Looking for ideas for kitchen island decor for summer? Here’s a simple idea you can put together in minutes.

Kitchen Island Decor

I’m sitting here waiting for my fake tan to dry with pieces of the roof dropping into the dumpster like flies.

And none of that is even important right now because I just came up with the cutest idea for my kitchen island for summer.

It kind of happened by accident.

Remember my spring kitchen island?

All the bunnies and carrots and eggs were still there. And we are about to sing the Star Spangled Banner to fireworks.

Something had to be done.

Something had to be changed.

So I started with this flat basket that I got years ago as a base I stared at it and stared at it and then an idea popped into my head.

An idea I wish I had thought of several years ago.

And then?

I added this.

Kitchen Island Decor truck

Kitchen Island Decor for Summer

1. Start with a vintage piece

A vintage truck I got at an antique store downtown.

It’s held ornaments in the winter and pinecones in the fall and eggs in the spring.

And now I had a new idea for summer.

Kitchen Island Decor tiered tray

2. Add a tiered tray

Next I added this tiered tray I got at a vintage shop.

It’s the CUTEST idea for a DIY.

I didn’t make it, but I wish I would have come up with the idea.

There are vintage wire seed trays with pieces of vintage balustrades layered in to create the tiered tray.

So now I had my tiered tray (I linked several of my favorite trays at the end of the post) and my truck.

What do you think I added next?

Something so practical, so wonderful, so helpful, so necessary for the kitchen.

Kitchen Island Decor herbs

3. Add herbs

Herbs.

Yep.

You know I’m trying so hard to cook healthy this summer.

Remember the zucchini lasagna?

It would have been even better if I had just reached over to my kitchen island and picked a few herbs to add a little more flavor.

I got these at Trader Joe’s (my go-to for anything plant-related–it’s where I got the hydrangeas for the centerpieces for the rehearsal dinner.)

Kitchen Island Decor burlap pots

4. Place them in pots

So I picked up several of my favorite herbs.

And then I needed pots.

But not just any pots.

These cute burlap planters with wire rings and plastic lining.

You can see a super similar set of them here.

They come with the cutest labels in a set of 5. Then I took the planters and the herbs and now the kitchen island looks like this.

Kitchen Island Decor herbs

5. Layer in the pots for the perfect kitchen island decor for summer

I added the herb planters to the layers of the tiered tray and an additional larger basil herb plant to the truck.

This would work with any tiered tray or even this super cute one that I found or one that you already have and you also use terracotta pots for the herbs instead of the burlap pots.

I linked some of my favorite (affordable) tiered trays at the end of the post.

And any herbs that you like would work well too.

I trimmed a few of the herbs to make them fit.

A kitchen island that’s practical and useful and pretty too?

Sign. Me. Up.

And the best part?

It only took me about 10 minutes to put it all together.

I was thinking it might look even cuter with clay tags for the pots or herb markers like these and these.

And now?

My tan is radient.

My roof is going to look SO CUTE.

And my kitchen island is ready for summer.

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Comments

  1. Image for Gayle Gayle

    I am seeing the cutest print on the wall behind your darling island decor. It has a bird, nest and eggs on it. I love it. Do you know if it is available anywhere? I love your enthusiasm!

  2. Image for Jayme Schron Jayme Schron

    Hi Karianne, I borrowed your idea for the "bunny truck" and it's still on my kitchen island, also! Looking at the picture above, it looks as though the bulb trays are balancing on those center wood pieces - what am I not seeing?? It looks as though the whole thing would fall if bumped. Cute idea though, but I use an old pizza board (that they use to pull the pizzas out of the oven) as a base and it's perfect. Your blog is so much fun and I look forward to it every day!

  3. Image for LaNita Copeland LaNita Copeland

    So I was watching an older video on this blog and you were talking about the 5 major mistakes in decorating to avoid. One was a couch with built in back pillows. I recently purchased a couch with - you guessed it- back pillows. What is your solution?

  4. Image for Kris Kris

    I'll have to vicariously enjoy this idea, since I don't have a kitchen island (or room for one). Love the vintage truck.

  5. Image for Marlene Marlene

    What a great idea for the kitchen. I like the smell of some herbs and you won't have to go far to use them when cooking. Thanks, stay cool!!

  6. Image for Lynn Mosher Lynn Mosher

    Ooo...I love this! So cute! And I loooooooove those pots. I think I'll have to make some. Your sweet noggin is so full of fun ideas! LOL 😍

  7. Image for Ann Ann

    I absolutely love the tiered tray that I always keep on my island. For summer I decorated it with: silk hydrangea as a filler, small clay pots in which I placed seed packets, garden gloves, and even a colorful garden spade. I also use a colorful garden glove for the cutlery on my dining table.

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