If you love barbecuing in your yard during the warmer months of the year, then maybe you should consider designing an outdoor kitchen that would allow you to do not just that but much more. Plus, you’d be able to cook and entertain even during the colder months since the perfect outdoor kitchen is as functional as the indoor one and can withstand the elements. Regardless of whether you’re looking for something simple or something more complex, here are a couple of important tips that should help you build an outdoor kitchen that will fit all your needs.
Think about the materials
The weather will undoubtedly take its toll on your outdoor kitchen, so make sure to use weather-resistant, durable, and low-maintenance materials. For example, stone, stainless steel, concrete and acrylic-based materials all work well for patios, cabinets, and counters. Your floors should not be slippery, and you should also make sure that the materials you choose can handle grease, water, and food spills. Tile and marble, for instance, are not the best choices, as they do get slippery when wet, and they aren’t resistant to grease and food stains. This is especially important if you also have a pool or spa in your backyard, because safety should always come first and you don’t want your children to slip on the kitchen floor after leaving the pool.
Set up a budget
One of the most important things you should do first is come up with a budget and stick to it because things can easily get out of hand once you start shopping for everything you need. When setting up a budget, think about the type of kitchen you want to build, whether you’re building it for yourself or for the future buyer of your home, and keep in mind the safety features in case you want it to be children-friendly. There might also be some additional costs, like the services of your architect, tools, permits, plumbing, etc. In the end, you will also need to decorate your kitchen in order for it to be not just functional but also visually appealing and comfortable, so keep that in mind as well.
Decide on the type
Do you want a simple kitchen with just a grill, a couple of chairs, and a nice table, or do you want something more complex and spacious? Moreover, do you want it to be portable in case you’re planning to move in the near future, or do you want it to be permanent? Once you decide on the type, you can start determining what is essential and what is optional while also ensuring that everything fits into your budget. Also, if you are planning to sell your home in the near future, then a permanent kitchen might be a good idea because it can raise the value of your home. Nowadays, people prefer to bring the entertainment outdoors, so there will surely be many buyers looking for a home with a good outdoor kitchen worthy of their investment. Plus, outdoor kitchens have shown to have a high ROI rate, so have no doubt that building a quality kitchen will definitely pay off in more ways than one.
Get quality appliances
This is one thing you should definitely invest in as the right appliances can make the time you spend in your kitchen truly enjoyable. The type of appliances you should choose depends on the type of cooking you want to do, but for most outdoor kitchens, a stainless steel built-in grill is a must. You can also add a charcoal grill, a pizza oven, an ice maker, and a refrigerator. There are many reliable appliance companies like Maytag that offer quality appliances, where you will surely be able to find exactly what you need. When searching for the right appliances, you should also focus on the ones that are Energy Star certified, because they use less energy and, thus, will save you more money in the long run. Just keep in mind that your appliances will also determine the size of your kitchen, so make sure you have everything designed on paper before you start buying; you might need some extra room for platters and kitchenware if you usually entertain larger groups, or you might want to add more entertainment-related appliances if you like cooking with a smaller group of friends and family members.
Choose the location carefully
You might think that the obvious choice is just outside your indoor kitchen, but that’s not always true. You should first check the wind direction so you don’t place the grill where the smoke would blow directly into your house. If there are any other amenities in your yard, like a pool, garden, or lounging area, you should also take that into consideration. Moreover, if you have a nice view from your indoors, place your kitchen a bit to the side, so it doesn’t block the view. In case you have children who like playing in your backyard, your kitchen should be located a bit further from the playing area, or at least somehow protected, so it doesn’t stand in the way of basketballs, footballs, bike rides, and Frisbee throws. Finally, in case you’re planning on building a smaller kitchen, you could also simply add it to your backyard patio.
Think about sustainability
Another thing you should think about is whether you want your outdoor kitchen to be green or not. This is very important in case you do want to sell it one day, because more and more people are becoming eco-conscious, and they want to do their part in the preservation of the environment. So, if you decide to follow this path, you should use eco-friendly materials, install low-flow faucets or aerators, replace your regular light bulbs with the LED ones, and make sure you clean your kitchen with eco-friendly solutions instead of store-bought chemicals. In the end, even if you don’t sell your home, you’ll still get the satisfaction of knowing that your outdoor kitchen is not polluting our planet.
Hire the right people
True, some smaller kitchen projects could be done by one person, but if you’re looking for something more elaborate and you want it to be done right, it’s important to hire the right people for the job. Therefore, find a good architect, a kitchen designer, an electrician, a plumber, and a contractor. You should also do some research on designing and decorating your kitchen, so you don’t feel completely lost when sharing your ideas with your architect and designer. Also, when it comes to hiring the professionals, don’t worry too much about the budget – all the money you invest in the professionals’ hard work will definitely pay off once you see the end result.
Building an outdoor kitchen can be quite an investment, but it’s an investment worth making if you enjoy spending time outside and entertaining your friends and family. Plus, an outdoor kitchen is easier to clean, and it can greatly boost your home’s value in case you decide to sell it for one reason or another. So, make sure you consult the professionals, buy quality appliances, use the right materials, take care of all the appearance-related details, and you will be entertaining your guests in your brand new outdoor kitchen in no time.
