The Best Outdoor Kitchens Have These 4 Elements Nailed
Thinking of building an outdoor kitchen but not sure where to begin? In this blog, we give you 4 elements to consider so that you build an outdoor entertainment kitchen to suit your lifestyle.
1. Purpose
What will you use your outdoor kitchen for? You’ll need to think this through carefully before starting your kitchen renovation. From family barbecues to evening parties, your purpose will guide your outdoor kitchen design.
If you have your friends over for regular celebrations, then you might consider building an outdoor kitchen with a bar, letting your guests sit and chat while you cook. Or if you love summertime get-togethers, you’ll need to build a shelter or install shade sails.
2. How often will you use it?
If you enjoy entertaining, you’ll want to go all-out for your outdoor kitchen. This means creating an outdoor version of an indoor kitchen. Rather than a standalone grill, you get a built-in grill with benchtop, sink and cabinetry. This looks cleaner and classier than a stand alone barbeque, because it allows you to hide things like the gas bottle in the cabinets.
Know you’re going to get a lot of use out of your outdoor kitchen? Invest in a few outdoor heaters, which can be mounted or freestanding.
3. Layout
Just like indoor kitchens, outdoor kitchens come in many layouts. Choose the layout that is perfect for your tastes and lifestyle.
You might build your kitchen against the house or a brick wall, in either a peninsula or one-wall configuration. If you go with one-wall kitchen design, it will need to be at least 8 feet long to have all the features you need. This gives you the advantage of installing upper cabinets and maximising storage space.
Alternatively, you might go for an island or L-shaped kitchen away from any walls.
4. Location
Consider where you want to position your outdoor kitchen. If it’s close to your indoor kitchen or the house, you may require fewer features like cabinets and storage.
When choosing your outdoor kitchen location, always build it a safe distance from the house and from children’s play areas. Make sure there are no flammables, like trees and shrubs, nearby.
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