For any food aficionado, the kitchen is the place where they feel most comfortable in the entire home. Surrounded by a top-notch oven, comfortable seating, and beautiful countertops, the kitchen makes any home chef feel instantly more sophisticated and at ease when they create their next signature dish.
Why not expand that cozy feeling to another area of your home that’s perfect for entertaining guests during the beautiful spring and summer months?
An outdoor kitchen is a must-have feature for every homeowner who dreams of lavish garden parties and elegant food served in the great outdoors. Outdoor kitchens are perfect for reducing the mess of meal preparation, as well as hosting a simple and beautiful party with very little effort. They can be just as useful as an indoor kitchen, but they come with an inherent set of unique advantages.
What should you keep in mind if you plan to make an outdoor kitchen oasis? Practicality meets form and beauty with some help from expert designers. These top design tips will get you thinking about what the perfect outdoor space could offer you in the seasons to come.
Determine how long you’ll keep your home.
How does your real estate investment influence the outdoor kitchen you’ll build? At first glance, this design tip may not make much sense. You should build the perfect version of an outdoor kitchen regardless of where you intend to live in five years. After all, an outdoor kitchen should increase the overall market value of your home.
Homeowners who plan to move in the months or years to come may hesitate to invest in a beautiful space that they can’t take with them. Don’t fall in love with an elaborate smoker or grilling system that won’t fit onto the moving truck when it comes time to leave. If you plan to move in the next couple of years, you may want to consider planning a more portable outdoor kitchen.
Invest in permanent features such as patio flooring made of quality brick pavers and maybe some built-in shelving. You can leave some of the more functional elements of an outdoor kitchen in place when you move. These elements could contribute to an increase the value of your home when done properly.
However, you can still save your money to reinvest in the new home by taking some of the accessories with you. For example, your patio furniture and grilling equipment should be flexible enough to come with you when you officially put your house on the market.
Opt for low-maintenance materials.
It’s tempting to think that an elegant indoor kitchen design will translate to the great outdoors as well. Unfortunately, this usually isn’t the case. The basic elements that comprise a designer kitchen inside your home won’t be able to stand up to the elements outside. You may just find that the extra maintenance they require will be more of a headache for you than it’s really worth.
One of the most popular countertop choices is granite because natural stone has such inherent beauty. The major disadvantage to stone countertops is how frequently they will need sealing to protect their shining surfaces from rain, hail, sleet, and snow. This makes granite and other types of natural stone into a costlier and more time-consuming investment.
Similarly, very porous stones should also be avoided because they don’t fare well with exposure to the elements.
Have you considered what your grill will be made of yet? Particularly if you’re installing a full oven in the outdoor kitchen, you need to consider how much of the space will be exposed to rainfall and moisture. Many metals are susceptible to rust and corrosion with prolonged exposure to moisture. You should really consider a stainless-steel option for appliances and cooking surfaces.
Look for materials that hold up well under prolonged exposure to moisture. These are the types of products you will want to select to build a low-maintenance and highly stylish outdoor kitchen.
Don’t be afraid to add some shelter.
Do you often worry that your dinner parties will be called off in the event of an afternoon rain shower? You can quell your fears of rescheduling by adding some shelter to your new outdoor kitchen space. It will be a significant financial investment upfront, but you may have a more comfortable and functional space when the project is finished.
Shaded spaces can make your outdoor kitchen cooler in the summertime. Brick patio pavers are less likely to absorb heat from the sun, making it easier to walk barefoot and preventing the heat from radiating upward. You’ll feel significantly cooler during hot summer months with this simple addition.
With a little bit of shelter installed over your outdoor kitchen, you can also add significant entertainment value for your family and guests. You may have more options for a large-screen television to watch the football game or a movie under the stars. Sound systems may become more high-tech and deliver greater clarity if you aren’t tied to purchasing waterproof versions.
Keep your kitchen consistent with your home.
Perhaps you’ve had visions of a sparse and modern outdoor kitchen floating around on your inspiration boards. Maybe your tastes are a little more eclectic and comfortable than contemporary. Regardless of what type of design you desire for your outdoor kitchen, you should really consider what the overall design scheme of your home is first.
Does the exterior of your home project a very traditional appearance or is it far more charming and cozy? Extend that same feeling throughout your outdoor kitchen in order to make your entire design scheme more cohesive.
In a similar vein, you should also consider the design scheme you used inside of the home. Chances are that you will be able to see your outdoor kitchen clearly from somewhere in your home. You wouldn’t want to glance out the window to see a beautiful modern space if the interior of your home is mostly traditional. The appearance simply won’t flow very well from the interior to the exterior of your home, which can make your outdoor kitchen feel too forced for the property.
Plan according to what your indoor kitchen lacks.
Ever since you moved in, you’ve noticed that you never have enough space in your dining room to host your entire family. You lack drawer space and cabinetry, and there are never enough lights to keep you satisfied while you cook. Planning a new outdoor kitchen from scratch is a great time to correct all of the small annoyances you have with your indoor kitchen.
Make a running list of things you dislike about your indoor cooking space and dining areas. See if you can find a way to correct these issues before building an entirely new kitchen space for yourself. You may want a much larger dining area with an easy-to-clean floor surface or a few extra drawers around your cooking areas. These problems can be easily remedied before you start building.
Take a closer look at your favorite recipes.
Before you start shopping for appliances for an outdoor kitchen, you should really evaluate what your favorite cooking style is. There are plenty of appliances that can be installed in an outdoor kitchen, depending on how you like to cook and the types of foods you serve most frequently.
Some people prefer the more traditional barbecue foods with heaping platters of smoked sausages, hot dogs, and burgers. Do you prefer your meats grilled on a charcoal grill or a gas grill? You may prefer the crisp crunch of an oven-baked pizza or a smoker that can handle a large brisket. Take a look at your favorite recipes to determine which appliances may be the right fit for you.
Before you purchase any appliances, you should also take into account what types of utilities they may use. A grill that needs electricity may be more difficult to accommodate than a charcoal grill. Consider what the various appliance choices are and then see how you could make them work into your overall design scheme.
An outdoor kitchen has the potential to seriously increase the value of your home, as well as make your living spaces more functional. According to current forecasts, outdoor kitchens and living spaces are expected to continue to rise in popularity over the coming years. These elegant outdoor spaces fill a practical purpose that many homeowners are desperately searching to find within their homes.
Planning one of these unique outdoor spaces requires a lot of forethought and attention to detail. You should start building your outdoor kitchen from the ground up, taking time to research each choice from the brick flooring to the appliances you desire. You should consider some of these practical design tips before you get started on sketching the layout of your new outdoor kitchen.
