I Didn’t Think I Could Live Without a Kitchen Island — Until I Found Something 10x More Functional

I used to think I could never live without my kitchen island. As an active home cook, I swore there was simply no replacement. But a move from Texas to New York will force you into new territory in more ways than one.

When I first moved into my current apartment, I figured I would have to resign myself to inferior counter and prep space — I even considered putting a makeshift island on a rolling bar cart, but still it just cluttered the space. That’s when I decided to get creative and find a way to give myself the same elements of counter and cooking space that I had with my kitchen island, and the results were even better than before!

I started by adding this OMAR metal wire rack from IKEA next to my stove. It offers storage space as well as immediately available “counter” space to place my cutting board for when I need to do some quick chopping, tasting, and setting down any ingredients I’m keeping nearby as I cook. And as a chrome decor fan, it added an industrial-sheek metallic pop to my kitchen. (If you don’t live near an IKEA, check out this similar rack from Amazon.)

Next, I needed just a little extra counter space as well as a dining area. I found this secondhand bar table with stools on Facebook Marketplace that’s similar to this set and this set, and it’s truly a winner. Not only do I have my main kitchen prep space back, but it also serves several purposes depending on what I need. It works as a bar for my girls nights, kitchen counter area for storage or decor, a dinner spot with my partner, and even an appetizer station for dinner parties I throw (much like I would have used my island!).

This was the most helpful fix I found for not having a kitchen island anymore — the storage and prep area ends up being maximized and molded so much better to my kitchen space. In many ways, it feels much less constricting and obtrusive to the room compared with an island, especially in tighter spaces.