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. If you love the rustic style, you’ve come to the right place. Discover here 20 rustic kitchen island ideas that will complement any farmhouse space and change the way you decorate your home!

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SEE ALSO: 12 Stylish Modern Kitchen Ideas You’ll Want to Replicate Right Now

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01. Invest in a Solid Wood Island

Islands often come in fun colors and sleek materials, but if you want to make sure your island looks rustic, snag a solid wood option. Wood is a classic material in any rustic interior.

02. Paint Your Island a Fun Color

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.

03. Keep It Classic With Butcher-Block Countertops

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.

04. Set the Scene With Rustic Pendant Lights

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.

05. Line Your Island With Sturdy Beadboard

Looking for a rustic way to dress up your kitchen island? Line the sides of it with beadboard. Since the wood paneling is so traditional and hard-wearing, it’s a perfect pick for any rustic space. Plus, the beadboard will add a welcome dose of texture to your island.

06. Distress Your Paint Job

In a rustic interior, chipped paint isn’t just okay—it’s welcome. So embrace the way your island’s paint job wears away with age, or speed up the process by distressing the paint job yourself.

07. Score a Classic Farmhouse Sink

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.

08. Stock Up on Old Bar Stools

Turn your island into a dining nook by lining it with bar stools, and use those bar stools to cement your island’s rustic look. By stocking up on vintage bar stools—or piecing together a collection of mismatched chairs—you can add a pop of rustic style to your island, while treating yourself to some eat-in space.

09. Top Your Island With Metal

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. The material is unapologetically practical, so it’ll fit right in with your hard-wearing fixtures. It also adds a much needed pop of contrast with the remaining rustic elements.

10. Transform an Antique Table

When adding an island to your kitchen, your options aren’t limited to store-bought islands or built-ins. Instead of snagging a new piece of furniture, you can repurpose an old one, transforming a vintage table into the island you’ve been looking for.

11. Pick an Unusually Dark Wood Stain

Any wood stain will look great on your rustic kitchen island. But if you want your space to feel extra homey, stick with a darker stain.

12. Outfit Your Drawers With Bin Pulls

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. Make the switch to rustic bin pulls for that elevated look you’re probably going for!

13. Leave Your Island Unpainted

One easy way to make your island feel more rustic? Paint your kitchen cabinets and leave your island as is. This will make your kitchen island pop as the rustic element in the kitchen. You can leave the same countertops and hardware for a balanced look.

14. Stock Up on Rustic Storage Crates

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.

15. DIY an Island From Scratch

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.

16. Sneak in Some Wooden Accents

Want your island to match your cabinetry, while still feeling more rustic than the rest of your space? Paint it the same color as your cabinets, but leave a few wooden details exposed. With just a few unpainted panels, you can capture the textured warmth of wood—without sacrificing the look of uniform cabinetry.

17. Paint Over Your Drawer Pulls

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.

18. Snag an Island on Wheels

Rolling islands are handy and adaptable—easy to move wherever you need them. Sure, they might not look as polished as a built-in that matches your cabinetry. But in a rustic kitchen, handy and homespun wins over polished and pristine every time.

19. Top Things Off With Some Freshly Picked Flowers

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.

20. Snag an Iron Storage Rack

Snag an iron storage rack, and mount it above your island—or on a wall nearby. The open storage solution will put your kitchenware on full display, giving you an opportunity to showcase your favorite rustic pieces.

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READ MORE: 60 Small Kitchen Ideas to Steal So You Never Feel Claustrophobic Again

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