Small Kitchen Ideas to Make the Most of Your Cooking Space

Small Kitchen Ideas to Make the Most of Your Cooking Space

A kitchen island is a very practical piece: it is suitable for cooking, offers storage space, provides a surface for drinks or breakfast and underlines your kitchen style or stands out if it is contrasting. If your kitchen doesn’t seem to have room for a kitchen island, choose a small one that won’t take up all your space and is still a very functional element. How do you choose one and how do you integrate a small kitchen island? Let’s see.

Small mobile kitchen islands

A small mobile kitchen island is a perfect solution for a small or even tiny kitchen: it can be pulled out at any time if you don’t need it or it seems unnecessary here. Such a piece can be made from any sideboard, console or other piece from IKEA or another brand. You can reuse what you have or build a new one using instructions found online. Incorporate some storage space – an open compartment, some drawers or brackets and hangers – and add wheels to move it in and out or use it as a home bar when needed.

a dark stained kitchen island with geometric tile backsplash and a small white kitchen island with butcher block countertop and storage

a dark stained kitchen island with geometric tile backsplash and a small white kitchen island with butcher block countertop and storage

a modern white kitchen with a mobile kitchen with butcher block countertops and wooden stools and green accents here and there

a modern white kitchen with a mobile kitchen with butcher block countertops and wooden stools and green accents here and there

A stylish modern kitchen in warm neutral tones with stone countertops, a light stained wooden kitchen island and green accents

A stylish modern kitchen in warm neutral tones with stone countertops, a light stained wooden kitchen island and green accents

a stylish vintage-inspired kitchen in white with black countertops, a light blue kitchen with a butcher block countertop for a pop of color

a stylish vintage-inspired kitchen in white with black countertops, a light blue kitchen with a butcher block countertop for a pop of color

A white farmhouse kitchen with a light blue kitchen island and butcher block countertop to add color here

A white farmhouse kitchen with a light blue kitchen island and butcher block countertop to add color here

a sleek white kitchen with neutral stone countertops, chic cabinetry and handles, and an olive green kitchen island on casters

a sleek white kitchen with neutral stone countertops, chic cabinetry and handles, and an olive green kitchen island on casters

an inspiring retro white kitchen with subway tiles, black fixtures, a small kitchen island, and black stools and pendant lamps

an inspiring retro white kitchen with subway tiles, black fixtures, a small kitchen island, and black stools and pendant lamps

Usual small kitchen islands

A small kitchen island can match or contrast. The first case usually occurs when you wanted one and ordered or built it along with the kitchen, while the second case occurs when an owner suddenly decides to have a kitchen island. Contrasting kitchen islands are trending, and you can opt for not only mismatched colors and materials, but also a different style or era and such a piece will stand out significantly.

Your island can look like a cabinet, more like a table, or include both and look lighter. Storage usually involves open and cabinet-like compartments, sometimes drawers and holders and hangers on the sides.

a beautiful and airy white kitchen with elegant cabinets, floating shelves and a hanging shelf, a small kitchen island to match

a beautiful and airy white kitchen with elegant cabinets, floating shelves and a hanging shelf, a small kitchen island to match

a chic navy and white kitchen with glass and standard cabinets, a wooden extractor hood, a matching kitchen island and wooden stools

a chic navy and white kitchen with glass and standard cabinets, a wooden extractor hood, a matching kitchen island and wooden stools

a modern white kitchen with butcher block countertops, a matching small island and black stools

a modern white kitchen with butcher block countertops, a matching small island and black stools

a modern white kitchen with printed tiles and a small kitchen island, chic pendant lamps and white bar stools

a modern white kitchen with printed tiles and a small kitchen island, chic pendant lamps and white bar stools

a crisp white kitchen with shaker-style cabinets and a matching small island with butcher block countertop for a coastal home

a crisp white kitchen with shaker-style cabinets and a matching small island with butcher block countertop for a coastal home

A dark stained kitchen with neutral stone countertops and a small kitchen island made from a bookcase is chic

