
The Best Outdoor Kitchen Ideas for Summer
Adding an outdoor kitchen is an excellent way to entertain your family and friends. Plus, upgrading your outdoor living space with a kitchen can boost your home’s value. Whether your budget is small or more generous, see these practical outdoor kitchen ideas.
Money-Saving Designs
A free-standing grill or an outdoor grill island with cabinets is a budget-friendly option for al fresco dining. This option is great for those who wish to take their grilling appliances with them if they decide to move.
If your utilities are easily accessible, you can add a basic outdoor kitchen for as little as $5,000.
Medium to Luxury Budget Designs
If you’re looking to up your grilling game, consider a built-in grill unit with storage. Additional add-ons include a bar, sink, refrigerator, and food prep area.
Outdoor Kitchen Design To-dos:
- Choose outdoor kitchen appliances and storage made of weatherproof materials. Although wood cabinetry is beautiful, it’s difficult to maintain in an outdoor environment. The best weatherproof materials include stainless steel and marine-grade polymer. Some polymer cabinetry is manufactured to look like natural wood and available in a wide array of styles and colors.
- Be sure to include plenty of task lighting, as it may be difficult to see as the sunsets.
- For easy food prep, add plenty of counter space.
- To discourage guests from interrupting meal preparation, place grills and burners away from the dining area.
Home repair expert Bob Vila says, “If you are thinking of enhancing your outdoor grilling experience this summer, there are many things to take into consideration. First, how do you plan to use your outdoor space? If it is intended to be an extension of your existing kitchen, a built-in grill with some work surface and storage may be sufficient. A stand-alone grill island with sink and refrigerator could be the better solution if you are looking to make cooking outdoors a more self-sufficient endeavor.”
Outdoor Dining Furniture and Seating
When purchasing outdoor furniture choosing the right material is crucial as it will determine how long the furniture will last. Although plastic outdoor furniture is readily available and inexpensive, they usually need to be replaced after two to three years.
Quality outdoor dining sets and patio seating are available in a wide variety of durable, weather-resistant materials, including:
- Aluminum
- Cast Aluminum
- Wrought Aluminum
- Stainless steel
- Wicker (Woven)
- Wood
- Wrought Iron
Outdoor Shading Options
Most outdoor kitchens need additional shade overhead to keep the kitchen area and the guests cool when the sun is high.
- Consider installing a pergola over the kitchen area to keep cool as you prep the meal.
- Add patio umbrellas or shade sails over the dining and seating area because it will keep guests cool and comfortable.
- Additional ways to keep the kitchen cool include adding a high-velocity ceiling fan or a water misting system to your pergola.
Outdoor Flooring
Any stylish and long-lasting outdoor kitchen starts with the right flooring. Here’s what to consider when choosing the right flooring material for your outdoor kitchen.
Any outdoor flooring that becomes slippery when wet isn’t a good choice for safety reasons. So, it may be best to avoid glazed or porous tiles when choosing outdoor flooring. However, flooring that passes the safety test include:
- Concrete
- Brick
- Natural stone
- Ceramic tile
And, you can save money by repurposing salvaged materials such as recycled bricks, pavers, or reclaimed wood as outdoor flooring.
Outdoor Cooking Appliances
Choosing an outdoor grill can be overwhelming due to the endless options available.
The grill is the most important appliance in any outdoor kitchen. The fuel used to create heat is the main difference. Here’s a shortlist of the types of outdoor kitchen grills available.
Charcoal grills provide that delicious smoky flavor enjoyed by backyard BBQ’ers. The food cooks directly above a fire fueled with charcoal briquettes. Plus, one of the least expensive ways to cooking outdoors is with a charcoal grill.
Gas grills provide consistent cooking and grilling for a delicious dining experience. Gas grills are more convenient to use compared to charcoal-fueled versions. Most versions can reach cooking temperature in just a few minutes, plus there is no messy clean-up. In addition, most models are fueled by a liquid propane gas cylinder which is refillable.
To get delicious chargrilled flavor while cooking with gas, place aromatic wood chips on the grill surface. This will create the smoke needed to flavor the food.
Charcoal-gas hybrid grills are the best of both worlds, as you’ll enjoy the smoky flavor of charcoal cooking and the convenience of a gas grill.
Most hybrid grills have to separate areas with lids – one for gas and one for charcoal. Use the gas side to cook vegetables and fish. Use the charcoal side to cook steaks, hot dogs, or burgers. Hybrid outdoor grills work well for grillmasters who have limited space but want to use different cooking methods for different occasions.
In addition, add a smoker, pizza oven, or flat grill to expand your cooking options and make outdoor noshing fun all year round.
Did you know?
It’s important to remember your outdoor kitchen will be exposed to the weather. So, choose your building materials with that in mind!