8 best kitchen carts and rolling islands this year
Kitchen carts and rolling islands can be a practical way to maximize space in your kitchen, especially if you live in a small area.
Solomon considers this kitchen cart “chic yet functional” since its stylish marble top can be used for both basic food prep and entertaining guests. The cart sports two open slatted shelves to hold your plates and pans, two drawers and two black painted metal handles on either side to hold dish towels. “Plus, unlike many kitchen carts with open industrial shelves, its ash and oak-wood open shelving offers a nice change of pace,” Solomon added.
“It’s no secret that John Boos makes the best cutting boards around, and this kitchen cart is the perfect combination of craftsmanship and functionality,” said Solomon. While this is a pricey pick, she said It’s ideal for the seasoned chef or baker “who might need extra space for all their pots, pans and mixing bowls.” It features a stainless steel frame for durability, a towel bar to keep dish towels accessible and two sturdy shelves to store food and other kitchen items. For the top, you can choose from the brand’s removable one-and-a-half-inch-thick maple and walnut butcher block cutting boards.
This option from IKEA, which measures about 16 inches wide and 35 inches tall, “fits in even the smallest of kitchens,” according to Solomon. It comes with two shelves in solid oak that can be adjusted using the built-in grooves, allowing you to store larger and taller items without hassle. The countertop also comes with a drop leaf that can be folded down when not in use to create more space, along with a small drawer to store silverware and other smaller essentials.
Another enclosed option, the Belmont kitchen island “keeps everything contained in drawers and cabinets so there is no added visual clutter in the kitchen,” Rosenthal noted. It includes a sliding door cabinet — a practical feature if your space doesn’t accommodate outward-opening cabinet doors — and an adjustable shelf to help store bigger appliances. The four tapered legs make this a stationary kitchen island, but you can purchase separate casters to conveniently move it around. You can purchase this island in either Black, White or Mint.
If you want all the standard features of a kitchen cart — including the open shelves, enclosed cabinet, drawers and wooden countertop — this option from Threshold has it all. It also sports side hooks and a towel rack for additional storage. However, due to the glass door and open shelving, Rosenthal warned that things need to be stored thoughtfully to avoid clutter. This kitchen cart is available in both White and Grey, and features wheels on one side to move it around.
If you’re looking for a more affordable cart that can be functional in a small kitchen, Rosenthal recommended this rustic-style version can conveniently hold food while cooking or hosting guests. The two mesh shelves have a weight capacity of 9 pounds each, allowing them to store plates, serving bowls and dish towels (but not heavier appliances like some Instant Pots or air fryers).
This free-standing kitchen island from IKEA, which doesn’t include wheels, gives you extra storage and a cooking station as well as a dining table or workspace. According to the brand, you can fit bar stools approximately 24 inches high within the opening. The other side features two large shelves, while the top is a solid oak butcher block. For additional storage, you can also purchase a separate overhead rack for the island that equips ten hooks to hang utensils and a shelf to store pots and pans.
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