Kitchen carts are portable trolleys with shelves, drawers, baskets, and countertops. Kitchen islands are structures with a fixed countertop with shelves and cabinets underneath and are typically in the center of the kitchen, accessible from all sides. The purpose of both kitchen carts and islands is to create additional space for storage and prep work.
Types of kitchen carts and islands
Kitchen islands and carts can save your day when preparing a meal for a gathering, festive occasion, or baking. You can use them to organize your kitchen supplies and equipment better. Kitchen carts are ideal for small kitchens, and islands can be set up in larger kitchens. A kitchen island is one of the most requested additions during home renovation or remodeling. With a few kitchen stools, they can become intimate and cozy eating spots for couples or fun hang-out spots for families and friends.
The most popular and functional types of kitchen carts and islands are:
Types of kitchen carts
- Portable kitchen cart
- Fixed kitchen carts
- Drop-leaf kitchen carts
- Butcher-block top carts
- Foldable kitchen carts
- Kitchen carts with seating
Types of kitchen islands
- Bi-level kitchen island with seating
- Kitchen island with raised bar
- Galley kitchen island
- Circular kitchen island
- Storage kitchen island
- Appliance kitchen island
- Waterfall kitchen island
Easy-to-do kitchen cart ideas
You can have lots of fun by designing a kitchen cart from scratch –a simple piece of furniture requiring a flat solid countertop surface and shelves, trays, and wheels. If you are a DIY enthusiast, putting together a kitchen cart will be easy. You can pick and choose from various designs and styles of shelves, trays, and flat countertops and put together a simple kitchen track. Here are some helpful DIY kitchen cart ideas:
- Use material similar to your existing kitchen.
- You can use contrasting colors for shelves and draws for a change.
- Repurposed wood and leftover rectangular blocks from other furniture projects are ideal for making kitchen carts.
- Design a small table and add drawers and shelves as per your needs. For example, if you want to keep appliances in the cart, measure the height and width of the appliances and design the shelves and cabinets accordingly.
- Repurpose old wash tubs, bookshelves, and cabinets to create new carts.
- Old wooden workbenches can also be redesigned as kitchen cars.
Best places to get kitchen carts and islands designs
If your kitchen is getting too cramped because of too many appliances, utensils, and essentials, a kitchen cart or island can help you reorganize and make it clutter-free. If you want inspiration, read about the latest kitchen island trends on layouts, styles, and designs. You can visit furniture or interior décor stores, browse the internet, or visit architecture or interior design magazines for exciting ideas. A few examples include:
- Home Designing
- Remodelista
- This Old House
- Apartment Therapy
- Bob Vila
- Fresh Home
- Architectural Digest
- House Beautiful
- Elle Décor
- Kitchen & Bath Design News
Must-have kitchen island accessories
A kitchen island’s main structure is a large solid countertop with shelves and cabinets underneath. Accessories help increase functionality and improve your kitchen’s look and aesthetics. They include:
- Pendant Lighting
- Bar stools
- Cake stands
- Fruit bowls and stands
- Wicker Baskets
- Cutlery holders
- Trash compactors
- Wine Rack
- Cookbook stands
- Charging points
- Cutting board and knife holders
