An outdoor kitchen is a nice addition to any home, particularly if you’ve got the space for it in your backyard. It creates a place where you and your family can enjoy afternoons outdoor as a break from the usual indoor dining experience.
It also makes for a great area to invite family and friends over, so you won’t have to worry about bringing them inside your home. When everybody wants to enjoy a cosy dinner or afternoon barbeque in the garden, the simple stove-cooking and grilling can be enough in your outdoor kitchen.
If you’re looking to build your own outdoor kitchen, here’s a list of the top five key considerations to ensure you come up with a functional and aesthetically-pleasing one:
- Sturdy Outdoor Seating
What’s an outdoor kitchen without the proper outdoor furniture? When you build your outdoor kitchen, you have to make provisions for the placement of outdoor furniture. Select pieces that are sturdy and long-lasting.
Remember that the main difference between an indoor kitchen and dining arrangement, and an outdoor one, is that for the latter, you have to choose furniture and appliances that can withstand the harsh elements of the weather. To ensure you don’t keep buying new ones, select sturdy outdoor seating and kitchen appliances right from the get-go, one of the many being your barbeque grills.
- Ample Shading
No matter how aesthetically pleasing your outdoor kitchen can be, if it doesn’t have ample shading, then it’s still not going to be inviting for outdoor hosting.
When you choose your outdoor kitchen layout, be sure to select the location in your garden where you can put over some ample shading. If you can, you may opt to cover a non-shaded area in your backyard with a roof, for permanent shade. This can make outdoor entertaining more feasible especially during rainy days.
If you have a big tree, keep it and don’t roof the area. The tree can be an added aesthetic element that provides a natural shade during the afternoon. With the right tree lights in the evening, the tree and its surrounding kitchen and dining area can have a welcoming feel.
- Budget
Like any construction or renovation work, your budget is another important factor to consider. The bigger your outdoor kitchen will be and the more features you intend to put in, the more expensive it’ll become. But this doesn’t mean you have to be in debt just to complete your outdoor kitchen.
Start working with the budget that you have, and what you know you can afford. Don’t go higher than that. You can still have a beautiful and functional outdoor kitchen with a smaller budget. Perhaps the adjustments will have to be on the added features. Or, you can slowly add in extra features little by little as the finances permit.
- Desired Views Of Your Kitchen
Your outdoor kitchen’s layout will depend on the function of the space and the views you want to have.
For instance, some of your family members may want to have the kitchen attached to a wall for more space. But if you’re fond of entertaining guests, you may be keener towards an open-bar concept. With this setup, you can watch the kids run around or continue entertaining your guests as you cook.
Plan your kitchen view carefully. Remember, it is a matter of personal preference. In this way, you can be sure you can achieve the intended space you have in mind for an outdoor kitchen.
- Proper Lighting
Don’t forget proper lighting. Apart from the minimal lighting fixtures like the string lights on the trees or hanging from your roof to the trees at night, you’ve got to prioritise bright and proper lighting fixtures as well.
You’re not always going to be entertaining during daytime. Remember that most likely, you’re going to be entertaining guests from late in the afternoon to the evening hours. So, you need proper lighting to keep your outdoor kitchen well-lit.
If you’re still going to be cooking and grilling when its dark, then you shouldn’t have to suffer in poor lighting. Remember to equip the kitchen with comfortable task lights.
Conclusion
As you can see, there’s so much more than simply setting up a grill and having tongs for that outdoor, al fresco dining experience. At the very least, you’ll want your outdoor kitchen to last through many years of cooking and entertaining. After all, it’s an investment to make so your backyard can become a more functional space.
When you have guests coming over, having an outdoor kitchen also saves you the hassle of running back and forth the inside of your home to the outside. When you’re able to meet the considerations above, you can elevate your picnic and outdoor dining experience into memorable dinners with your friends and family.