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70 Best Kitchen Island Ideas for Kitchens Large and Small

We gathered all our best kitchen island ideas, from unique antique finds to custom-built pieces.

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kitchen island ideas colorful chairspinterest
Alec Hemer

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The right kitchen island can add so much functionality to the heart of your home. Need more prep space in a small kitchen? A rolling cart can do the trick. Got a bit more room? An island can provide a ton of extra storage, accommodate a sink or appliances, or serve as a casual dining and entertaining space when you pull up a few stools for seating. Here, we’ve gathered our best kitchen island ideas for spaces large and small.

If you’ve got the skills, you can DIY a kitchen island on a budget using reclaimed materials, or you can use these ideas to jumpstart a conversation with your designer or contractor. And if you love farmhouse-style kitchens, you’ll find so many ways to repurpose old pieces—a timeworn bakery table, an antique printer press worktable, an old-school hardware store counter, to name a few—into unique kitchen islands that no one will have but you, no assembly required. (Of course, a brand-new piece can still deliver the farmhouse chic aesthetic—check out Diane Keaton’s dreamy home to see how chicken wire-faced cabinet doors on an island add rustic charm).

While it's totally fine to match the finishes to the rest of your cabinetry, you can also make your island an accent piece. For instance, you can add personality to an all-white kitchen by painting an island one of our favorite kitchen colors. Or, switch up your countertop surfaces by topping an island with butcher block, honed marble, or wallet-friendly zinc. You'll see examples of all these concepts and more in the kitchen island ideas that follow.

1

Farmhouse Table + Hanging Basket Storage

farmhouse table used as small kitchen island with painted blue gray legs, natural wood top, hanging metal basket underneath
Alec Hemer

A simple farmhouse table can serve as a small kitchen island, especially if you need something narrow and budget friendly. This one is counter height, which is ideal for prep. For storage, a metal basket was suspended underneath using chains. The metal tone of the basket matches the sink faucet and overhead pendant lighting for a cohesive look throughout.

SHOP METAL BASKETS

2

Refrigerated Kitchen Island

blue gray kitchen island with refrigerator drawers in rustic space with natural wood walls and vaulted ceiling
David A. Land

Snacks and drinks are kept at the ready in the refrigerated drawers of this party barn's kitchen island, while the deep blue paint color (Lead Gray by Benjamin Moore) mingles with the raw wood for nautical charm.

gray blue kitchen island with refrigerator drawer open to reveal drinks inside, next to colorful plaid rug
David A. Land

Here's a closer look at those refrigerator drawers in action.

SHOP REFRIGERATED DRAWERS

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3

Built-in Plate Rack + Zinc Countertop

off white kitchen island with beadboard plate racks on either side, zinc counters, dark wood stools for seating
Max Kim-Bee

This kitchen island boasts a zinc top crafted by a local metal shop and has a built-in plate rack for stealthy farmhouse-style storage. Tip: As a countertop material, zinc is low-maintenance, easy-to-clean, and beats marble, granite, and even butcher block for affordability.

SHOP SERVING PLATTERS

4

Tone-on-Tone Countertops

large kitchen island in a loft with black painted cabinetry, black marble counter tops, modern leather barstools for seating
Alyssa Rosenheck

This circa-1875 loft in Columbia, Tennessee, was renovated by Mike Wolfe from American Pickers and includes an expansive kitchen island with black marble atop black-painted cabinets. The island's sleek vibe is mellowed by exposed brick walls, perfectly rusted signs, and leather barstools.

SHOP BARSTOOLS

5

Antique Kitchen Island

kitchen island ideas rustic kitchens
Dustin Halleck

This weathered blue-gray piece is an antique given a second life as a kitchen island that's truly unique. The deep bottom shelf fits everything from produce to baskets. Pairing it with rustic tripod stools for seating creates contrast with the modern cabinetry and finishes in the space. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for at an antiques shop, consider commissioning a custom-built island made from reclaimed wood.

RELATED: 6 Best Places to Find or Buy Reclaimed Wood Near You

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6

Repurposed Printing Press Worktable

old wood printing press worktable repurposed as unique kitchen island in white shiplap kitchen with butcher block counters
David A. Land

This one-of-a-kind kitchen island is an old printing press worktable. The drawers, which once held type pages, are now home to cooking utensils, freeing up space on the countertops.

