Ways to Design a Perfect Outdoor Kitchen
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If you’re interested in an outdoor kitchen, you’re on trend!
High-end outdoor kitchens gained popularity during the pandemic with more time spent at home, according to a 2023 Luxury Outdoor Kitchen report from the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Since then, the appeal has continued to hold and is becoming standard in luxury home builds, the report found.
When talking about outdoor kitchens, it helps to discuss the following ways to create a stylish and seamless dining and entertaining experience to enhance your home and backyard.
Start with the Structure
The first step in creating a new outdoor kitchen is the same as that well-known axiom of real estate — location. Most homeowners have two options: a ground-level space or an elevated deck. Depending on your home’s size and layout, the location of your outdoor kitchen could be steps away from your interior kitchen or on a whole other floor.
When choosing the spot for your outdoor kitchen, you and your professional contractor should consider the following:
Building and fire codes (vary by locality)
Access to utilities (water, electricity, gas)
Proximity to the interior kitchen (the closer, the better)
Access to the outdoor kitchen (through your house or yard)
Decide on a Design
Once the location is determined, you’ll need to choose a layout for your outdoor kitchen. When considering what layout to choose, work with your contractor to figure out the best option with the space you have. If you like the layout of your indoor kitchen, that might be a good way to go with your outdoor one.
The options for an outdoor kitchen are the same as an indoor kitchen:
Galley – a single aisle in the middle of appliances and cabinets on both sides, which keeps everything you need close but limits the number of people who can be in the space at the same time.
Linear – appliances and cabinets in a single line, which is the most simple and is a great option for small spaces.
L-shaped – allows for more separation between the food prep space and the cooking area and provides better traffic flow.
U-shaped – provides additional storage, prep, and counter space and is often the best option for areas with a larger outdoor kitchen.
Builders might also recommend prefab, modular, or custom options in cabinets and islands to create the look you want.
You’ll also want to account for entertaining space and your view.
Do you want a kitchen island for prep space or one with seating? If so, be sure to incorporate that into your layout.
Do you need equal parts cooking space to entertaining space, or more cooking or more entertaining? This depends on how you party and with how many!
Do you have a view or pool to look at while you are cooking or maybe your guest seating should face an outdoor TV? Make sure to think about your view as you decide on your kitchen layout.
Design software can help you lay out your space virtually before committing to it. Many builders and designers use this technology to help homeowners get a feel for their space and make any adjustments before it’s too late or too costly.
Get Your Grill
You know the location. You see the design that will best fit that location. And now you need to know what to put in that space. The first place to start is with the grill.
The main feature of an outdoor kitchen is the grill, which comes in a wide range of options and price points. Grills come in natural gas, propane, pellet, wood, charcoal, or electric varieties. From basic models to those that include side burners, smokers, griddles, or rotisserie attachments, there is a model for every type of griller.
By deciding on the grill first, you will know how much space you have left in your layout and budget to select other features.
Fill in with Other Features
While grills are the centerpiece of an outdoor kitchen, you should consider filling out your kitchen with other fun and essential features. Thankfully, with the increased popularity of outdoor kitchens, almost any feature typically found in your indoor kitchen can now be used outside.
We find that our customers generally prefer these additional features:
Refrigerator (typically the size of a cabinet)
Wine and beverage chiller and kegerator
Sink, dishwasher, and ice machine (if plumbing is possible in your location and your budget)
Pizza oven
Deep fryer (great for fish or a Thanksgiving turkey)
Television
Trash drawers
Access doors to gas or water lines
With so many options, it can be easy to want it all, and if you can, that’s great! But make your choices based on the foods you typically cook, how you entertain, and what you enjoy the most.
Mix in the Right Materials
Here in southeastern Pennsylvania, we experience every season — from scorching heat and humidity in the summer to freezing temperatures, snow, and ice in the winter. Selecting the right materials for your outdoor kitchen to ensure its safety and protection year-round is critical.
Granite, marble, concrete, stainless steel, brick, and natural stone are some of the heartiest materials for building and designing an outdoor kitchen. Whether your kitchen is on an elevated wood or composite deck (provided the weight load is correct) or on ground level, you can use these materials.
Since your kitchen is outside, lighting and climate control are other items to consider.
You will need direct lighting to help with food prep and cooking but indirect or solar lighting to set the right atmosphere. For climate control, options include ceiling fans, fire pits, heaters, pergolas, and awnings. As a side benefit, a pergola, pavilion, or gazebo provides a structure and framework for lights, fans, speakers, and televisions to be mounted.
Outdoor kitchens provide homeowners with a special place to enjoy time with family and friends. There’s nothing quite like spending an afternoon or evening in a beautiful backyard with great food. Work with an experienced design and remodeling company to design the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.
