How to Use a Prep Table for Your Kitchen Island

Do you ever wish your kitchen had an island? Maybe it’s a bit small for a kitchen island remodel. But did you know you can use a prep table as your kitchen island? Well, you can. It’s easy, cost-effective, and actually looks pretty good, too. In this article, we’ll talk about a few different ways that you can use a prep table as a kitchen island.

Plain stainless steel prep table

Starting at the top, we have a simple stainless steel prep table. While not the most elaborate option, it certainly gets the job done. As we move on, you’ll see that prep tables offer storage solutions underneath the work area. However, that’s not the case with this table.

The good thing about this example is that it’s cheap and easy to move. You can put it out for big dinners and family get-togethers. Once the festivities are over, you can use this table in some other area of your home.

Stainless and wood prep table with wine rack

Next, we have a hybrid prep table with a stainless countertop and wood open shelving underneath. This table looks really great on its own as a design element. Plus, it goes well with the stainless/wood combination of the rest of the kitchen.

Also, this prep table has wheels (with locks). That makes it easy to move against the wall if you want to open up the kitchen. Down below, you’ll find a few different storage options. It even has a wine rack, which is pretty great.

Stained wood prep table as island

This moveable kitchen island has a more traditional feel. You can still use the bottom to store large items and the top to prep food. It’s the perfect height for prep work.

It might not look like much, but having that extra space can make all the difference when you have to make food for a crowd. Also, this table is designed for portability. That means it’s light and you can easily move it to another area. You can use it for extra prep space one night, and extra dining space the next.

A DIY moveable kitchen island prep table

Now, here’s a bare-bones DIY wood prep-table. If you’re good with tools, this is actually a pretty simple thing to construct.

You can see that this design has four exposed legs and two open shelves. Beyond that, there are probably some support beams underneath. Also, it looks like the casters on the bottom can lock. If you’re up for it, you can find designs online for different kitchen islands. You’ll definitely save money by taking the DIY route.

Another nice thing about this table is the top. It comes out just a bit on the far side by the bar stools. That allows two people to sit on the end and use more of the tabletop, without their knees hitting the legs of the table.

Stainless steel long prep table with seating

Here’s another great stainless steel prep table that’s being used as a kitchen island. These homeowners have chosen to add bar seating around the whole table, and the height of the table works great for that.

You could take any of the previous examples on this page and add some bar seating. The only thing to think about is how to find seats that work with the geometry of the table. In other words, seats that allow people to sit close enough to eat.

This table is on wheels as well. Judging from the light above, this is probably the table’s permanent home. However, the wheels make it really easy to move and clean the floor under the table.

Prep table with butcher block top

You can see that this kitchen doesn’t really allow for a full island to be built. Ideally, you’d have about three to four feet between your island and any appliances or countertops.

However, this kitchen gets around the issue by using a prep table for the island. In fact, it looks like the tabletop is made of butcher block. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, you can use the butcher block for chopping and other prep work.

This table also offers some space for storage down below. Additionally, you can see two bar stools at either end of the table. It’s just another example of the versatility of a prep table.

Would you use a prep table as your kitchen island?

As you can see, you don’t have to have a plain stainless steel table as your island. That’s not to say that it wouldn’t look great, because many kitchens could work with a stainless steel table. You just have many more options as well. From wood and steel hybrids to all-wood tables, there’s probably one that works in your kitchen.