33 Small Kitchen Island Ideas to Optimize a Compact Space

A well-proportioned small kitchen island can elevate a compact space with this modern must-have that has become synonymous with the way we like to gather and entertain today.

Not all kitchens have the square footage or layout to accommodate a large island equipped with acres of countertop space, extra storage, and seating for a crowd. Luckily, there are plenty of small-scale kitchen islands designed to optimize functionality and add style to a more modest space.

Check out these small-scale kitchen island ideas in a range of formats and materials for inspiration.

33 Small Kitchen Island Ideas to Optimize a Compact Space

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Keep It Classic

Design by deVOL Kitchens

This small British kitchen island from deVOL Kitchens has classic lines that work with the simple Shaker cabinetry, and a butcher block top that adds a rustic note.

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Make It Multipurpose

Design by Space Factory / Photo by Hervé Goluza

This small Parisian kitchen island from Space Factory has a deep teal painted base that matches the lower cabinetry, a sleek integrated inversion burner cooktop, and seating for two.

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Put It on Wheels

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Josh Franer

Adding wheels to the legs of your small kitchen island or choosing a small kitchen cart makes it easy to move around as needed, a welcome bonus in a smaller space. This small kitchen island from Leanne Ford Interiors has a black metal base that echoes the large arched window panes, adding a graphic note while preserving the airy and open feel of the space.

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Line the Bottom Shelf

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Max Kim-bee

A narrow kitchen island adds a vintage feel to this bright kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors. A row of rustic baskets on the lower shelf hides clutter.

62 Kitchen Island Ideas You'll Want to Copy

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Add a Waterfall Edge

Design by Michelle Gerson Interiors / Photo by Marco Ricca

Just because it's small doesn't mean it can't be glamorous. This modest sized NYC apartment kitchen island from Michelle Gerson Interiors is comfortably set up for two, with upholstered seating, a waterfall edge countertop, and a brown wood base that echoes the lower cabinetry.

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Try a Vintage Model

Design by Basic Projects / Photo by Kate Towill

This small kitchen island from Basic Projects has a rich stained wood, semi-open base and a marble top, helping to structure the open-plan kitchen while adding a vintage feel that complements a French range and echoes the dark hardwood flooring.

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Paint the Base

Design by Becca Interiors

This small wood kitchen island from Becca Interiors has a wood top and a pale sage green painted base that works as a subtle color accent in the neutral room. A pair of vintage metal stools enhances the chic country inspired vibes.

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Add an Overhang on One End

Finding Lovely / Ruth Eileen Photography

Finding Lovely added a small overhang to this compact kitchen island that accommodates a pair of bar stools without infringing on the flow of the bright and airy space.

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Add a Pull-Out Dining Table

Design by Space Factory / Photo by HervÃ© Goluza

The narrow kitchen island in this tiny Paris studio from Space Factory has an OSB finish and a space-saving white dining table/bar for two that slides in and out.

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Include Hidden Storage

Design by Forbes + Masters

This small highrise kitchen island from Forbes + Masters floats in the center of an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living room, helping to structure the space. Built-in storage and waterfall edge countertops that give it a polished and elegant feel despite its modest proportions.

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Source a French Butcher Block

Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer

Before there were kitchen islands, there were farm tables and classic French wooden butcher blocks like this one from Marie Flanigan Interiors that functions like a small kitchen island while adding some French country character to the modern space.

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Color Drench It

Design by Space Factory / Photo by HervÃ© Goluza

This small Parisian kitchen island from Space Factory features dining space for two and an induction cooktop. The base is saturated in a vibrant deep shade of International Klein Blue that plays off against the natural accents and black-and-white patterned tile floors.

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Skip the Bar Stools

Most Lovely Things

Blogger Annie Diamond of Most Lovely Things ripped out the space-hogging built-in island of her new home and swapped in a smaller scale freestanding model instead. While there isn't enough room around the island to install bar stools, a cozy corner banquette is only steps away.

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Play with Materials

Fantastic Frank

This small kitchen island from Fantastic Frank has a plywood-clad mini island on wheels that adds a raw and informal vibe to the open plan space.

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Square It Off

Design by Erin Williamson Design

Who says your kitchen island has to be rectangular? This square kitchen island from Erin Williamson Design has a thick marble top and slim metal legs that don't take up much visual space in a classic kitchen with navy painted cabinets and classic checkerboard floor tiles.

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Keep It Minimalist

Fantastic Frank

This small kitchen island from Fantastic Frank floats in the middle of this minimalist Scandi-style eat-in kitchen, skipping the bar stools in order to leave plenty of space around it for circulating. An adjacent dining table provides a place for meals by the window.

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Keep It Minimal

Design by deVOL Kitchens / Photo by Ellei Home

This minimalist space from deVOL Kitchens has a classic look with a wrap-around pegboard wall hooks for hanging pots and plants, and a small wood clad, marble topped kitchen island for prepping meals.

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Install a Gas Range

deVOL Kitchens

This cheerful space from deVOL Kitchens includes a small kitchen island that houses a gas stove range and a butcher block top for extra prep space.

