DIY Kitchen Island Guide: How to Build a Kitchen Island

A kitchen island is a detached countertop that creates extra work, storage, or dining space, typically located in the center of a kitchen. The handy kitchen feature is one of the most popular additions among homeowners and interior designers pursuing a home improvement project that will add value to the shared areas. Ranging from a small, simple butcher block on wheels to a sprawling counter space with custom cabinetry and built-in appliances that serve as the kitchen’s focal point, this versatile kitchen feature is highly customizable for individuals’ space, budget, and dining needs. It can be the nucleus of all kitchen activity or utilized for extra space as needed. Whether you’re building a new kitchen or doing a basic kitchen remodel, there are many factors to consider when deciding what kind of island to build: 1. __Space__: Your kitchen layout and size will determine the length and width of your island. While a larger kitchen can accommodate a fully buffed-out island with working plumbing, a smaller kitchen is better suited for a small, portable island. 2. __Purpose__: Before building your island, consider how you and your housemates will use it so that you know which features to prioritize. Various functions to consider are storage, food prep, or casual dining. 3. __Budget__: Building a kitchen island can range from a low-cost DIY project using repurposed materials to an expensive, custom-made, fully functional island built by professional contractors. If you have a limited budget and the time to tackle the project, a DIY or portable, pre-built option may better suit your needs. 4. __DIY or pro__: All these factors, as well as your handiness, will help you assess whether to purchase a pre-built island, hire a professional to build one, or take it on as a DIY project. There are various kitchen island styles to meet the needs of any home chef. Here are some of the most popular kitchen island designs to consider to create your dream kitchen: 1. __Fully functional__: A fully functional island is the most expansive (and expensive) option, which offers a spacious cooking area supplied with electricity and water hook-ups, where you can put your primary or secondary sink, a cooktop, and other major or minor appliances. This style is great for avid cooks and entertainers who would benefit most from the extra space and the ability to keep an eye on all the moving parts of meal prep. 2. __Kitchen island with storage__: This kitchen island is similar to the table design, but instead of being open underneath, there are built-in, enclosed base cabinets for storage or to hide a trash can. This island style can be built entirely of kitchen cabinets or feature a mixture of cabinets, pull-out drawers, wine racks, and bookshelves on the side of the island to display cookbooks or other kitchen goods. 3. __Portable__: A portable kitchen island is built on wheels so it can move around. This versatile design is advantageous for small, multipurpose spaces. This style is usually a simple design with a butcher block countertop. This space-friendly style has one drawback: when using a portable island for food prep, the casters may move, which is a notable safety concern if you’re using a knife. 4. __Small space__: A small kitchen island is similar to the portable option but without wheels. Situated in a fixed space, they are ideal for providing some extra food prep and storage space. This style is fairly straightforward to build yourself, but pre-built options are widely available for purchase. 5. __Table__: The table style is a streamlined design that is essentially a tall tabletop used for additional workspace, which might include a single, open bottom shelf at its base. Stainless steel styles pair well with a modern kitchen, whereas wood would complement a farmhouse-style kitchen. The humble table style is cost-effective and easy-to-build but lacks upgraded amenities such as a backsplash with electrical outlets. 6. __Two-tiered__: The multifunctional, two-tiered kitchen island has a designated prep space at a lower level and a second, higher-tiered dining area with an overhang where residents can sit on barstools to dine. This style is well-suited for families who want a casual breakfast bar or entertainers who want a serving area. While you can buy a pre-built island or hire a contractor to install a custom kitchen island, this piece of furniture can be a fun and manageable DIY project for a kitchen makeover. The following tutorial will help you tackle your own kitchen island plans: 1. __Plan your island design__. Aim to design your kitchen island based on its size and placement. The design process should include taking measurements of your kitchen to determine the space you’ll need to walk between the countertops and the island. Measuring beforehand will ensure you have enough room for multiple people to walk through the space and the appropriate counter height for cooking or dining. 2. __Procure your materials__. With the measurements in hand, you can determine whether you will build the island from scratch or [repurpose other furniture](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-upcycle-furniture), such as a dresser and bookcase, into your kitchen island. 3. __Assemble the base__. This step will vary in its difficulty depending on what style of kitchen island you want to build—from a simple table-style island to a more complicated storage-focused island with cabinet doors or beadboard—and whether you are building it from scratch. Some styles need a baseboard and back panel, whereas others don't. 4. __Attach the countertop__. The countertop materials can be attached in two ways: drilling it into a wooden understructure or gluing it to its base. The former is well-suited for wood or butcher block tops, whereas the latter is better for stone-based countertops. 5. __Finishing touches__. Once your island is assembled, you can paint or install any necessary hardware, corbels, or fixtures. Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Kelly Wearstler and Corey Damen Jenkins. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home. A kitchen island can transform the appearance and functionality of a kitchen with its additional countertop and storage space.