8 Stylish Kitchen Island Ideas for Large and Small Kitchens

A kitchen island with cabinets, drawers, and shelves can provide plenty of extra storage so you can keep all those beautiful, occasionally used items on beautifully designed open shelves. Or, use the extra space to keep small appliances like a microwave or refrigerator drawer.

Island with Workstation

For kitchens that see a lot of traffic throughout the day, design a versatile island with a variety of workstations. In this airy lake cottage kitchen, the large light blue island features a sink and food prep area on one side, and plenty of closed and open storage on the other. Cutting out the corners allows for two stools, ready for homework, family chats, or casual dining.

Connect to sideboard

Connect the island to the sideboard to create a multifunctional area that combines storage, worktop and dining table. Partition effect: This design can also serve as a partition to create the effect of a semi-open kitchen, clearly dividing functional areas while solving the problem of oil smoke.

X-shaped island

There is no rule that kitchen islands must be rectangular boxes. Consider dressing up your standard kitchen island with a little personality. The X-shaped bracket details on both ends add a simple farmhouse feel.

Rethink your storage

Kitchen islands may easily become simple cabinet storage solutions, but have you considered drawers? In this kitchen, three drawers face the dining area, making buffet-style service or impromptu entertaining a breeze.

Weathered table with storage space

In this Texas Hill Country farmhouse, a weathered console and shelves below make a great open kitchen island. In a white kitchen, choose wood with golden tones to add a touch of texture.

Add Storage Shelves

Take a page from farmhouse favorites like plate racks and install beams at the end of your island to store cups, spices, and other kitchen essentials—a great solution for kitchens without storage space.

Add Hanging Baskets

A simple farmhouse table can double as a small kitchen island, especially if you need a narrow and budget-friendly table. Try finding one that's the same height as the counter and hang a metal basket underneath, like this kitchen does, to maximize storage space.

Go Minimalistic with Wood

Go for the vibe in a kitchen filled with wood tones! Try matching wood types and stain colors throughout the space for a more minimalist look, but feel free to mix and match to add a touch of collected over time.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and an island can do much more than just extra cooking space. Need to get the whole family together for a quick dinner but don't want to set the table? Just pull up some stools and dig in. Love to entertain? A spacious island with comfy seating means you can cook while you party. An island is a great way to add personality to a kitchen, whether it's adding color or character to a modern all-white kitchen or bringing vintage charm to a farmhouse kitchen.