We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
It’s a conundrum those with tight kitchens often find themselves in: No room for both an island and a kitchen table. But you don’t have to choose one or the other when you go with a kitchen island alternative that is perfect for small spaces. An island with an attached table can give you both cooking and eating space in one useful piece.
People are using their formal dining rooms less than ever these days. In smaller homes, the dining area is now often repurposed for other uses. In addition to that, it’s become more popular for the kitchen to be the gathering space in the home. A hybrid kitchen island is a surefire way to maximize your kitchen counter space. Depending on how you style your hybrid kitchen island, it can work for casual meals or become a formal eating space as needed. The island-and-table design can work in many styles of kitchens, including open concept homes, where it can sit adjacent to the living room and integrate the dining and living spaces.
Options for a hybrid kitchen island
An island with an attached table is a great idea for a home that doesn’t have a formal dining room. Your options aren’t limited to custom builds, as there are numerous ready-made islands available to fit many types of spaces. An island on wheels is ideal, both for gatherings or if you temporarily need more cooking space. For example, the Shintenchi kitchen island with folding drop leaf adds versatility to kitchens that have a tiny footprint. The Ikea Resarö mobile drop-leaf table with storage has two leaves that fold in, making it small enough to store against a wall as a shelf when not in use for dining.
However, if the only dining area that’s available in your home requires barstool seating, it can be problematic for people who may have trouble getting onto the seats. That’s why you may want to consider an island hybrid that has two levels, so you can use it with dining chairs instead of high top chairs. The HLR kitchen island with extendable dining table works with table-height chairs, but it can be tucked away when not in use.
