10 Ways to Decorate Your Kitchen Island—Beyond a Bowl of Fruit

Kitchen islands serve a number of purposes: They’re a valuable food prep station, serve as a dining space, and provide a home for appliances that don’t fit on the countertop. But by no means does that mean that they can’t be aesthetically pleasing while also serving these other functions. We’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite ideas for kitchen island decor—no matter your style, you’re sure to find inspiration.

The kitchen island at Will Taylor’s beach house makes for a cozy dining space but also looks elegant with the addition of classic decorative items, such as a framed picture and brass candlestick. Decor doesn’t need to be loud or overwhelming to make a stylish statement. Sometimes, as demonstrated here, less is more.

Kelly Davert added a walnut island to this kitchen space and kept accessories simple. Placing a long, narrow tray that complements the island’s wood tones helps keep the space looking cohesive yet simple.

Stephanie Watkins’ boho island adds plenty of pizzazz to the kitchen! Here, she embraced vibrant hues in the form of fresh flowers, bright fruit, and colored glass.

If you’re going to store fresh fruit atop your island, why not make the display extra interesting? Amy Dowling did just that in her kitchen, and the storage piece she chose adds to her space’s farmhouse charm.

Heather Bien made her kitchen island ultra functional by placing a chic collection of cookbooks on top and installing hanging shelves off to the side. In smaller spaces, creatively maximizing space in this way is extra key!

Corralling essentials using a woven tray is a simple yet ever-useful hack, as seen in Christina Dennis’s space. Not only do trays add texture and style to an island, they’re easy to grab and remove to quickly free up counter space.

Mary Ann Pickett used her island to display favorite items she’d picked up on her travels. A pitcher from London and ceramic accessories from Mexico take center stage—talk about instant conversation starters.

Take that cake stand out of your cabinet and use it to corral a sponge and dish soap a la Shannon Acheson. Giving necessary items like these a stylish home will make your space feel more luxe—and maybe it’ll make chores sting less, too.

Abby Lawson set up a darling succulent display on her kitchen island, and we couldn’t love the idea more. Succulents require such little maintenance and they’re petite size makes them excellent for a busy space like the kitchen.

Why not use your island to celebrate the seasons? Heather Metzler created a fall centerpiece out of gourds and grapevine-lighted pumpkins. Such a display is easy—and budget-friendly—to recreate every year.

How do you style your kitchen island? Or is is strictly functional? Tell us below!

This post contains products independently chosen (and loved) by our editors and writers. Food52 earns an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases of the products we link to.