Low-cost Ideas for Remodeling Kitchen Islands

Paint

• Before you head out to buy latex or semi-gloss interior paint to apply to your kitchen island, you should spend time planning your paint job first. Find a color scheme that matches parts of your kitchen or find a color combination that can stand on its own in your kitchen. Remove as many of the parts and components from your island as you can to make sure you paint the entire island. Use a primer to help the paint stick to the slick island surface or take the time to sand off the existing finish.

Paneling

• Paneling comes in a variety of designs and colors, which makes it a viable option for a kitchen island remodeling project. Wainscoting is a form of thick paneling that may look good on the surface of your island. You can cover the entire island base with a new paneling surface, or you can choose to do only select parts. Consider changing out the island hardware to enhance the new paneling look.

Small Changes

• Sometimes a series of inexpensive and small changes can combine for a significant impact on your kitchen island. If you have doors on your island cabinets, then consider creating an open island design by removing the cabinets. If your island does not have a towel rack, then install one, or, if it has one already, then install a second rack on the other side of the island. Put small shelves on each end of the island for additional storage space and add a wine rack to your island as well.

Countertop

• Replace the existing countertop with a low-cost laminate counter that looks like marble or granite. Instead of replacing the countertop, you could paint it any color you would like. To paint a kitchen island countertop, start with a layer of primer that is neutral or a shade of the final color. Kitchen countertop paint comes as a kit with two substances that are mixed to create an epoxy. Apply the epoxy over the dried primer and give it 24 hours to dry.