Contrary to popular belief, adding a center island to your kitchen doesn’t have to be permanent or a huge investment. By using portable carts or kitchen islands, you can achieve the sophisticated look associated with a center island without having to do a major remodel or take out a loan.

In yesterday’s kitchens, the kitchen table served as the center of activity in the kitchen. This is where people prepared dinner, socialized and dined. Today that trend has shifted towards the use of a cart or a kitchen island.

In addition to providing additional work space, today’s kitchen carts and islands offer practical solutions to storage and design issues. They can be small or large, and their design can range from simple to elaborate. Use them to prepare food, serve buffet-style dinners, or to provide additional cabinet space. Need additional counter space? These arts are available in a wide range of sizes to give you that extra space you need.

The design options associated with portable carts and center kitchen islands are endless, meaning kitchen carts can be incorporated into any style of kitchen. Whether your style is contemporary, country or formal, you can find the perfect kitchen cart to complement your particular sense of style.

Even if you’re looking to capture the look of a specific decorating style, chances are you’ll find that those styles have been incorporated into kitchen islands and kitchen carts. Take for example Tuscan, Provencal and cottage styles, these are just a few of the styles you can choose from when selecting your kitchen cart or island. Some of these styles even feature intricate pieces that have been adorned with intricate hand-painted or hand-carved designs, making your new addition not only highly practical, but also highly beautiful.

Kitchen carts and islands come in a wide range of finishes that can be chosen to look as if they were custom made for your kitchen. There is also a wide variety of work surfaces to choose from, including wood, stainless steel, granite, and butcher block.

The bottom line is: no matter what your style or how much space you have to work with, you can find the perfect cart or island to customize your space without having to hire a contractor or invest in expensive cabinetry.

And they are very affordable. Pricing for cars and islands starts at a couple of hundred dollars. Of course, the price goes up from there and can top out at $1,000 or more. It really just depends on what you choose. For example: a high-end kitchen cart might feature intricate hand-carved woodwork, plenty of work and storage space, a wine rack, and a granite work surface. While a low-end kitchen cart might consist of simple, sleek lines, a cabinet or two, and a wooden work surface.

So before you go all out to remodel your kitchen, why not take some time to see how a portable cart or island would complement your space?