Everybody who has a backyard has been dreaming of making a part of it in an outdoor kitchen. It is not in everyone’s budget to purchase the luxury built-in stations for grilling, cleaning, and prepping. Luckily, there is a lot of outdoor kitchen ideas that you can use to set up an amazing workspace that won’t send you into debt. Not only are the outdoor household extensions nice to have, but they are also gaining in popularity.
The Basics
Drawing out the layout is very important because there are quite a few basics that go into building an outdoor kitchen and you want to make sure you have gone through them all. Those basics include the cooking zone, space for preparing and serving food, storage for cooking and grilling necessities as well as a garbage can for the easy clean-up.
Purchasing a grill can be quite tricky, so make sure you know what kind of food you plan on cooking and make sure you choose a grill that suits your needs.
From there, only if your budget allows you to do so, you can think about including extra things for more comfort in your outdoor kitchen. For example, include a bar with stools, a roof to protect the chef and guests from the sun or rain, an outdoor sink and refrigerators and ovens.
Draw Out a Kitchen Plan
Having the outdoor kitchen plan drawn-out is a very important step in the building process, for a lot of different reasons.
Having a drawn-out plan helps you determine exactly where you plan on building your outdoor kitchen. Ideally, it would be installed as close as possible to your indoor kitchen, because you would be able to transfer food, tools and dishes faster and easier. If possible, having your outdoor kitchen built as close as possible to the outside wall is also an important element to keep in mind. Because an exterior wall allows easier access to plumbing and electricity if such elements are within your budget. Using your home’s plumbing directly will increase costs greatly.
The bare basics include a gas or charcoal grill as well as a flat surface to deposit foods once cooked, and that doesn’t cost too much at all. A more modern and luxurious outdoor kitchen requires a little more equipment and a lot larger budget.
Plan Within The Budget
Decide where you want to build your outdoor kitchen. Try to build it as close to your interior kitchen as possible to make the transfer of ingredients, tools, and dishware easier. Setting it up near an exterior wall also allows you easier access to plumbing and electricity if your budget is fit for buying and operating outdoor sinks and refrigerators. You have to be aware that tapping into your home’s plumbing and gas lines and hard-wiring appliances will be expensive and may require building permits.
Make a list of your outdoor cooking requirements. Prioritize how you want your outdoor kitchen to function and then find the furnishings that achieve those functions.
Cooking in an outdoor kitchen can only require a gas or charcoal grill and a nearby surface to put food that is going onto and coming off the grill. An efficient and properly working outdoor kitchen requires a bit more equipment and a few modern amenities.
Budget-Friendly Ideas
Try looking into reuse-it centres and yard sales for inexpensive outdoor cabinets, countertops, building supplies, appliances, and other materials for your outdoor kitchen. It is often cheaper buying the appliance spare parts and fixing the appliance yourself than buying a completely new one. Use reclaimed bricks to enclose a grill and other outdoor kitchen equipment. Build a prep station from old shipping pallets and solid-surface or stone countertop.
- An outdoor kitchen that’s built into your deck. This option has everything you need for and outdoor kitchen.
- Outdoor kitchen with bars and stools. This is a little more modern and may take a little more time and money to build, but it will be usable all year round.
- Concrete countertops. Concrete is the perfect material for building an outdoor kitchen because there is no need to worry about the weather or other outdoor elements.
- A portable outdoor kitchen. If space is an issue, invest in a small portable outdoor kitchen instead. A serving cart is ideal because it has everything you need for cooking and grilling, and you can move it back indoors when not in use!
All kinds of outdoor kitchen ideas can fit any budget. As you create your design, keep in mind the priorities: a place to cook first, then seating for everyone and then luxurious stuff like extra appliances if you can afford them. Keep in mind that even though you may start small, you can always upgrade your outdoor kitchen later.
