That's Smart: Kitchen Island Alternatives

Rolling Cart

There are lots of inexpensive microwave and beverage carts on the market, and if you're looking for something on the smaller side, a tiny cart is just what you need! Plus, most of them are on wheels so they can move around the kitchen with you as you perform your tasks.

Photo Credit: CB2

A Desk

Yes! Maybe you just upgraded your office furniture or found a great vintage desk at a garage sale. ReadyMade reader Gail Wilson repurposed her daughter's old desk into a kitchen island. If you're crafty, I bet you could come up with something as creative as Gail, who added beadboard to the front and lumber to the top.

Photo Credit: ReadyMade

A Dining Table

Although the table might be a little lower than your standard kitchen island, a solid wood table acts like a butcher block and takes a pretty decent beating, like the one we spotted above and below in Elle Decor.

Photo Credit: Elle Decor

Dining Table

If you don't mind bending over a little, you can slap some cute mismatched chairs around it, or try adding a bench to one end and use the other end for rolling dough or chopping onions. If the height gets you down, cut off the legs and replace with some higher ones from IKEA.

Photo Credit: Elle Decor

A Bookshelf

If you're mostly looking for more storage, try a bookshelf. It's a great place to stash the cookbooks, mixing bowls and dishtowels if you have limited counter or cabinet space. You can also use two bookshelves as table legs, like these Winsome shelves, and add a counter on top. Simply find an inexpensive table on Craigslist and remove the legs or even grab a top from Ikea.

Photo Credit: Ikea and Shelterpop

A Bookshelf

Cymax also has this great bookshelf-meet-work surface for $600, a whole lot less than a custom island with a granite countertop.

Photo Credit: Cymax