You’ve decided you need more storage, more workspace, or maybe even just a place to dine in the kitchen. Maybe you want a combination of two or more of these things. The best way to get any or all of these features in your kitchen is by adding a kitchen island. That easy part was deciding that you need a kitchen island. The more difficult decision is how you’re going to go about doing this.
Kitchen islands are a wonderful addition to your home’s kitchen, but the cost can run into thousands of dollars. It is definitely well worth the investment in your home but let’s face it – in today’s tough times, not everyone has the ability to put that kind of money into building a kitchen island. Here are three creative ideas to add extra space and storage to put together cheap kitchen islands.
If you are really on a shoestring budget, this first plan may be the one for you. This cheap kitchen island will provide you with plenty of extra workspace and will save you a pretty penny too. Find an old wooden table that needs refurbishing. You may even have one sitting in your garage or basement. A fresh coat of paint or varnish may be just the ticket that old eyesore needed to bring it back to life. To create an area for storage, add a shelf underneath the table. Then, you can buy inexpensive storage bins or baskets and place them on the shelves. If you really want to add versatility, you may place casters on the bottom of the legs. Just to make sure your island stays where you put it, get the ones with locking wheels!
Another way to create your discount kitchen island is to get a hold of two carts of the same height. Microwave carts work well for this since many of them have shelves underneath them (extra storage). You can easily secure the two carts to each other with clamps or long screws depending on how permanent you want your island to be. Once these are secured, measure and cut your plywood top. Make sure that you secure t with wood glue and screws screwed in from the bottom so you don’t mar your top surface. Add an extra layer of the plywood, then choose a material, usually something like linoleum or tile to add appeal to the top of your kitchen island. The only thing remaining is to cover the edges of your plywood (also called the facing), preferably with the same material you used for the top surface. Check your local home improvement center for ideas and how-to’s for application of these materials.
The third way that can be quite inexpensive it to find base cabinets that you can secure together and place a countertop of your choice on. The base cabinets may be secured in the same way that the carts were secured, preferably screwed together. This type of cheap kitchen island is a bit more permanent than the first two methods. If you prefer to have something more than just a plywood top covered in linoleum or tile, you can shop around and probably find a bargain-priced slab of countertop material to suit your needs.
Now that you have some ideas about how you can build a cheap kitchen island, you’re off to work on planning and creating your very own project! You will enjoy this simple home improvement for years to come!
