IKEA's Mini Island Shouldn't Be Relegated To The Kitchen

IKEA has been selling affordable, build-it-yourself furniture for the better part of a century, and is often the first stop for new homeowners or renters looking to spruce up their spaces. Plenty of IKEA items also come in handy when it comes to organization, including these 13 budget-friendly items to keep your kitchen clutter-free. The GRILLSKÄR island is another helpful way to create additional countertop space without investing in a complete remodel. The cupboard, which sells for $420 on IKEA's website, is made with black galvanized steel and stainless steel. Inside, you'll find spacious shelf units for cutlery or placemats, and the upper attachment is ideal for hanging utensils and potholders, or storing cooking oils.

Although this mini island certainly comes in handy in the kitchen, its steel construction means it's heat and weather-resistant. In other words, this sleek IKEA design can be used outside, too. Position it next to your grill, creating added countertop space for prepping burgers and hot dogs and resting tongs. Inside the cupboard, store cookout necessities like a fire extinguisher, paper towels, and plastic cups, and — while you're at it — add these other entertaining essentials to truly elevate your outdoor space.

The garage, one of the most notoriously cluttered spaces in many homes thanks to the excess of tools, toys, and car maintenance gear, is another potential place for the GRILLSKÄR. Use it to hang hammers and screwdrivers, keep your extra windshield wiper fluid, or store bags of salt in the cupboards below for icy weather.

There are quite a few non-kitchen-related uses for IKEA's GRILLSKÄR island. If you're good to go in the garage, consider positioning it in the garden. Rather than meal prep, the island's countertop can be used for potting or planting new seedlings in the spring. Instead of spatulas, hang gardening trowels, twine, and pruning scissors on the upper attachment, and store seeds or fertilizer inside the cupboard below.

Or, bring the mini island back inside and incorporate it into your bathroom's design for added storage. The GRILLSKÄR, which stands nearly 6 feet tall — if you factor in the attachment at the top — and has a depth of 2 feet, won't be damaged by water or humidity from the shower. This gives it a natural advantage over some wooden bathroom shelves. Instead of kitchen towels, hang hand or bath towels from the top bar, and store makeup brushes in the cup attachments for the back panel. The cupboards can be used for keeping everything from first aid to extra shampoo. As you organize with the help of your new IKEA island, just make sure you avoid these 10 bathroom storage mistakes everyone makes.

This design boasts mainly five-star reviews on IKEA's website. According to one customer, however, the GRILLSKÄR takes two people to assemble, so make sure to plan accordingly. Ultimately, if you've found this kitchen island useful for cooking purposes, there's no need to relegate it to a single space inside the home. Think outside the box — or outside the house, for that matter — and incorporate the steel GRILLSKÄR into your garden, garage, bathroom, and beyond.