Easy DIY Kitchen Island Makeover with Wall Paneling
A DIY kitchen island makeover with wall paneling is a great way to transform your kitchen space without doing a full remodel. In this post I will show you how I added stained wall paneling using custom trim pieces for a whole new look.
Kitchen Island Makeover – Before & After
I’ve been working on transforming my builder grade kitchen this year and it looks like a completely new space from when we moved into this house in 2019! Some of the home projects I’ve done in here are, extending my kitchen cabinets to the ceiling, new cabinet doors and paint, adding a brass rail above my cooktop, adding banquette seating to my breakfast nook and now most recently, I updated the kitchen island/peninsula.
DIY Kitchen Island Ideas
If you’re a beginner to intermediate DIY-er, you can do all kinds of wall paneling like vertical trim, bead board or even a few coats of paint for a pop of color. For my kitchen I wanted it to feel like an old English pub with well loved, dark stained paneling. The architectural design needed to be grounded in traditional style and look intentional. I also wanted the design to wrap the sides of the island where it meets the base cabinet areas. Here is how you can get the same look for your current kitchen island or peninsula.
Before You Begin
- Gather all power tools and make sure you have all supplies
- Plan out the design on a piece of paper by sketching it out.
- Take all your measurements before ordering material. Draw the kitchen island and write precise measurements so you can purchase accurately.
- Figure out if you want to stain or paint your new kitchen island. If you are painting it you can buy cheaper wood like birch or pine. For staining, I highly recommend getting nicer wood that takes stain well.
Supplies Needed for Kitchen Island Makeover
Tools
- Table Saw
- Miter Saw
- Jigsaw
- Brad Nailer
- Carpenter Square
- Long Level
- Hammer
- Pry Bar
- Safety Goggles
- Ear Protection
- Sanding Blocks (120 grit and 220 grit)
- Utility Knife
Material
- 1/4″ thickness smooth plywood 4×8′ sheets (see FAQs)
- 1×4″ poplar boards
- 1×2″ poplar boards
- Decorative Trim 1
- Decorative Trim 2
- Picture Moulding
- Stainable Wood Filler
- Dark Brown Caulk (if staining and not painting)
- Wood Conditioner or Pre-Stain
- Oil Based Stain or Paint of your choice
- Rags/Brushes
How to Build Kitchen Island Paneling
Step 1: Remove Baseboard
For the very first step, if you have existing baseboard or shoe molding on your current kitchen island, go ahead and remove it with the prybar and hammer. Use the utility knife to slice through the caulk so you can shove the pry bar through.
Step 2: Rip Down Plywood
Start cutting out your plywood sheets to fit the entirety of the island, of course, in pieces. Plan your cuts in a way that they are covered by boards on top otherwise the seam will show through. Even wood filler doesn’t hide those seams! You might need a second pair of hands to cut the 4×8′ plywood sheets using the table saw. I needed 2.5 sheets of plywood to cover the front and side of the island.
Step 3: Make Cut Outs for Outlets
Use your jigsaw to cut out holes for any outlets that are in the way. I use my drill to make holes on all four corners of the cuts then connect those holes using my jigsaw to cut it out.
Step 4: Nail in Cut Plywood Sheets
After making all your cuts for the new island, nail them into the current island using 1.5″ brad nails and your nail gun. I didn’t use wood glue but that’s just a personal preference. Don’t worry about the corners, we will cover them up with poplar boards later to create a seamless finish.
Step 5: Nail in Decorative trim
Cut decorative trim 1 to length and make 45 degree cuts so you can wrap the wood piece around the island. This took a little trial and error for me to get right because full disclosure: I made wrong cuts once then learned my lesson! You can use whichever trim you like but the method remains the same. Stack your trims and nail them in to create the decorative top panel for your DIY kitchen island. I like to make 30 degree cuts to join pieces of trim to make the joint as seamless as possible.
