If you’re trudging through the winter months or located in a land-locked area, you might be daydreaming of warm island breezes, tropical cocktails, and the sound of waves against white sand beaches. If the kitchen is the heart of the home, and your heart is in the Caribbean, why not bring the tropics to you? Here’s 20 tropical kitchen design ideas to turn your kitchen into a tropical paradise!
Check out these tips and tricks to turn your kitchen into the ultimate elegant island getaway.
Rattan Light Fixtures
Texture is so important when thinking about how to create the feel of a tropical paradise without looking too much like a backyard luau. Natural fibers like bamboo, rattan, and jute give an island vibe and also add a nice neutral color to your palette. Try a statement pendant lamp hanging above your kitchen island or dining room table. Opt for a lamp in light brown or tan to keep the room open and sunny.
Tropical Wall Mural
One quick and easy way to bring the tropics to you is to incorporate a wall mural like this one. I love the rich greens of the foliage and the bright pops of colors from the flowers and wildlife! Bonus: use this as easy color inspiration for the rest of your decor! Surrounding your kitchen and/or dining room in a mural will transport you to a lush tropical rainforest every time you walk in the room.
Retro Travel Poster
Bring back the glitz and glamour of the golden age of plane travel with a midcentury-style travel poster. It’s not only a statement piece that can infuse some color and energy into your space, but you can gaze upon it over your morning coffee and daydream about your dream vacation. I just adore this print’s vibrant blues and yellows and the quirky toucan detail! A vintage poster is a must if you’re a fan of retro and midcentury style.
Jungle-Themed Mugs
Everyone needs a favorite mug for their morning coffee or other beverage of choice. Even better if it adds a bit of glam to your tropical getaway daydreams. This 12 oz. mug features a beautiful lemur design with gleaming gold detail, lush florals, and rich, bright colors that will have you coming back for seconds (or thirds, I don’t judge).
Wildlife Dessert Plates
This dessert plate set from Anthropologie brings the bold, vibrant colors of the Amazon to your table and upgrades your dinnerware game by a mile. And the beautiful watercolor paintings of a variety of rainforest animals by Nathalie Lete add so much charm and fun! Pair these plates with a natural fiber tablecloth for a more casual feel, or try some gold flatware and colored glass drinkware for a bit more glam!
Bamboo Shades
When it comes to lighting kitchens, natural sunlight is always best, but even the sunniest of windows need a dressing. Bamboo shades offer a minimalist and modern look while still
creating a casual and welcoming atmosphere that brings up images of island bungalows on a sunny day. Aim for a neutral tan color that offers a nice contrast to the sunlight streaming in, without going too dark.
Lovebirds Figurines
These adorable lovebird parrot figurines are the perfect accent to your tropical kitchen to add a bit of color and vibrancy. They don’t take up too much space on the counter and I love the options of deep emerald green, hot pink, or gold, all of which go perfectly with a tropical color palette! If you love quirky accents you can’t go wrong.
Faux-Woven Flatware
I love this flatware set by Kathy Kuo Home because it imitates a wicker texture that brings the island vibe full circle while adding a touch of glam. Pairing these pieces of flatware with rich, bright colors, especially greens gives your tropical theme a sophisticated feel. Adding this to a room filled with other natural textures like jute and rattan accents helps to tie the scheme together in a coordinated way.
Potted Palm Trees
The most important facet of a tropical theme is the natural elements. Get a potted palm like this Majesty Palm that will instantly add warmth and style to your kitchen. It’s also one of the easiest ways to dress up a space – any room looks more put together with foliage, and you get more bang for your buck with a large tree tucked away in the corner.
DIY Beachside Bar Image:
If cocktails are your thing then a small home bar is a must to have you celebrating
island-style year-round. A bar cart in a natural material like bamboo or rattan gives a causal feel to your at-home beach bar. I like the versatility of this one by Serena & Lily that offers lots of space without sacrificing style. To add some sophistication, add metallic bar accessories and a luxe art print.
Tiki Torch Candles
There’s nothing like the light of tiki torches around a beachside outdoor gathering. But if you’re miles away from the sun and sand, there’s no reason that you can’t make your own. These candles with an adorable rattan cover over the class remind me of tiki torches and give off a tropical feel. Place them on your table for a romantic tropical dinner.
Toucan Table Setting
I love this toucan-themed dinnerware set! It’s fun, casual, and vibrant but can be dressed up with metallics for a modern touch. The black, blue and yellow color scheme is so fresh and inviting and sets itself apart from the pinks, greens, and tans of a typical tropical palette. If you want a fresh and modern take on a tropical theme I don’t think you can go wrong here.
Island Resort Fans
If you’ve got a boring standard ceiling fan in your kitchen or dining room, replacing it is one of the easiest things you can do to completely revamp your space. This is also an update that many renters can pull off as well! Choose a fan with leaf-shaped blades that give the feeling of a beachside bungalow. I love this fan from Wayfair because the shape and color are modern enough to feel new and refreshing, but traditional enough to go with just about any decor.
Toucan Salt and Pepper Shakers
There’s nothing better than a great pair of salt and pepper shakers to add a bit of fun and kitsch to your design. These toucans are a cute and colorful addition to a tropical theme and will look great perched on your table or on the kitchen counter. Whether you’re going for a casual or retro feel, these birds will fit right in.
Monstera Placemats
The monstera is an absolutely gorgeous tropical plant that’s having a big moment in decor right now. Its iconic shape and large size make it a perfect subject for these lovely tropical placemats made of wood for a rustic, casual feel. Their neutral wood tone makes it possible to pair them with any place setting you like, casual or formal, and in any color palette.
Coconut Dishware
Coconuts are a staple in any tropical locale, and adding them to your decor guarantees a laid-back island vibe. I love this set of coconut bowls that features four different carvings, creating an eclectic, mix-and-match feel. At a 5 inch diameter, they’re the perfect size for serving snacks or even that bowl of cereal in the morning. They’re 100% food-safe and able to be washed.
Pineapple Cocktail Shaker
As the song goes, if you like Pina Coladas… this pineapple cocktail shaker is right up your alley. It’s the perfect accessory to include in your home bar. The gold is a nice touch to any color palette and the shape is classic enough to fit into a more subtle design scheme, making this a beautiful and versatile piece to own.
Tiki-Inspired Drinkware
If you want to bring the life, color, and excitement of a luau to your home, why not add some colorful tiki flair? These glasses feature four unique tiki designs in beautifully vibrant gradient colors. The fact that they’re glass rather than wood or plastic adds another edge of sophistication, dressing up the luau aesthetic and making it a bit more formal.
Birds of Paradise Dish Towels
These dish towels feature stunning watercolor illustrations of various birds of paradise and colorful tropical fruits. I love that the variety of bright, bold colors means it can pair well with just about anything. It’s an excellent accent to a full-blown tropical theme, or it can add a punch of color to a more muted kitchen scheme.
Dried Palm Leaves
You don’t have to keep up the maintenance of live plants to bring a natural feel to your kitchen. Find a vase and fill it with dried palm leaves in different colors and textures to give a beautiful, neutral accent to the room. If your taste in decor is more on the calm, minimalist side, or maybe your thumb isn’t so green, this is a great alternative to potted plants.