12 Kitchen Island Design Ideas for Any Home

Adding a kitchen island is a great way to gain extra counter space and storage space in your kitchen. But perhaps an island’s greatest power is how it invariably becomes the preferred gathering spot for your family and friends.

Depending on what elements you include in your island design, it can serve as a cooking, cleaning, dining, and/or prep space. If you don’t want to commit to a full kitchen remodel, you can still enjoy some of the benefits of an island by purchasing a movable kitchen island. Check out our collection of best kitchen island ideas and you’ll likely find one that’s perfect for your home.

1. Contemporary Kitchen Island Elegance

A contemporary kitchen benefits from a kitchen island that reflects modern kitchen design’s clean lines and surfaces. A pure white marble or quartz countertop is ideal in a contemporary kitchen, but darker marble or stainless steel work equally well. A grey or other neutral color palette allows your contemporary texture and design to stand out.

Even so, color is definitely at home in contemporary kitchen design. Try a clear glass countertop on a brightly painted minimalist kitchen island. Go with hot pink, bright turquoise, or another favorite color to create a dramatic rectangular kitchen island. A bold metal pendant light fixture completes the look.

2. Choosing the Perfect Countertop

Since counter space is one of the benefits of having a kitchen island, put some serious thought into the type of countertop you choose. Not only does the material matter, the design plays a big part in the overall appearance of your island. Waterfall countertops are currently popular, where the marble or quartz surface “falls” over the corners to extend to the floor in one smooth line.

A cantilevered countertop is one that creates bar seating beneath the surface. It doesn’t have legs supporting it. There may be no additional support required, or it may be supported by corbels or brackets beneath. Marble, granite, or butcher block countertops are good choices when cantilevering is desired.

3. DIY Kitchen Island Inspirations

If you’re a relatively good woodworker, a DIY kitchen island may be a fun project to tackle. When you do it yourself, you can save money by using reclaimed wood or countertops. Hundreds of DIY kitchen island idea plans can be found online, including this one that features an under-counter microwave, seating, storage, and a marble quartz countertop:

A portable kitchen island can also be a good DIY project for a smaller kitchen. This small kitchen island on wheels has a clean, basic style that will fit into any type of home decor:

4. Design Your Island to Complement Your Kitchen

For a cohesive appearance, design your kitchen island ideas around the existing countertops and materials already present in your kitchen. For example, if you have a white marble countertop, put that on the island, too. If you have brass fixtures on the kitchen sink, use brass drawer pulls on your island cabinetry.

This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, however. Sometimes the best kitchen island ideas are those that completely contrast the rest of the room. Paint your kitchen island an entirely different color from the rest of your cabinetry. Any shade of blue adds a swath of peace and calm to your kitchen, while yellow or red amplify the vibration of a busy home kitchen.

5. Discover Farmhouse Kitchen Island Ideas

A farmhouse kitchen is a great space to include a wood island, especially if it’s covered in white shiplap. Remember that farmhouse design includes lots of white paired with warm wood and dark metal accents. Any combination of these features will result in a great farmhouse kitchen island design.

With farmhouse decor, it’s especially popular to make your island look like a freestanding piece of furniture. Adding short legs to the bottom of your kitchen island is a simple way to achieve this look. A wooden, copper or galvanized steel range hood adds farmhouse style over an island stove.

6. Illuminating Your Island: Lighting Choices

Adequate island lighting is a must, especially if it’s where you most frequently use your knives. Pendant lights are a popular choice over kitchen islands, and can be found in modern, rustic, whimsical, or traditional designs.

Long, narrow chandeliers are another good island lighting option. If your ceilings are low, recessed lighting might be the best way to illuminate your island. If you have a small kitchen or a movable kitchen island, you may not need additional lighting over the island.

7. Extend Your Kitchen Outdoor with Island Design

Outdoor kitchens benefit from islands, too. Counter space may be limited in an outdoor kitchen, making the addition of an island necessary to accomplish serious cooking tasks.

If you only have room on the patio for a dining table or an island, go with the kitchen island. Include a cantilevered surface and use bar stools for seating. Be sure to construct your outdoor island with weatherproofed materials, even if your outdoor kitchen is in a covered location.

8. Add Warmth with Rustic Kitchen Island

Since warm wood finishes are a mainstay of rustic decor, a butcher block island is the perfect kitchen island idea in a rustic space. Extend the island countertop to create a seating area and park rustic barstools beneath it.

Dark marble or granite countertop surfaces may also fit well into a rustic kitchen design. A concrete countertop is ideal if your rustic tastes trend toward an industrial vibe. Mix it up by incorporating concrete, stainless steel, and butcher block surfaces on your island.

9. Design the Perfect Seating Arrangement for Your Island

If you have a small kitchen that has no room for a breakfast nook or dining table, island seating can be a great alternative. Choose a bar stool design that works well with your decor and enjoy comfortable, casual dining.

Upholstered island seats are more comfortable than hard surfaces, but you should spray them with fabric protectant for easier cleaning. Choose a fabric that ties together the different colors and overall style your kitchen represents.

10. Incorporate a Sink into Your Kitchen Island

If your kitchen space allows it, a kitchen island can be a great place to include a sink. Whether it’s your main kitchen sink, an apron-front farmhouse sink, or a small secondary sink, it will multiply your island’s usefulness.

Of course, installing new plumbing will greatly increase the cost of adding a new kitchen island. However, you may find the expense well worth it in exchange for more useful work space. A secondary sink is also a great spot to introduce copper or another unique finish into your kitchen design.

11. Maximize Storage with Kitchen Islands

A need for more storage is a common reason homeowners add an island to their kitchen floor plan. Include as many shelves, drawers, and cabinets as the space allows. If extra storage space is your primary reason for adding a kitchen island, don’t waste space by relocating a microwave or other appliance there.

Hang a decorative pot rack over your island to further expand its storage options. A wine rack is a nice addition to the end of a permanent kitchen island. Have an electrician add outlets to your island so you can use your mixer and other small appliances in the same area they’re stored.

12. Embrace the Beauty of Traditional Kitchen Islands

Although kitchen islands haven’t always been part of American kitchen design, they still work well in traditional home interiors. The colors and details you use are what gives your island a traditional look and makes it seem that it was included in the original construction.

Marble, granite, and other natural stone surfaces are traditional countertop materials. If you love to bake, marble is a must even if you don’t want it covering the entire countertop. Marble stays cool longer than other materials, making it the perfect counter space surface for rolling out dough or fondant.