Declutter Your Kitchen with These Island Storage Ideas

An island contributes a lot to a kitchen: it anchors the space, serves as an extra work surface and eating area, and can be packed with storage. To maximize your island, consider what it needs to do for your kitchen. Look at what you would want to store in the island and if you need to make room for other functions, such as a sink or breakfast bar. If you want your island to be storage central and an eating zone, be sure to leave enough of a counter overhang so that stools can easily tuck beneath when not in use. The shelves on this island don't extend all the way to the edge of the countertop, leaving plenty of space for the stools. Open shelves at the bottom make it easy to grab serving pieces for casual meals at the island.

Create a lighter look in your kitchen with an open island. Drawers are ideal for storing utensils, while open shelves can be used to wrangle dishes, produce, or cooking supplies to contain kitchen clutter. Wire baskets group like items while keeping the look bright and airy.

Save counter space with a built-in microwave or dishwasher within your kitchen island. Keep in mind that the island will need to be outfitted with the proper electrical components. Also, consider how the door will open; make sure the appliance is in a place where the door won't run into anything.

Think beyond cabinets for island storage. Deep, wide drawers work well for storing dishes, linens, and pots and pans. If you plan to store heavy items, make sure the drawers and the hardware are designed to bear the weight.

If you have a large island, limiting the depths of shelves and cabinets will make it easier to access items. For example, if your island is 3 feet wide, building the shelves so they are 12-15 inches deep will mean easier access to items like serving bowls and cake stands. Always consider what you want to store in your island when laying out a storage plan. Small appliances and large pots might require extended depths and greater shelf clearances.

Use your kitchen island for the best of both storage and display. Utilize open storage for pretty items, like heirloom serving pieces, colorful cookbooks, or interesting baking tins. Pair with closed storage, such as drawers, for more utilitarian items, like flatware.

Extend your workspace and storage by tucking a roll-out cart beneath the kitchen island, where it's out of sight yet easily accessible. Match the surface to your island countertop material or consider butcher block or stainless steel for a practical food prep surface. On this kitchen island, extra-deep drawers below the cart accommodate dry goods, cookware, and other baking essentials.

Even prefab islands can be upgraded with storage solutions. Look for add-ons like wine racks, baskets, and trays to organize drawers and cabinets. Hooks are an inexpensive DIY solution for hanging baking supplies, pots, or pans.

Utilize pullout shelves and cabinets to increase visibility in island cabinets. Pullouts work well for storing smaller items, such as jars of spices or bottles of vinegars and oils, so they are less likely to get lost in the recesses of a cavernous cabinet.

If you like to use your kitchen island for mixing cookie dough and cake batter, keep cumbersome baking pans and cookie sheets where you need them in vertical storage space below the island top (and behind closed doors). Utilize an adjustable wire pantry rack to keep sheet trays upright and handy.  If your kitchen island is in a fixed position (rather than on wheels), include electrical outlets behind tilt-down drawer fronts. They're perfect for plugging in a mixer.

Create seamless storage with door fronts that look like decorative panels. A push latch opens these panels to reveal a magnet board on one side and an icemaker on the other. The cabinets behind the magnet board left only a sliver of space on the end of the island, but it was just enough room to include the play station, which keeps kids occupied while Mom and Dad cook. The panel on the left conceals a deeper nook that houses an icemaker.

Organize your wine collection with island storage designed for bottles. An expanse of cubbies, sized right for wine bottles, tucks into this kitchen island for storage that's easy to access. Open shelves provide a home for frequently used cookbooks and a basket for small-appliance product manuals.

A cabinet that's positioned deeper into an island prevents doors from impeding the kitchen's traffic flow. Utilize deep cabinets in your island for infrequently used dishes, kitchen gadgets, and items reserved for entertaining.

Turn the front of your kitchen island into a focal point with a custom plate rack. Beadboard painted a contrasting color provides an eyecatching backdrop while wood dowels keep serving dishes in place. When planning island storage, always measure your items to make sure you have clearance.

Onions, potatoes, and squash do best when stored in a cool, dry place. Give them what they need by storing them out of the way in a pullout wire basket beneath standard drawers.

Each side of this island is packed with storage, even beneath the eating counter. The side where the barstools are stationed houses roomy cabinets. While accessing this storage requires moving the stools, the spot is ideal for stashing infrequently used items such as roasting pans, large serving platters, and small appliances, leaving space in easier-to-access cabinets for everyday items.

An island can work in a smaller kitchen if it's scaled to suit the size of the room. Although it's only 2 feet wide (to allow plenty of clearance on all sides), this island offers a prep sink, a chef-friendly butcher-block top, and storage underneath and on the ends. Classic columns on the corners of the island emphasize its furniture-style design.

Take island storage to new heights by including storage above the counter. In this kitchen, wood columns extending from the countertop add architectural interest while creating storage for wine glasses. Overhead storage is ideal for daily items like spices or coffee mugs.

This 10x6-foot island anchors the kitchen, providing a sink and space for food prep and serving. A microwave, warming drawer, built-in trash receptacles, and cookware storage reside below. Shelving on one end provides convenient space to display and store dishes.

This three-in-one island combines a prep station with a banquette and a glass-front display cabinet. The working side of the island forms a prep station opposite the sink. On the other side, the raised banquette takes full advantage of the woodsy view and provides ample seating. Meanwhile, the back of the bench houses a glass-door cabinet facing the dining room. A drawer under the bench furthers the island's storage capacity.

Column-style corners on this kitchen island are more than just decorative. Opening the recessed panel with a push latch reveals hidden cookbook storage. Consider concealed storage for pet food and bowls that you can easily access for mealtime.

Keep frequently used pots and pans on hand with pullout shelves. In this kitchen island, stainless-steel shelving offers a modern look, as well as a sturdy material for bearing the weight of heavy cast-iron cookware. The durable material makes it easy to wipe away cooking spills and splatters.