10 Rustic Kitchen Island Ideas to Complement Any Farmhouse Space

An island can do a lot for your kitchen: islands expand your storage set-up, giving you extra drawers and cabinets to fill, they turn dead space into counter space, giving you more room to cook and share meals, and they change the way your kitchen looks. With the simple addition of a rustic island, you can bring some homespun charm to an otherwise-sleek space—or put the perfect finishing touches on a cozy farmhouse kitchen. 

Since rustic style is so wide-ranging, there are plenty of kitchen island ideas to play with. Your rustic kitchen island can be hardy and practical, weathered and traditional, playful and charming—or some combination of the three. 

But in every case, it’s sure to leave your kitchen feeling warmer and homier, adding a welcome dose of function and form to your space.

01 Paint Your Island a Fun Color

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Rustic kitchens aren’t supposed to be picture-perfect, so ditch the pristine palette and paint your island a fun color, instead. Keep things traditionally homey with a pastel shade, like light blue or washed-out mauve, or take a chance on a brighter color, like yellow or green.

02 Keep It Classic With Butcher-Block Countertops

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When picking out kitchen countertops, you have a lot of options. But butcher block is one of the most rustic around. Forgo the sleek marbles and trendy quartzes you keep seeing, and line your countertops with hardy wood, instead.

03 Set the Scene With Rustic Pendant Lights

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One underrated way to change the way your island looks? Switch out the pendant lights above it. By replacing your sleekest fixtures with a set of rustic pendant lights, you can cast your island in a homier light—without touching your island at all.

04 Score a Classic Farmhouse Sink

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Low on sink space? Outfit your island with a sink, and choose that sink with care. A classic farmhouse sink will make your island feel more rustic while making your entire kitchen more functional.

05 Top Your Island With Metal

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Stainless steel may not be the first material that comes to mind with a rustic island. But it’s a surprisingly great pick for any homespun space. Why? The material is unapologetically practical, so it’ll fit right in with your hard-wearing fixtures. Plus, it’ll add a pop of contrast to your kitchen, bringing out the rustic accents in your space.

06 Outfit Your Drawers With Bin Pulls

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Hardware may not turn heads the way curtains and countertops do. But little details, like door handles and drawer pulls, can change the way your island feels. Don’t just stick with the hardware your island came with—remove the sleek knobs and handles, and replace them with rustic bin pulls, instead.

07 Stock Up on Rustic Storage Crates

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As you stock up on décor for your rustic island, keep an eye out for vintage storage crates. The weathered accents will make any island feel more rustic. Plus, they’ll expand your storage set-up, making it easier to keep your must-haves organized. 

08 DIY an Island From Scratch

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The beauty of a rustic kitchen island? It doesn’t have to look picture-perfect. If you’re struggling to find an island that ticks all your boxes, DIY an island that does. Snag some wood at your local hardware store and piece together an island from scratch, or take an existing island and outfit it with handy features, like a towel rack and some hooks.

09 Paint Over Your Drawer Pulls

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If you decide to repaint your kitchen island, don’t worry about pristine workmanship. Leave some of your brush strokes visible, and paint over door knobs, drawer pulls, and hinges. These imperfect touches will make the paint job feel more homespun, adding a little handmade texture to your island.

10 Top Things Off With Some Freshly Picked Flowers

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Put the finishing touches on your island with a vase of freshly picked flowers, and don’t just run to the nearest florist to grab a pristine bouquet. Forage for flowers in your own backyard, and fill a vase with what you find. The bouquet you end up with is bound to look rustic—and it’s sure to lend your space some welcoming, homey warmth.