spent is well invested. For just 30 bucks this island is a lot cheaper compared to the store-bought versions which aren’t even durable.
A Farmhouse Kitchen Island
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Farmhouse style decor is the in thing these days. And no doubt it looks beautiful as well. This kitchen island has a frame of wood planks, and the part with visual appeal is the sides. The island has a grayish-blue paint, and the countertop is of wood.
Faux Stone Kitchen Islands
Let’s say your island looks old and tired, but you still want to keep it then give it a reface. You can do that by covering it in faux stone tiles. There are so many options available when it comes to such tiles, so choose the ones that suit your kitchen the best.