SHOP FARMHOUSE TABLE

7

Original Character

kitchen island ideas colorful chairs
Alec Hemer

Sometimes you can work with what you have. This beechnut kitchen island is original to a 1950s shingled home. During a demolition-free update, the homeowner painted the cabinets a milky matte white that allows the original hand-forged hardware to pop but preserved the island's natural wood finish to reinforce the farmhouse aesthetic. Fan-back barstools painted robin's egg blue provide seating and a colorful accent.

SHOP BLUE PAINT

8

Drawers, Drawers, Drawers!

large dark blue kitchen island with drawers, gold toned drawer pulls, white counters, and blond wood stools for seating
Kassandra Arbour

Your kitchen island shouldn't just take up space; it should create space. Adding drawers is one easy way to make that happen.

SHOP BLUE FURNITURE PAINT

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9

Small on Size

small rustic wood kitchen island with open bottom shelf in a white kitchen where a large black chef's oven is the showpiece
Country Living

"Go big or go home" just doesn't apply with kitchen islands. Yes, it's nice to have more prep space, but you can make do with a smaller island and still keep it looking stylish—just take a look at this stylish light-wood kitchen island.

10

Forest Green + Charcoal Gray

large forest green island in rustic modern kitchen with wood stools for seating, dark gray stone counters, white walls
Country Living

All-white kitchens are lovely, but don't be afraid to opt for a darker hue as an accent color on the island. Here, charcoal gray stone counters pair beautifully with forest green paint for an island that's truly memorable.

SHOP GREEN PAINT

11

Weathered Farmhouse Style

reclaimed wood kitchen island ideas
Brian Woodcock

We love the idea of using a large farmhouse table as a kitchen island. Bonus points if it's made of reclaimed wood or boasts a similarly vintage vibe!

SHOP COUNTER-HEIGHT FARMHOUSE TABLE

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12

Marble-Topped Blue Island

rolling navy blue kitchen island
Brian Woodcock

Marble is so stately and luxurious all on its own, it's true. But when you add in an unexpected color combination, you've got yourself a veritable statement piece. If you want to DIY the look, pick up a small marble slab from your local home improvement store and place it on top of your existing island.

SHOP SMALL MARBLE SLAB

13

Bar Area

Kitchen Island Bar
DAVID TSAY

There's something so friendly and welcoming about a kitchen island that doubles as a bar. Add a few stools, bowls of your favorite snacks, and you've got yourself a party.

SHOP STOOLS

14

Marble-Topped Antique Table

kitchen island ideas antique table
Annie Schlechter

This homeowner gave an old but timeless table new life by covering it with a marble countertop and situating it at the heart of her backyard barn kitchen.

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15

Bold Blue Kitchen Island

kitchen island ideas blue
Helen Norman

Thanks to its central placement, the kitchen island is a natural focal point, which you can enhance even further with a vivid hue. Here, a coat of Sherman Williams' Pool Blue paint makes the two-level island pop against the panel-covered interior of this barn.

SHOP METAL BARSTOOLS

16

Quick-Fix Refurbished Island

kitchen island ideas butcher block
Troa Giovan

During this Hamptons saltbox home's most recent renovation, warm wood countertops replaced the faux granite that formerly covered the kitchen island. The quick and inexpensive update makes the entire space feel more homey.

RELATED: Butcher-Block Countertops: Pros, Cons, and Everything Else You Should Know

17

Chicken Wire Cabinets

kitchen island ideas chicken wire cabinets
Lisa Romerein/Rizzoli

Chicken wire cabinet faces lend some rustic charm to this island found in Diane Keaton's country home. And thanks to its mesh design, you can tuck everything away, but still have the essentials in sight.

SHOP CHICKEN WIRE

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18

Rolling Kitchen Island

Kitchen Island Rolling
DAVID A. LAND

A rolling island is ideal for anyone who loves to entertain. Simply move it out of the way, and you've got yourself a huge space to host parties...or do just about whatever you please!

SHOP ROLLING ISLANDS

19

Opposite Styles

kitchen island ideas marble countertop
David Tsay

A sleek and polished marble countertop looks beautifully juxtaposed with chippy, industrial barstools and other antique finds. The refined island works to offset the other textures and colors featured throughout this Texas home's kitchen.

SHOP BAR STOOLS

Headshot of Anna Logan
Anna Logan
Senior Homes & Style Editor

Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she covers design and decorating trends, home features, and gift guides. She also produces home features and styles content for the print magazine. When she isn’t working, can often be found digging around antique shops for the perfect find. Follow her adventures on Instagram!

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Kitchen Design Ideas

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