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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!
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