Not Everyone Wants a Kitchen Island Anymore — Here’s What We’re Seeing Instead
Islands, a mainstay of kitchens for basically all time, are on their way out. It might be shocking because it’s the feature that’s often thought of as necessary because of the extra storage, cooking space, and spot for guests to perch — regardless of your home’s size. Our contributor went as far to say that, at one time, they didn’t think they could function without a kitchen island. But it seems as though times are changing.
If you’ve been browsing recent House Tours, you might’ve noticed that the once-popular feature has started disappearing from homes and replaced by other ideas. Nervous about the staple fading away? That’s understandable. But the replacements that real people are putting in their homes are clever and provide the same benefits as kitchen islands. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Kitchen Islands Are Being Replaced by These Two Features
More often, I’m seeing that people are replacing kitchen islands with tables or serious sideboard shelving. “My experience is proof that an island shouldn’t be considered the default solution for kitchens,” Isis Briones, an Apartment Therapy contributor, said in an article. “Consider keeping things simple with a table and chairs.” In the next few examples, see how real people replaced their kitchen islands with tables.
Freestanding Tables Are Taking Center Stage
In Megan Krieman’s 500-square-foot Parisian-inspired New York City apartment, space was limited — especially in the kitchen. So much so that she was grateful for the small-size appliances. So, instead of an island, she opted for a two-seater table (though it could easily host four). It gives her space to cook and also an area to host friends and family.
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The kitchen is often thought of as the heart of the home, and while that’s true, the focal point of Mira Paloneva’s kitchen is the six-seat table in the center of the room. Mira’s Finnish apartment bursts with color, and the kitchen is no exception. The light-toned wood table (in lieu of an island) anchors the room while the purple and yellow accents float around it.
Check out the full House Tour to see more of this colorful home.
Joy Valdez tackled the kitchen first during the renovation of her colorful Mexico City apartment. “It was a huge, empty space with just one small cabinet in the corner — a blank canvas,” Joy said at the time of the House Tour. “I wanted it to feel open, creative, and vibrant, like the heart of my home and studio.” A table, rather than an island, helps the kitchen feel airy because of its thinness and its ability to let light through to the other side of the room.
Explore more of this vibrant space in the full House Tour.
What Khari Clarke and Bridget Thompson appreciated most about their mid-century modern East London apartment on the first visit was the “spaciousness” the layout provided. The kitchen that didn’t come with an island became the perfect area for a formal dining room (their table is from Cult Furniture). It checks two boxes at once: If they need more cooking space, they can take over the surface, but they can also host wonderful dinner parties.
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Salli Mandel and Sebastian Calcopietro share a 550-square-foot home in Washington, D.C., and what makes their apartment so special is the coziness. The kitchen is particularly snug and has a four-seater table rather than an island. I can imagine guests chatting with the couple while they’re cooking a nice meal (aka not separated from the group).
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Since Katy Ma’s New York City apartment is only 400 square feet, there may not have been room for both a dining area and a kitchen island. So, she used a table instead (originally from West Elm, sourced on Facebook Marketplace). The bonus of having a small table is that it makes the room feel larger and gives her extra counter space. And the IKEA bench seating doubles as storage.
Explore more of Katy’s thoughtful apartment in the full House Tour.
In Mary Martha Meyer-Hill’s home the kitchen is truly the hub. At the time of the House Tour, Mary Martha admitted that their family spends “90% of the time” in the kitchen. She admits that it can sometimes feel “a little chaotic” because there’s a dining table, work desk, and couch included in the kitchen, but all of the furniture pieces encourage a sense of gathering and so it’s no surprise that the family spends time there.
Check out the rest of this light-filled home in the full House Tour.
Serious Shelving Is Replacing the Kitchen Island Block
Some kitchens don’t have enough space for a central table, and that’s OK. People are still making their rooms functional and practical by installing serious shelving systems. See how these small homes solved their design challenges below.
There’s only 350 available square feet in Melody Kim’s Parisian-meets-traditional Brooklyn apartment, and she made every inch count. The galley kitchen didn’t have space for an island, but she cleverly sourced IKEA KUNGSFORS shelves that offer counter space and storage. Now, she has extra prep space and can easily grab a potlid or a bowl without searching through the cabinets.
See more of this super organized home in the full House Tour.
In small kitchens, traditional furniture rules don’t apply. Instead of trying to fit an island into her narrow kitchen, Sarah Bryant used a sideboard from Amazon, which would usually be seen in an entryway or dining room. However, it looks wonderful in this part of her charming 114-year-old apartment and offers storage and extra counter space.
Look through more photos of this apartment in the full House Tour.
Sometimes a kitchen has enough counter space that an island isn’t really necessary at all and might even take away from the room’s flow. A perfect example of that is Alexander Rigby and Bobby Naugle’s 1900s townhouse in Pittsburgh. There’s nothing in the middle of the room (which has ample counters and even a circular dining table to the side), so it really lets the DIY floors shine through.
Explore more of this historic home in the full House Tour.
These 10 real homes show how regardless of if you have a small or large kitchen, an island might not be the right fit for your space. If you’re leaning away from the traditional look, consider this your one-stop guide for alternative inspiration.