A dark stained kitchen with neutral stone countertops and a small kitchen island made from a bookcase is chic

a dove gray country-style kitchen with white countertops and a richly stained wooden island that contrasts with the space

a dove gray country-style kitchen with white countertops and a richly stained wooden island that contrasts with the space

a glossy white minimalist kitchen with a gray countertop, a small kitchen island made of white and stained wood, white stools

a glossy white minimalist kitchen with a gray countertop, a small kitchen island made of white and stained wood, white stools

a graphite gray kitchen with a gray tile backsplash and a matching gray kitchen island with a raised worktop

a graphite gray kitchen with a gray tile backsplash and a matching gray kitchen island with a raised worktop

a gray farmhouse kitchen with butcher block countertops, a wooden kitchen island with plenty of storage that feels airy

a gray farmhouse kitchen with butcher block countertops, a wooden kitchen island with plenty of storage that feels airy

a beautiful crisp white kitchen with butcher block countertops, a small kitchen island that doubles as a dining area

a beautiful crisp white kitchen with butcher block countertops, a small kitchen island that doubles as a dining area

a minimalist white kitchen with a concrete splashback, built-in appliances and a matching white kitchen island with storage space

a minimalist white kitchen with a concrete splashback, built-in appliances and a matching white kitchen island with storage space

a minimalist white kitchen with butcher block wood countertops, a small, light stained kitchen island that matches the countertop

a minimalist white kitchen with butcher block wood countertops, a small, light stained kitchen island that matches the countertop

a modern kitchen in coral pink and white with gold handles, a chic small kitchen island with hexagonal tiles that catches the eye

a modern kitchen in coral pink and white with gold handles, a chic small kitchen island with hexagonal tiles that catches the eye

a modern two-tone kitchen with white subway tiles, butcher block countertops and a gray kitchen island with dining area

a modern two-tone kitchen with white subway tiles, butcher block countertops and a gray kitchen island with dining area

A modern white kitchen with white subway tiles and a matching kitchen island with a butcher block countertop and a wooden bench is fantastic

A modern white kitchen with white subway tiles and a matching kitchen island with a butcher block countertop and a wooden bench is fantastic

a neutral retro kitchen with stone countertops, a small gray kitchen island and a shabby chic metal stool

a neutral retro kitchen with stone countertops, a small gray kitchen island and a shabby chic metal stool

a neutral retro kitchen with white subway tiles, a small kitchen island with storage and a folding countertop, and black pendant lamps

a neutral retro kitchen with white subway tiles, a small kitchen island with storage and a folding countertop, and black pendant lamps

a neutral shabby chic kitchen with butcher block countertops and a matching kitchen island with drawers for storage

a neutral shabby chic kitchen with butcher block countertops and a matching kitchen island with drawers for storage

a neutral, warm-colored kitchen with green tiles, butcher block countertops, and a blue shabby-chic island

a neutral, warm-colored kitchen with green tiles, butcher block countertops, and a blue shabby-chic island

a small white kitchen with a herringbone backsplash, a small white kitchen island with a butcher block countertop and hanging lamps

a small white kitchen with a herringbone backsplash, a small white kitchen island with a butcher block countertop and hanging lamps

a stylish, modern white kitchen with neutral countertops and a small kitchen island that doubles as a dining area

a stylish, modern white kitchen with neutral countertops and a small kitchen island that doubles as a dining area

a stylish light stained modern kitchen with matching wooden beams and a green kitchen island with a terrazzo worktop adding an accent

a stylish light stained modern kitchen with matching wooden beams and a green kitchen island with a terrazzo worktop adding an accent

The original wraparound countertop was replaced with a space-saving kitchen island and breakfast bar with modern bar stools. All new appliances, an attractive range hood, marble countertops and pendant lighting were installed, and the tile backsplash adds a unique feel as seen on HGTV's Fixer Upper. (Detail)

The original wraparound countertop was replaced with a space-saving kitchen island and breakfast bar with modern bar stools. All new appliances, an attractive range hood, marble countertops and pendant lighting were installed, and the tile backsplash adds a unique feel as seen on HGTV’s Fixer Upper. (Detail)

a super stylish modern kitchen in navy blue and white with copper accents and a small kitchen island that matches the cabinets

a super stylish modern kitchen in navy blue and white with copper accents and a small kitchen island that matches the cabinets

a two-tone white and gray kitchen with white countertops and a small black kitchen island with storage and dining area for contrast

a two-tone white and gray kitchen with white countertops and a small black kitchen island with storage and dining area for contrast

an inviting white modern kitchen with square tiles, butcher block countertops, a small kitchen island with storage and a dining area

an inviting white modern kitchen with square tiles, butcher block countertops, a small kitchen island with storage and a dining area

A white farmhouse kitchen with black countertops and a small green kitchen island with a butcher block countertop is chic

A white farmhouse kitchen with black countertops and a small green kitchen island with a butcher block countertop is chic

a white kitchen with shaker style cabinets, a small kitchen island with storage and a dining area

a white kitchen with shaker style cabinets, a small kitchen island with storage and a dining area

a sleek white kitchen with white countertops, matching kitchen island with butcher block countertop and leather stools

a sleek white kitchen with white countertops, matching kitchen island with butcher block countertop and leather stools