DIY Kitchen Island Ideas

The perfect kitchen island is every homemaker's dream. Hometalk is here to help you achieve that dream. Use our top, best, and newest projects to help you determine what kind of island is right for you. Watch a video or browse our slideshows of stunning islands to inspire your project. What are you waiting for?

$25 Kitchen Island Update

Useful Kitchen Island Tips

Add some seating: Make this a highly functional part of the room. By adding some seating, you will have an informal dining area or breakfast bar.
Set it at a height that suits you: Get the right height to make this island easy to use. 36 inches is a standard height used on many islands.
Create varied storage space: Turn this into a convenient place to store a variety of objects. By adding shelves, you easily make it far more practical.
Leave enough room to get around it: Don’t make the mistake of taking up too much space with this object. It should be in proportion with the kitchen and have space around it.
Get a contrast from the cabinets: There is no need to make the island exactly the same style as the rest of the kitchen. A contrast with the rest of the room can work well.

More Kitchen & Dining Ideas

Top Projects for Kitchen & Dining Room Islands

Here are the top DIY kitchen island projects Hometalk has to offer.

How to Add Farmhouse Cabinet Trim - $15 Character Add to Kitchen

Hello!If you are looking to add some character to your kitchen then this budget friendly Farmhouse Cabinet Trim will work perfect! Plus it only costs around $15 to make.This was our kitchen way before our whole kitchen remodel.

Tiffany from Dream Design DIY

How to Update a Builder-Grade Kitchen Island With Trim and Paint

I've been working on making over my kitchen cabinets for some time now, and I've made it to the part of my renovation where it was time to tackle the kitchen island! Here it is--nothing special, just your basic, builder-grade island with laminate countertop.

Lost & Found

Transformed Dresser Into Kitchen Island

DIY I had a customer who cherishes a dresser she was left from her grandma it was very special to her but ohhhh so not pretty I refinished her kitchen cabinets and I thought to my self hey why not let me transform your dresser into a functional kitchen island???? We elevated it boxing out the bottom added trim and molding removed two bottom drawers and made open shielding for cute baskets. Then we replaced all the flimsy wood with real sturdy wood added wood to the top and nailed 2x4"s to create a drift wood, DIY reclaimed wood top!!!! This came out perfect my client is beyond thrilled . Contact everythinghasname on all social media or email everythinghasaname@aol.com to receive your estimate on kitchen cabinets and so much more. Happy painting. Trish

Trisha

Kitchen Island From a Dresser

Our eat in kitchen was driving me bonkers. There was never enough room for everyone. I've wanted to put an Island in our kitchen for as long as I could remember, then we found this dresser and the light bulb went off! the rest is DIY history.

Stacey @addisonmeadowslane

From This to That - An Old Desk Gets a New Life as a Kitchen Island

Old desk found on Kijiji for $40. It was sturdy with good bones. An additional $40. In materials and a little creative thought, turned it into a Kitchen Island.

Labruzzi

Baby Changing Table

Took this used and rickety baby changing table and turned into a useable and handy use for it.

Deanie Penick

Antique Desk Turned Into Kitchen Island

We re-purposed an antique desk into a kitchen island for a friend.

Terry

Before and After Cabinet Makeover With Scrollwork Doors

We had this boring cabinet in our garage and finally decided to do something with it. Someone sent us a photo of a cabinet that had scroll cut doors and we decided to give it a shot!

Roni

DIY Gorgeous Kitchen Island From Unfinished Cabinet Butcher Block Top

Always wanted a kitchen island but when you saw the $$ price tag, you put your dream on hold? Here's how I did it for half/third of the price!

Amy @ Inspired Renovations

How to Add Farmhouse Cabinet Trim - $15 Character Add to Kitchen

Tiffany from Dream Design DIY

How to Update a Builder-Grade Kitchen Island With Trim and Paint

Lost & Found

Transformed Dresser Into Kitchen Island

Trisha

Kitchen Island From a Dresser

Stacey @addisonmeadowslane

From This to That - An Old Desk Gets a New Life as a Kitchen Island

Old desk found on Kijiji for $40. It was sturdy with good bones. An additional $40. In materials and a little creative thought, turned it into a Kitchen Island.

Labruzzi

Baby Changing Table

Took this used and rickety baby changing table and turned into a useable and handy use for it.

Deanie Penick

Antique Desk Turned Into Kitchen Island

We re-purposed an antique desk into a kitchen island for a friend.

Terry

Before and After Cabinet Makeover With Scrollwork Doors

We had this boring cabinet in our garage and finally decided to do something with it. Someone sent us a photo of a cabinet that had scroll cut doors and we decided to give it a shot!

Roni

DIY Gorgeous Kitchen Island From Unfinished Cabinet Butcher Block Top

Always wanted a kitchen island but when you saw the $$ price tag, you put your dream on hold? Here's how I did it for half/third of the price!

Amy @ Inspired Renovations

Kitchen island projects galore in our slideshow gallery. Find your inspiration.

Kitchen & Dining Room Islands Videos

Looking for video tutorials on how to build your own kitchen island? Take a look.

Kitchen Island Made From Old Dresser

I’m sure by now everyone has seen a dresser turned into a kitchen island—I’ve been seeing them online for a while and have been wanting to do one myself, but just haven’t found the perfect old dresser. Until now. I went into my local thrift store recently and found the perfect little diamond in the rough—I’m so happy with how it came out! We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page. BEFORE: Here is a shot of the dresser when I first brought it home. I love the etched detail in the drawers, which is a big reason I decided to keep at least one of them for my finished island.

Rob & Coco, Hometalk Team

Kitchen Island Makeover

With a thrift store console table, some stain and paint, I have a beautiful new kitchen island! Watch this amazing transformation! Video is below for more details.

Dezinefun with Michelle

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Useful Kitchen Island Tips

Add some seating

Set it at a height that suits you

Create varied storage space

Leave enough room to get around it

Get a contrast from the cabinets

Backsplashes

Breakfast Nooks

Countertops

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen & Dining Furniture

Kitchen Lighting

Pantries

Sinks & Faucets