Step 6: Add Box Moulding
Once you’ve installed all your decorative trim on top, the next step is to add box moulding. Cut your 1×4″ wood board to size using your chop saw and install vertical boards spaced evenly on the island. Mine are approximately 20″ apart. For the outer edge, make sure you extend the boards out to meet the next board on the side panel on the adjacent side of the island. This will give you a nice square edge for the corners without having to make mitered cuts. Finish the boxes by adding horizontal boards to the rest of the kitchen island.
Step 7: Add inside trim
Once your new kitchen island has box moulding you can stop here or take it one step further with adding trim on the inside. I think adding picture frame moulding inside the boxes gives it a more finished, professional look. Cut your picture frame moulding at 45 degrees and nail inside the boxes.
Step 8: Prep Surface for Stain or Paint
You should be so proud of the work you’ve done! Now you just have to prep the full wall surfaces for paint. Use stainable wood filler to fill in the nail holes and corners. Use the dark brown caulk (if staining dark) to caulk the top edge that meets the wall. If you’re painting your work will be much easier, a fresh coat of paint and primer and you’re done! For staining, you’ve got your work cut out for you! If you don’t have experience staining wood before, I highly recommend hiring this part out.
Step 9: Staining the new kitchen island
Before staining the new wall paneling, brush on a generous coat of wood conditioner using a rag or brush. This ensures even absorption of stain and it’s meant for soft woods that don’t take stain well. I initially used a water based stain on the birch plywood base and it appeared very blotchy. Even with wood conditioner it didn’t go on well. I then hired out a painter to remove that stain and refinish it with Sher-wood Lacquer. We mixed American Chestnut and Sedona in a 60:40 ratio to get the rich wood tone I was looking for.
Dark color stains always appear richer and less blotchy on cheaper wood. The trick is to work fast and go with the grain of the wood and wipe down excess stain 5-10 minutes after depositing the stain on the wood. In the end, it was well worth the extra cost to hire out the wood staining because the front of the island is one of the first things you see in that area.
FAQs about this DIY kitchen island makeover
What wood should I use for my kitchen island makeover?
I used birch plywood to create a smooth surface for my kitchen island upgrade. In retrospect, I should have used better wood like oak or maple because I was planning on staining it. Birch and pine are notoriously difficult to stain.
How much does it cost to redo an island?
The cost to redo an island varies on what look and decor style you’re going for. A simple upgrade like adding vertical paneling or bead board can cost less than $1000 for labor and material. For the wall paneling that I did I spent about $700 on material and $850 on removing and redoing the stain. Doing this project myself saved me thousands of dollars! I got a quote for $3500 to do this paneling without stain.
How can I add more storage to my kitchen island?
By extending the island you can add additional lower kitchen cabinets for extra storage. The extended island would need new countertop space. Future project goals!
What are some cheap ways to upgrade kitchen island?
Adding pendant lights above a kitchen island is a great way to add more visual interest to the space. A little paint also goes a long way and is an easy and cheap way to give your island an upgrade. New hardware on your kitchen cabinets and island cabinets can instantly update the decor style. Get new stools for your breakfast bar if you have one for a quick refresh! Rugs and decor are always easy upgrades that don’t require any remodeling or power tools.
Kitchen Island Makeover Next Steps
I hope you found this tutorial helpful and are all set for your future project! You can see the full video parts on my Instagram if you’re more of a visual learner. I’ve linked all tools and materials needed in this post but if you have any questions feel free to write me a comment! Next, I will be adding pendant lights above the bar area and replacing the pantry door. Stay tuned for this ongoing builder grade to custom kitchen makeover!
Kitchen Sources
- Bar stools (EXACT)
- Bar stools (Copycat)
- Kitchen Knobs
- Breakfast Nook Chandelier (EXACT)
- Breakfast Nook Chandelier (Copycat)
- Faux Green Stems
- Blue and White Chinoiserie Vase
- Breakfast Nook Chairs
- Brass Rail
- Kitchen Runner
This post contains affiliate links to products that I used or recommend. If you purchase something through an affiliate link, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. I really appreciate your support!
