Kitchen islands used to impress us simply by existing. Big rectangle? Great. Row of stools? Lovely. Waterfall edge? Ooh, ...

Kitchen islands are a helpful and versatile feature in most kitchens and in 2026, they are appearing in a lot more homes, following these key trends.

See what's happening with the kitchen centerpiece.

Forget balancing on a stool, design studio Framework’s bench design for this home's island makes a dine-in kitchen feel cozy ...

Enter: the “micro island,” a scaled-down version of a traditional kitchen island that delivers extra counter space, storage, ...

Here’s how to design an island that works for your particular space and the way you use your kitchen. By Tim McKeough As the kitchen evolved from a work space hidden from guests to the place where ...

Lexie is a former Staff Writer at Forbes Home and has over 6 years of professional experience as a writer and editor in the home improvement space. She's previously worked at sites such as HomeAdvisor ...

In this kitchen by Dana Bass, the island closest to the range and sink "handles the heavy lifting," says the designer. "The outer island is all about hosting, with generous seating and open sightlines ...