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Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

You are here: Home >> DIY Projects >> 7 Unique Kitchen Island Ideas on a Budget

November 10, 2014 By Jenna 18 Comments

7 Unique Kitchen Island Ideas on a Budget

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Increase the counter space and storage space in your kitchen with a new kitchen island – DIY style! Here are seven different kitchen island ideas on a budget that are functional and creative! 

On the last three “house hunts” for a new home, a kitchen island was always at the top of the list in the kitchen space. The kitchen didn’t have to have an island right then, but there had to be a space where we could DIY one – and we’re pretty creative about fitting things like that in spaces. 🙂

Kitchen islands can have a serious impact on your kitchen’s functionality – they can offer much needed food preparation space and also extra storage space. Who couldn’t use more of that in their kitchen?!

These kitchen island designs are not only unique and creative, but they can easily be tweaked to work in any kitchen – big or small!

Kitchen Island Ideas DIY

DIY Reclaimed Materials Kitchen Island

As you know, I am very partial to my kitchen island. I love it. Like love it so much, I threaten to be laid out on it when I die.

kitchen island ideas on a budget - island made from reclaimed wood

Grunt Labor & I built our kitchen island from barn wood out of my great grandfather’s barn and old porch posts.

Turn a Sofa Table into a Kitchen Island

kitchen island ideas diy - kitchen island made from a sofa table

I had never thought of this before – find a sofa table you like and turn it into a kitchen island! That’s just what Designing Domesticity did! The open shelves below are perfect for larger kitchen items.

Turn a Dresser into a Kitchen Island

diy kitchen island ideas - island made from a dresser

How about just taking an old dresser, painting it a bright color and turning it into an island? I love this one from You’re So Martha.

diy kitchen islands on a budget - islands made from dressers with area for barstools.

Here’s another dresser turned island, but this one from traerloves has an added overhang where you could push bar stools under. This would make the perfect spot for breakfast! Love how they added that overhang – such a unique diy.

No room for a floating island? What about a kitchen peninsula?

Turn a Dresser into a Kitchen Peninsula

DIY Kitchen Peninsula made from a Dresser

If you can’t get your hands on an old dresser, you could always pick up an IKEA dresser on the cheap and make it into an island. Ruffles and Such made her IKEA dresser into a peninsula and a breakfast bar.

Small Kitchen Island Ideas

Small diy kitchen island build

This kitchen island looks pretty easy to make and very budget friendly from Kruse’s Workshop. It’s also narrow, so it would be perfect for a smaller rustic farmhouse kitchen.

diy budget kitchen islands - rustic farmhouse kitchen island

This kitchen island from Shanty 2 Chic is a bit more complicated to build, but only costs $85! It’s another one that is smaller scale so great for a small kitchen. It also has great shelves for storage and that butcher block countertop is gorgeous!

Any DIY kitchen island ideas you’re brewing up?

Need more DIY projects for the kitchen?

See how I made laminate counters look like stone.

And here are nine more DIY countertop makeover ideas.

10+ Kitchen Ideas for Decorating, Organizing, and Storage – super good ones too.

Want to come back to these kitchen island ideas later? Pin the image below!

unique kitchen island ideas on a budget

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

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Filed Under: DIY Projects Tagged With: kitchen, kitchen island

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debbie says

    November 10, 2014 at 8:37 am

    Great ideas and so versatile for any size kitchen! Love them all!
    Debbie

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 12, 2014 at 9:50 am

      Thanks, Debbie!

      Reply
  2. chris aka monkey says

    November 10, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    laid out on it with a bouquet of duct tape flowers sorry lmao xx

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 11, 2014 at 10:07 am

      bahahahahah! YES!!

      Reply
  3. Heidi says

    November 10, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    Thanks for sharing our rustic kitchen island!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 11, 2014 at 10:07 am

      Loved it, Heidi!

      Reply
  4. Karen says

    November 11, 2014 at 9:11 am

    While viewing the Better Homes and Garden magazine we just had one question….how the heck do you reach the microwave? It looks like it was installed really high.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      November 11, 2014 at 10:07 am

      It is higher than usual because those upper cabinets are so high up. It actually even looks higher than it really is. I’m a shorter person though and can still reach it – and all the buttons! haha!

      Reply
  5. Malia says

    December 19, 2014 at 8:23 am

    Great collection of ideas Jenna!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      December 19, 2014 at 8:25 am

      Thanks, Malia!

      Reply
  6. Christine says

    February 13, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    Great ideas on kitchen islands, thanks so much for sharing this at the DI & DI Link Party.

    Reply
  7. Tracy says

    February 14, 2017 at 12:37 pm

    I love all of these ideas! The dresser ones are perfect and provide so much storage.

    Reply
  8. Kim~madeinaday says

    February 14, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    Nice Selection of island ideas! Thanks for linking up at MerryMonday!
    Kim

    Reply
  9. Sandra Garth says

    February 15, 2017 at 12:40 pm

    Wow, I would never have thought of these, thank you!

    Reply
  10. Melissa says

    February 15, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    This is a great roundup. The islandsare each unique in their own way and I love that. Thanks for sharing at the Family Joy Blog Link Party this week! Please join us again next week.

    Reply
  11. Chas Greener says

    October 31, 2018 at 4:20 pm

    This is great! Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!

    Reply
  12. Sherry says

    November 7, 2018 at 11:17 am

    I like the dresser idea and more drawer space! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

    Reply
  13. Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says

    November 10, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    So inspiring! Thanks for sharing at Best of the Weekend. You were one of my features this week! Thanks for joining us and have a great weekend!
    Shelley

    Reply

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