35 Small Kitchen Island Ideas for Maximizing Space and Style
Your favorite dinner-prep spot just got better.
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It's easy to dismiss the idea of adding an island to your already compact kitchen if it's lacking in square footage, but we're going to suggest that's exactly what you should do. As long as you don't eliminate essential walkways, small kitchen islands can significantly enhance the design and functionality of your cooking space. They provide additional countertop work areas and storage opportunities, which are incredibly valuable in tight quarters.
There are a multitude of creative solutions available, from portable islands with wheels to multifunctional islands that double as dining tables or prep stations. Small kitchen islands can incorporate features like built-in shelves, pull-out drawers, and even appliances, making the most of every inch of space. To help you better visualize how one of these multipurpose features can fit into your space, we've compiled 35 small kitchen island ideas, all from designer-approved spaces. Whether you want your kitchen to feel more spacious or you're happy to embrace its cozy dimensions, these small kitchen island ideas are here to meet your needs.
For more kitchen inspiration:
- 60 Small Kitchen Ideas That Maximize Your Space in Style
- Editor-Approved Appliances and Cookware From Wayfair
- 60 Stylish Kitchen Cabinet Ideas for Every Design Aesthetic
Add a Butcher Block
In a cooking space where every spare inch counts, this small kitchen island idea doubles as a cutting board. Designer Jennifer Robin and architect Stephen Sutro chose a 19th-century French butcher block from Sonoma Country Antiques for this island.
Add Apothecary-Style Storage
In this Georgia kitchen, designer and member of the 2024 Next Wave class Jerel Lake had to find clever ways to add storage, so he chose to install a small kitchen island with numerous apothecary-style drawers. The multiuse drawers include a docking station for recharging phones, specially designed storage for heavy Dutch ovens, and built-in steel canisters to keep side dishes warm.
Choose Darker Colors
When designer Kelly Cook of Orangerie Home was tasked with renovating this small kitchen, she chose only dark colors for the cabinets, floor, and ceiling. Doing so made the space feel larger, she explains, because sticking within a similar, darker color palette eliminates many of the shadows. Choosing an island that also fits this palette helps make the overall kitchen feel bigger.
Keep It Clutter-Free
This Nashville kitchen island is small but mighty. One half of the countertop is open underneath (ideal for slotting in a single seat), and the other end is closed off with plenty of storage drawers. The team at Studio Dearborn chose to stash all of the cooking essentials away in these drawers instead of displaying them on the countertop to keep the island, and the room in general, clutter-free.
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Opt for an Artful Centerpiece
The size of your island doesn't matter too much when you make it interesting to look at. Think of it like a statement piece—that's what designer Fitzhugh Karol from the Brooklyn Home Company did in this 400-square-foot studio apartment. Karol hand-carved this small kitchen island from fallen oak and cherry logs.
Make It a Waterfall
By choosing a small kitchen island, now's your chance to splurge on the style of countertop you really want. This kitchen by Julee Wray of Truss Interiors features a beautiful granite to create a waterfall countertop, making the look of the island what stands out rather than the size.
Use Open Shelving
Adding the illusion of extra space is key to making your small island feel larger, so rather than using cabinets to hold your items, opt for open shelving. Designer Colleen Saglimbeni did so at the end of this small kitchen island in this floating home with limited space, and it adds a beautiful pop of color to the room.
Honor the Home's History
When you live in a historic home, it feels right to choose furnishings that are consistent with the era. So when antique collector Phillip Smith moved into a house built in 1716, he tapped House Beautiful's past style director Robert Rufino to help him decorate in a period-appropriate way. That meant choosing a skinny kitchen island with legs and open storage rather than a big block of granite.
Square Off
While rectangular islands are popular, a square kitchen island can help you be more efficient, especially if it includes extra storage and space for seating. In this modern Seattle home, designer Andy Beers packed a lot into the standalone counter.
Roll It Away
In designer Reena Ravi's home kitchen, she put her small kitchen island on wheels to up the versatility factor. “Since the kitchen, dining, and living area are all one space, the rolling island can be pushed aside when more space is needed,” she explains.
Choose Something Different
In a kitchen outfitted in one prominent color, make your small kitchen island idea stand out by choosing (or painting it) a contrasting hue. It can still match the overall vibe like this muted gray island, chosen by Celia Bryson for Sophie Donelson's kitchen.
Make It Monochromatic
Want to make your small kitchen island look larger? Choose a monochromatic color scheme to match its surroundings. Designer Molly Singer went with a bold green—Solitary Tree by Behr, to be precise—for this kitchen's island, cabinets, and window trim.
Choose a Convertible Option
In a tiny space, everything has to pull double duty. For instance, if your small kitchen island doubles as your dining area, choose a table with a countertop that's fit for an island, so you can dinner-prep and dine right on the same surface. Weeth Home made the elegant custom table pictured, and it's ready for any task.
Hide Your Appliances
Designer Kelsey Leigh McGregor made this small kitchen feel so much larger simply by hiding the microwave inside the island. Doing this reduces visual (and countertop!) clutter and opens up the entire room.
Swap In a Vintage Find
While many small kitchen islands are permanent home features, you can easily put casters on a beloved vintage find to increase its versatility. Designer Lynn Kloythanomsup picked up this antique Swedish butcher block for this small San Francisco kitchen—its wheels make it easy to move around the space or relocate if the homeowners decide to leave.
Choose Color Combinations Carefully
The stark contrast between the bright white walls and the black cabinetry in this kitchen by Ariene Bethea almost makes the quartz countertop island look like it's floating. It tricks the eye into thinking there's more space, even though the island is relatively small.
Enhance It With Heat Resistance
In designer Emily Janak's home, she and her husband chose a dark soapstone for their kitchen island countertop because it is an extremely durable and heat-resistant material. Plus, in a small kitchen space, being able to set hot pans and dishes directly on the counter in a pinch is very convenient.
Punctuate With Panels
This skinny island is long and relatively basic apart from the decorative panels on its front. Without these accents, it would be easy to overlook a small kitchen island like this. However, adding those extra decorative elements transforms the piece, making it much more visually appealing.
Warm Up to Wood Tones
A vaulted ceiling will automatically make a room look bigger, no matter the square footage. In this Maui kitchen, designer Breeze Giannasio added warmth to the white space by layering wood paneling on the small kitchen island.
Use Glossy Tiles
Designed by Studio Helder, this striking kitchen is completely covered in glossy tiles by DTile. It straddles a unique line between retro and futuristic with a small kitchen island that juts out for when you want to pull up a bar stool for breakfast.
Related: The Best Bar Stools to Complement Your Kitchen Island
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