The idea of an outdoor kitchen often conjures up images of sprawling gardens in hot and sunny climes. In short, they seem inaccessible to the average person, but they don’t have to be. There are a number of ways that you can begin to design and develop your own outdoor kitchen that is perfect for your needs. Once you view your garden as an extension of your indoor living space, you are opening up the possibilities to yourself. An outdoor kitchen is entirely attainable for anyone; let’s explore.
What is an Outdoor Kitchen?
Arguably the concept should be pretty self-explanatory. An outdoor kitchen is a space you can use to prepare and or cook meals outside. They can be as big or small as your space and budget allow. A lot of the features and space are often multifunctional, too; for example, a prep space can double up as a dining area. So don’t worry if you think you haven’t got the room to make it work; it just takes some clever designing.
Designing Your Outdoor Kitchen
Your outdoor kitchen can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. When it comes to designing your kitchen, there are a few things that you need to think about. Firstly, you might want to think about installing some form of cover. The weather can be unpredictable, so if you want to ensure that you can get as much use out of your outdoor kitchen as possible, then installing a cover can make all the difference in protecting you and your things from the elements. The cover could be simply a canvas cover that stretches from the side of your house, or you could build a wooden gazebo to provide cover. Remember to factor this expense into your budget.
When designing any sort of structure for the outdoors, you need to think about what materials you are going to use. Most of the time, using natural materials is the best option. It makes the design seem more seamless and in keeping with the rest of your garden. Natural materials also tend to weather better for outdoor designs too.
If you want to ensure that you get the most use out of your outdoor kitchen, the next thing you need to consider is the lighting and heating of the space. If you want to entertain during the evenings, you will need light and warmth. In terms of heating, you can choose from something like a fire pit or even a patio heater, you could also get a box of outdoor blankets if you want to save money, but that will limit the use of your outdoor kitchen in the winter. When it comes to lighting, you will probably want to have your outdoor kitchen wired to ensure that you have enough light to cook safely.
After you have thought about the light and the heating, you next need to work out where you are going to put your seating area. If you are going to be cooking outside, then you are probably going to be eating outside too; therefore, your seating area is important. Think about the flow of the space; you want to ensure that you aren’t going to be in each other’s way. Depending on what you are cooking on and the predominant wind direction, you also run the risk of blowing smoke at your guests too.
Next, you need to consider your storage needs. There is no point in building and installing an outdoor kitchen if you have to go inside to the indoor kitchen to fetch everything you need every time you cook. You need to be able to store things safely to ensure that they aren’t at the mercy of the elements. Drawers and cupboards are your best bet if you want the storage to be built in. otherwise, you could use outdoor storage bins.
You then need to consider your cooking options. Your outdoor kitchen doesn’t need to center around a barbecue simply because you are outside. Take a look at your choices. A hot plate or camping stove can open up your options more, or you could stick to the classic choices and go for a grill of some sort; you could also add a pizza oven from Ooni.com.
Finally, the last consideration you need to make is what to build your outdoor kitchen from. You need to ensure that the materials that you use are going to withstand the elements. There are a number of options that could work. Natural materials like wood are a cost-effective choice that won’t rot or warp if treated properly.
The Bottom Line
With the proper forethought and planning, you can design an outdoor kitchen to suit every budget. Think about the space that you have to use and the needs that you want to fulfill. Take the time to plan and remember to shop round to find the best deal in terms of builders and materials too.