If you’re looking to increase your storage space and work area in the kitchen, a kitchen island is the perfect solution. Kitchen islands are one of the trendiest kitchen features, and can range from large and multipurpose to cleverly compact; all depending on your needs and the space you have available. What’s more, most kitchen islands can be added to kitchens relatively easily!
Not only do kitchen islands provide extra storage space, they are also great for adding more workspace for all of your cooking and preparation needs. A common complaint people have is not having enough bench space in the kitchen – and this is why a kitchen island is such a brilliant idea.
How to make your own kitchen island
You don’t need to hire professionals to have a brand new kitchen island put in place; a lot of islands can be created over a weekend with a little bit of handy work. This way, you are able to create a custom kitchen island that is tailored to your needs. Wouldn’t you love to see a piece in the home that has been made by you, with your own bare hands? Creating your own kitchen island needn’t be a headache and can be made with some relatively inexpensive (sometimes even free!) materials.
1. The pallet kitchen island
The pallet craze certainly isn’t over. There have been many incredible uses for pallets, from coffee tables to full outdoor lounge suites. The best part is, you can sometimes get your hands on pallets for free from local businesses. Some of them, although used, are in very good condition. It’s just a matter of looking around for some decent pallets and nabbing them up as quickly as possible.
With this pallet kitchen island idea, the use of pallets create a rustic, country feel. Paint it to match the rest of your kitchen and finish it off with a wooden or bamboo bench-top. If you can find pallets in relatively good condition, you’ll be able to have a sturdy kitchen island that looks amazing. Just watch for any loose nails or sharp edges and smooth down any rough edges prior to painting.
2. The old cupboard kitchen island
If you’re looking for more storage, this might be the solution for you. Create a kitchen island with an old cupboard that no longer being used. The many drawers of a cupboard can provide extra storage where it’s needed most. You can paint your old cupboard to match the rest of your kitchen, or you can opt for a different, bolder colour to make it stand out as it’s own focus piece. We love this as a DIY project as it repurposes furniture that would have just been thrown out and instead. This style of island also provides a vintage feel that will look great in almost any kitchen.
3. The repurposed cabinet
Just like repurposing an old cupboard, this idea takes the simplicity of DIY to another level. This kitchen island literally uses an old bedroom dresser in it’s entirety. A wooden dresser can easily be painted to match your current kitchen configuration. Depending on the look you’re going for, you might not even need to change the handles at all. Keeping the original knobs and handles can provide an antique, and unique, look to your kitchen.
4. Tuck away seats
This is the perfect solution to having a streamlined look to your kitchen. Kitchen stools can be bulky, or may not even fit completely under a bench, which can be a distraction from the overall feel of your kitchen. Keep in mind too that stools that poke out may even cause a hazard. A fantastic option is to have fold away stools. These kinds of stools are a seat that can easily retract under a bench. Because they’re attached to the sides of the kitchen island, they don’t take up any floor space. These are easily attached with bolts and can be painted any colour you wish.
5. Cutting board drawers
This inclusion to your kitchen island would make you the envy of all of your friends who love smart domestic design. Not only does all the waste made from your food preparation drop directly in the bin hidden in your top draw, but you won’t take up any of your normal bench space with cutting boards. Simply, slide out the draw to do your chopping, and when you’re finished, wipe it down and slide it back in like a normal drawer would. Because it has handles, it looks just like any other drawer, and will fit in easily with the rest of the kitchen.
6. Built-in spice rack
Do you need a place to store all of those little spice jars, containers and packets? Spice jars are often hidden by other larger pantry items, and get lost at the back of the cupboard. This is especially true for those spices that you use the least. A great addition to your kitchen island is a built-in spice cabinet. You can either build it alongside the rest of your island DIY project, or add it onto an existing kitchen island. All you need to do is add some shelves and doors to hide the spices away. For those with young children, maybe pop a little lock on the doors, or your young chefs may conjure up a well intended, but rather messy, spicy concoction!
7. Bread bin storage
Instead of having a bread bin filling up your precious bench space, why not have it built into your kitchen island? The lids of your built in bread bins would sit in line with the rest of the bench to provide seamless bread storage solution. You can add smaller compartments for other items such as onions, garlic and potatoes. This addition may take a little bit of extra planning, but the result will definitely be a great space saver.
Your kitchen island project can be a wonderful representation of your personality and the style of your kitchen. You can be as creative or as simple as you like, and customise it to suit your own needs. If you cook with spices and aromatics, our spice rack solution would be a great addition. Or, if you want clutter-free bench space, the built-in chopping board draw is for you. No matter what your budget is, you’ll certainly be able to have a kitchen island that suits both your needs and your budget. Feel free to contact us today for any more information, or questions you might have.
