The 12 Best DIY Kitchen Islands

Rachel BroughamUpdated: Sep. 29, 2023

Your kitchen island doesn't have to be pricey to be functional and stylish. Many DIYers are repurposing old furniture to create their dream kitchen island. Here are 12 DIY kitchen island ideas to inspire you.

1 / 12

Home Decor Buzz

Kitchen Island with Storage: Bookshelf Island

This island is not only helpful when it comes to food prep, but it also has plenty of storage for cookbooks thanks to the bookshelves. Plus, this DIY kitchen island can double as a place to do homework.

2 / 12

Mom in Music City

Kitchen Island for Small Kitchen: Scrap Wood Island

This DIY kitchen island cost just $30 and is made with 2x4s! It includes two shelves for storage, along with some faux drawers. Organize your kitchen with these 11 brilliant ideas.

3 / 12

Hallmark Channel

Dresser Kitchen Island

Here’s a DIY kitchen island made from an old dresser with wheels for easy mobility. The designer bought this dresser on craigslist for $100 and then painted it a color to match the kitchen. Old dressers are great for repurposing but have you thought of repurposing any of these 80 items?

4 / 12

Our Vintage Home Love

Affordable Kitchen Islands: Barn Wood Island

This aged wood island is made from old barn wood (although pallet wood would also work). It has a shelf underneath to store dishes and pots, along with a handy towel bar.

5 / 12

Ana White

Kitchen Island with Storage

This DIY kitchen island has plenty of storage for everything from dish towels to plates and even wine glasses. It also has an overhang which allows for some bar stools. Find a place for those bottles of wine with this incredible under cabinet wine rack.

6 / 12

Gina Glavin

Upgraded Island

This DIYer wasn’t happy with the kitchen island in her townhouse, so she made some improvements. For about $200, she painted the island, and cut some trim pieces to give the island some detail.

7 / 12

Norma Budden

Kitchen Island with Storage: Cart Island

This vintage cart is now a one-of-a-kind DIY kitchen island. Try looking for a cart at a resale shop or garage sale and then refinish it or go with the industrial look, and add a countertop of your choice.

8 / 12

At Kokos Place

Kitchen Island for Small Kitchen: Multi-Purpose Island

This rustic DIY kitchen island is built with scrap wood—the top is a few 1x4s and screws. The builder says the island doubles as a laundry folding center and computer table.

9 / 12

Kutsko Kitchen

Large Kitchen Islands with Seating and Storage: Pallet Wood Island

Put that pallet wood to good use and build yourself a kitchen island! There are several plans online. This pallet wood island has some storage space underneath and a handy storage system on the side for utensils.

10 / 12

Figleeg

Rustic Island Cart

This rustic island cart has storage on some open shelves and in a cabinet, along with caster wheels so it’s mobile. This DIY kitchen island would work well in a rustic, farmhouse style kitchen.

11 / 12

Killer b. Designs

Inexpensive Kitchen Island

This inexpensive DIY kitchen island cost just $15 to build. The simple how to make a kitchen island design allows for a good amount of work space along with a rack for storage. It also features some cabinet hardware for hanging pot holders or towels.

12 / 12

Designing Domesticity

Sofa Table Island

Take that piece of furniture and reinvent it! This DIY kitchen island is made from a sofa table and is finished with a butcher block countertop.

Originally Published: April 24, 2019

Rachel Brougham

Rachel Brougham lived through a major home renovation in 2019, knows the ups and downs of home improvement, and loves sharing tips with readers. A veteran journalist of both print and television, she’s won several awards for her writing and has covered everything from the environment and education to health care, politics and food. She’s written for several publications beyond newspapers including Bob Vila, Taste of Home and Minnesota Parent, and she currently writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Her memoir, Widowland, about the sudden loss of her husband, was published in 2022. She specializes in everything from home decor and design to lawn and garden, product reviews and pet care. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her tending to her garden (both vegetables and native plants), playing with her dog, watching sports with her family or getting some exercise. A native of Michigan, she currently lives in Minneapolis. An avid user of Instagram, you can follow her @RachBrougham.