This Alternative to a Kitchen Island Is Ideal for Small Spaces

Small kitchen spaces are cozy, but they often lack the counter and storage space that households need. The answer might be to install a kitchen island for extra pantry storage and more countertop space. However, this is an expensive project — and it isn’t always an option depending on your kitchen layout and budget. If you’re looking for a good kitchen island alternative, consider either purchasing a portable island on wheels or installing wheels to the legs of a chef’s table.

These options are significantly cheaper — installing a basic permanent kitchen island in your home costs around $4,500 but can be upwards of five times that much for premium finishes. In contrast, there are two main benefits to a workspace on wheels: a significantly lower expense and the ability to stash it away. You can find options for as low as a few hundred dollars. When you’re not using it, you can push it up against the kitchen wall or even wheel it into another room where it can double as an extra table or bar cart. You also have plenty of choices for the countertop finish, how large it is, and what kind of storage it has underneath.

To find which island works best for your needs, first consider how much available space you have. If the area is extra tight, then opt for something like the Home Aesthetics Rolling Kitchen Island Cart, which is just under three feet long and comes with drawers and open shelf space. Plus, it’s wood-toned, so it matches almost any kitchen space. For a larger alternative, the Green Party Kitchen Island might work better; it comes in a variety of colors, and it has fully enclosed drawers and a cabinet, so you won’t have to focus much on your storage presentation. Because it has plenty of storage, you can add even more counter space to tiny kitchens by stashing away items that are usually left out, which will make your kitchen feel much bigger.

Another option is to install wheels on a small table you already own by purchasing a caster wheel set. This is even more affordable than a mobile island. Depending on what type of prep space you’re looking for, you might also consider buying something like this Atelicf’s all stainless steel prep table, which is what you would see in a professional kitchen. These are great for cutting and preparing food and even have storage space underneath, though they likely won’t match the aesthetics of every kitchen. If you go this route and it doesn’t have wheels, a caster wheel kit would fix that.