Sink skirts were a huge trend last year, but 2025 is taking it further with the nostalgic skirted kitchen island – an easy yet totally stylish way to soften your scheme

The desire for a cozier, more personality-filled kitchen is at an all-time high. Adding new colors, interesting patterns, and softer finishes are easy and affordable ways to create that more lived-in feel. But there's one approach that's really making waves.

We all know skirted furniture is big for 2025, but did you know you can add a skirt to your kitchen island? It's a kitchen island trend that feels like a natural continuation of the sink skirts that proved popular last year, but it's perhaps a more impactful addition, adorning the heart of the kitchen.

And it turns out, island skirts are easier to introduce to your kitchen than you might have expected, as there's no massive overhaul required to add one in. Here's why designers are loving the trend and how to bring the look to your own kitchen island.

Much like sink and cabinet skirts, this new take on the trend sees cabinet doors on your island replaced by a strip of material. It could surround your entire island, or even just one or two cabinets. It's simply about adding a new color, texture, or pattern while breaking up a solid run of kitchen cabinets.

'Skirted kitchen islands bring a cozy furniture feel to what can sometimes be an aesthetically sterile environment. They’re a beautiful way to introduce a fun pattern or color, and they evoke that lived-in feel we love, especially when leaning into an English country kitchen aesthetic,' says Heather French, creative director and principal at French & French Interiors.

'As a designer, I’ve noticed that clients are craving warmth and personality in their homes, and the skirted island answers that beautifully. It’s a fresh departure from hard surfaces and clean lines, bringing in fabric introduces comfort and a hint of nostalgia. Plus, it allows for customization and creativity, which feels very current,' she adds.

While it might seem like a big job to remove your island's cabinet doors, it's so much easier than you think. Once you've chosen a fabric that works beautifully in your kitchen scheme, it's simply a case of installing tape, or wire, or a rail.

'We love using a custom-fabricated rail system paired with curtain rings and pinch pleats. It gives the skirt an intentional, tailored look while allowing for easy access to the storage underneath,' explains Heather.

Don't rush choosing your fabric – it should feel cohesive with the rest of your kitchen colors, patterns, and style. For Heather, taking inspiration from what you already have in your space is a great place to start.

'Matching the skirt fabric to other elements – like café curtains – adds cohesion and charm, making the whole space feel thoughtfully pulled together,' explains. If you're working with a plain kitchen, you can introduce bar stools, kitchen rugs, or even towels and oven gloves that match your skirted island to create a seamless design.

Shop kitchen island skirts

Since an island skirt is so dependent on the size and style of your island, you typically can't buy them ready-to-install from major stores. However, places like Etsy offer beautifully made examples, or you can even buy beautiful new or vintage fabrics and turn them into island skirts yourself – it's a surprisingly easy DIY project.

A skirted kitchen island is a great way to soften your design, bringing in a more personality-led, lived-in feel. It's a kitchen trend that's here to stay, whether you have a countryside-style scheme, a modern kitchen, or something in between. In fact, it can even be a great way to make a modern kitchen feel older if you want a more characterful look.