8 clever kitchen island ideas on a budget

8 clever kitchen island ideas on a budget

If you’re looking for kitchen island ideas on a budget, chances are you’re keen to incorporate this kitchen workhorse into your design – but have been somewhat deterred by the expense involved. As an extra space to prep and serve food, enjoy a coffee while you work or hang out with friends, an island is an essential part of many modern kitchens – but often, the most stylish designs are by no means cheap.

You might be looking to add an island into your scheme, or perhaps you already have one that’s in need of an inexpensive update. Either way, we’ve rounded up our favorite clever kitchen island ideas that won’t break the bank – from repainting and tiling to incorporating a custom design for less.

Headshot of Ellen Finch

Ellen is Livingetc‘s print editor, and an experienced interiors journalist. She spoke to interior designers and kitchen specialists for this piece to find out how to buy or upgrade a kitchen island on a budget – and has plenty of ideas to share as a result.

8 kitchen island ideas on a budget

1. Use new cupboard fronts on an existing island

Kitchen with wood units and pink island

(Image credit: HUSK/Plank Hardware)

There are a number of companies on the market that offer affordable, fully customizable joinery – cupboard and door fronts in particular – to update existing islands while keeping the bare bones in place. It’s a wallet-friendly way of working with a kitchen – and it also makes sense from an environmental point of view, too.