Kitchen islands never go out of fashion, they are simply such a useful addition and great use of space, and a rolling kitchen island adds an extra dimension of practicality. Combining added workspace and storage that can be easily moved around as needed can be a boon.
Let’s take a quick look at some of the pros and cons, what to look for when buying, and the common types.
Pros and Cons
Let’s start with some advantages and disadvantages if you are considering a portable kitchen island in your home.
Advantages:
- Added counter space: One of the biggest advantages of a portable kitchen island is the added counter space it provides. This can be especially helpful in smaller kitchens where counter space is at a premium.
- Versatility: Portable kitchen islands are incredibly versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be used as a prep station, a serving station, or even as an ad-hoc dining table.
- Mobility: As the name suggests, portable kitchen islands are mobile and can be moved around as needed. This makes them a great option for those who like to change up the layout of their kitchen from time to time.
- Storage: Many portable kitchen islands come with built-in storage options, such as drawers and shelves. This can be a great way to keep kitchen essentials organized and easily accessible.
Disadvantages:
- Size: While portable kitchen islands are smaller than traditional islands, they can still take up a significant amount of space in your kitchen. This can be an issue if you have a smaller kitchen or if you have limited counter space to begin with.
- Stability: Portable kitchen islands can be less stable than traditional islands, especially if they are not properly secured. This can be a safety hazard if you have young children or if you frequently move the island around.
- Cost: Portable kitchen islands can be more expensive than other storage solutions, such as carts or shelves. This can be a deterrent for those on a tight budget.
- Design: While there are many different designs and styles of portable kitchen islands available, they may not always fit in with the overall aesthetic of your kitchen. This can be a challenge if you are looking for a cohesive look and force you into expensive custom-made solutions.
Overall, portable kitchen islands can be a great addition to any kitchen, providing added counter space, storage space, and of course, mobility. However, they do come with some disadvantages, such as size, stability, cost, and design considerations.
Choosing a Portable Kitchen Island
Some things to keep in mind when choosing a kitchen island are
- Wheels. The type of wheels and the surface you’ll be using it on. More expensive models feature solid wheels, sometimes rubberised, and feature locks to stop the cart rolling
- Cart height. If you are using it for serving then you may want a low height, if you are using it as a workspace then you may want it comparable in height to your existing workspaces and countertops.
- Storage and storage access. I’ll note some of the common types that can be found easily for sale at popular retailers. Some may want easy access with open shelves, in other cases, cabinets and drawers can be visually appealing to hide away any clutter.
- Countertop. Wood is most common but granite or stainless are also options depending on your needs and how you’d like it to fit in with the rest of the kitchen.
Common Types
Now let’s look and some of the common designs of rolling islands that can easily be purchased off the shelf at popular retailers.
Contemporary
Suitable for kitchen dining car and mobile workstation rack, offering cupboards with adjustable shelving, draws, spice and towel rack. Can look good as an island, up against a wall and even as a server if you don’t overload it.
Portable Kitchen Island with Chairs
Featuring a drop leaf top extending the countertop and with room for extra guests on stools make it a useful addition to any kitchen. Especially when they pack away as neatly as this one.
Prep and Serve Cart
Simple and functional, created with the food prepper in mind providing quick access to utensils and cloths
Open Shelf with Drawers
Easy and quick access with a simple open design makes for a great serving cart that can also look good up against a wall.
Combo
Open shelves with a drawer and cupboard. Great flexibility with a simple design means just choose the right color and it will probably fit in OK.
Open Shelf with baskets
When simple is all you need, great for serving coffee, tea, cheeses, and or wine, or just for creating some additional storage space.
Foldable
The side legs fold in and the drop leaves at either end fold down when you want to save space or pack it away.
Outdoors
Sturdy wheels to cross any surface and stainless steel is the way to roll here.
That’s it for this post and we hope you enjoyed our intro to another silent but very useful wonder of the kitchen world 🙂