10 Creative Kitchen Island Ideas That Fit Every Budget (5 of 6)

8. Add a second, lower tier

A two-tiered kitchen adds style while increasing functionality. A lower, secondary surface can serve as a homework station, extra seating, or for serving platters when entertaining guests. You don’t even need to buy a custom multi-level island to achieve this; simply DIY a secondary tier by placing a small desk, table, or cart at one end.

8. Play with shapes

Circular, oval, T-shaped, hexagonal… Why not? There’s nothing in the rulebook that says your kitchen island is required to be rectangular-shaped! Thinking outside the box can turn your kitchen into a design masterpiece! Keep in mind that the more unusual and customized the shape, the more expensive it is going to be. But smaller oval islands or semi-circular additions can be affordable and still accomplish the distinct flair you’re looking for.