Decorating a Kitchen Island

Decorating a kitchen island is something I love to do. Creating a statement vignette does not have to be hard. In fact, it can be fun to play around with items you have on hand in your kitchen and find ways to arrange them so they look pretty while remaining useful.

Our kitchen island has been largely bare over the winter months but with the blossoms arriving, I got enthused and decided to bring them in as a statement on the island. Then I played with a few other bits I had around. These are the looks I came up with. Which way of decorating a kitchen island do you like?

Positioning Items on the Island

When positioning items on the island I like to add them to one end, rather than in the middle. My reasoning is this. If you add the items to one end, you are creating an asymmetrical look that draws the eye in. This look is unexpected. Most people would think the arrangement would be in the centre of the island.

Secondly, if you create your vignette to one side, you don’t have to move it when you want to use the island. Pieces do not have to be slid out of the way and moved back. The vignette can also contain things you use on a daily basis like cups, a bowl of fruit, a basket eggs, or salt and pepper. It can be pretty and funtional

Decorating a Kitchen Island with a Statement

One way I love to decorate the island is with a single large piece. This choice might not be for everyone. A statement piece would overwhelm a small island. If you have a family who needs the space this won’t work for you either. Neither of these applies to us. Our kitchen island is over two metres long. There is plenty of space left for food preparation and meals. (As there are only two of us). Our kitchen and living area is very big with ceilings that are over three metres high. Putting a massive statement like a bucket filled with blossoms looks very dramatic.

Decorating a kitchen island in this manner was simple. I used a linen table runner from the French Consul, one of my favourite Australian makers. On this, I placed a bucket overflowing with blossoms picked from the roadside. I added a stack of vintage china rimmed with gold to contrast with the bucket. I already had the medium cloche but I found the other two on a trip to Big W on the weekend. At $7 and $12 respectively they were a steal. The vanilla scent candle smells lovely. It’s also from Big W.

Using Herbs

The second way I played with decorating a kitchen island was to add the herbs I planted in mason jars and interspersed a few terracotta pots. For this look, I took the blossoms away. A breadboard became a base for the candle and herbs. I popped my faux cactus under the empty cloches.