An island or a peninsula is a work surface first. Any Christmas decor on it has to move when you start chopping, rolling cookies or setting out food. So my one rule for the island: everything lives in or next to a single container you can lift with one hand.
The base: one long, low vessel
A wooden dough bowl (on Amazon) is about 18 inches long and low, which is the right shape for an island. It doesn’t block the view across the counter, and it holds a surprising amount: pinecones, a few ornaments, clementines, a string of fairy lights. Put it to one side of the island, not dead center, so the middle stays free.
A long tray works too. Avoid anything round and tall; it ends up in the way of every conversation.
Height: one pitcher of greenery
Next to the bowl, a single tall thing gives the arrangement shape. The Creative Co-Op stoneware pitcher (on Amazon) holds 28 ounces and has a reactive white glaze that varies from piece to piece. Fill it with cut pine, cedar or a few stems of holly from the grocery store. Real greenery is fine here because the pitcher holds water. Change it every few days.
Light: candles that won’t get knocked over
Kids, sleeves and serving spoons all pass over the island. Use flameless pillar candles (on Amazon). The set has three heights and a remote with a timer, so they come on before dinner and go off on their own. Set them inside the dough bowl rather than loose on the counter so they move with everything else.
Optional: a short garland
If the island has an overhang, you can lay a faux eucalyptus garland (on Amazon) loosely around the bowl and pitcher, or along the back edge where nobody works. Keep it off the edge people lean on.
What it looks like when you need the space
Lift the bowl, move the pitcher to the windowsill or the table, done. If that takes more than a minute, you’ve put too much on the island.
For a fuller table setup, see Christmas dining table decor. For the counters and stove, cozy kitchen Christmas decor has more.