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Warm It Up with Wood

Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Christy Q. Photo

In this Danish-inspired San Francisco kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors, a small kitchen island is clad in warm wood to add contrast with the black-and-white palette and stainless steel appliances.

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Add a French Country Accent

Design by Jessica Nelson Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki Photography

Adding French-style wooden bar stools and a sparkly chandelier gives this small kitchen island from Jessica Nelson Design a French country vibe that's easy to live with and will outlast trends.

Comparing Counter Height and Bar Height for Seating

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Add a Vase of Tall Branches

Design by Alvin Wayne

In this New York City kitchen, interior designer Alvin Wayne added fur throws to the bar stools and a vase of extra tall branches to the top of the small kitchen island that draws the eye up, emphasizing the tall ceilings rather than the limited footprint.

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Paint It Blue

Design by Studio Peake

This mobile kitchen island from Studio Peake is painted in the same deep teal as the lower cabinets, adding saturated color to the traditional lines and warm wood finishes of this classic British kitchen.

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Add Corner Display Shelves

Charlie Coull Design

Charlie Coull Design added a relatively small kitchen island in this spacious kitchen that houses the sink and preserves flow, skipping bar seating but adding storage and open shelving display space.

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Add a Farmhouse Feel

Design by Jessica Nelson Design / Photo by Carina Skrobecki Photography

This turned wood kitchen island from Jessica Nelson Design adds a homey farmhouse-inspired element to an all-white kitchen. The bottom shelf offers a place for storage and display while keeping an open feel that allows light and air to flow.

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Go for the Gold

Fantastic Frank

This Stockholm apartment kitchen from Fantastic Frank has white walls and minimal Scandinavian vibes that allow a gleaming gold island to take center stage. The eye-catching island is not only decorative but a piece of multifunctional furniture that manages to house a sink, induction stovetop and oven on one side, with seating for two on the other.

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Include Open Shelving

Home Consultant

For a perfect fit, design a custom island. Home Consultant included a mix of closed and open storage, with a space-saving gap to store backless stools when not in use.

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Add Rustic Wood Cladding

Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.

A small kitchen island clad in a dark stained wood adds a rustic element that grounds this compact kitchen from Mindy Gayer Design Co.. The air space above the island is anchored by woven pendant lights that emphasize the high ceilings of the relatively small kitchen area, making it feel more expansive.

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Bling It Up

Design by Alvin Wayne

A small waterfall edge island from interior designer Alvin Wayne gets a dose of high-energy bling with shiny gold bar stools that reflect light and add a sense of grandeur to a modest space.

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Go Industrial

Design by Laquita Tate Interior Styling & Designs

An affordable alternative to a fixed kitchen island is a freestanding restaurant-style island that you can pick up at a kitchen supply store. This one from Laquita Tate Interior Styling & Designs has a sturdy countertop and open metal shelving with a light profile that helps keep the small space from feeling cramped.

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Use Light Finishes

Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Margaret Austin Photo

A pale-toned kitchen island in this L-shaped, Japandi-style kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors offers seating for three without encroaching too much on the open plan space.

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Add Custom Trim

Rockport Building Partners / Sarah Szwajkos Photography

This country kitchen from Rockport Building Partners has a small kitchen island with cozy French bistro bar stool seating for two that is finished in the same mint green wood as the built-in cabinetry. The island base includes custom trim that matches the cabinetry throughout for a cohesive look.

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Use a Work Table

Inspired By Charm

Inspired By Charm chose a narrow freestanding work table instead of a built-in island in this modest-sized kitchen that provides extra prep space and food storage without overwhelming the space.

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Make It Movable

deVOL Kitchens

In this space from deVOL Kitchens, a small rolling kitchen island on wheels can be pushed up against the wall when you want to free up space in the kitchen, and rolled front and center when you need it.

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Mix Wood Finishes

Arbor & Co.

Mix natural and painted wood to add dimension to the base of a small kitchen island. Arbor & Co. clad the face of this three-seater island with raw wood for a rustic look, painting the sides in a deep forest green for contrast.

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Use All-Black Finishes

Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

Give a small island a sleek feel with all-black finishes, like this space from Jessica Nelson Design. Mix matte black paint and polished stone for a sophisticated look.

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Choose All-White Finishes

Maite Granda

Give a smaller kitchen island a light and airy feel with all-white finishes, like this modern cottage kitchen from interior designer Maite Granda.

Are islands good for small kitchens?

You can put a built-in island in a small kitchen assuming that it works with your existing layout. Make sure you have enough clearance on all sides. Consider a small square or narrow rectangular in an L-shaped, U-shaped, or open kitchen. A freestanding island on wheels is another small kitchen solution.

What is the smallest size a kitchen island can be?

There is no minimum or maximum size for a kitchen island, which should be proportional with your space. But in general a kitchen island should ideally be no less than about 2x4 feet in order to be functional, allowing for a few feet of clearance around it on all sides to ensure that it doesn’t disrupt the flow of your kitchen.

Is it less expensive to buy or build a kitchen island?

In general, it is less expensive to build your own kitchen island, according to HomeAdvisor. The ultimate cost will depend on everything from your choice of materials to labor costs if you hire someone to build a custom island for you rather than purchasing a prefab model or DIY'ing it.