An outdoor kitchen is the ultimate dream for many people who enjoy backyard entertaining. Imagine gathering your friends or family for a summer barbecue or a cozy winter cocktail in the comfort of your own garden. Here are some great tips for designing your outdoor kitchen.

1. Design Ideas

Pinterest is a great resource for finding design inspiration and compiling your plans. Just go to pinterest.com, sign up for an account, and type in “outdoor kitchen ideas.” There are a multitude of design options out there. Take a look at some of these tips!

• modern and elegant

Concrete or richly colored woods are a great way to create a modern design aesthetic. Most classic or traditional kitchens use bleached or light colored wood to create the look, so go the opposite way for modern ones! Minimal furnishings and features also help create a modern feel. This also helps with maintenance and cleaning. Take a look at these images for inspiration.

• Classic or Country

White wood, blue accents, and exposed stone are a great way to give your outdoor kitchen a rustic, classic appeal. Flowers and plants growing up the sides of walls or arbors are great for creating softness and traditional appeal as well. Think whitewashed cabinetry, light wood benches, and large rustic dining tables.

2. Grills

So many options for grilling! There are 6 main types of grills to consider for your outdoor kitchen. Think about what you enjoy cooking most and what you can make the most of before choosing your grill.

• open grills

This is the simplest setup of all the grills. It consists of a metal or stone box with a heating element (wood, coal, gas) and a metal grate on top of the box directly above the fire. Open grills are best for direct grilling over high heat and are best suited for fast-cooking foods such as kebabs, steaks and thin chops, and fish.

• covered grills

Add a cover to the open grill and it allows you to add indirect grilling and smoking functions to your outdoor grill. Covered grills are best for thicker steaks, ribs, or whole chickens and ducks. You can also add different types of wood to your grill, close the lid, and let the meat slowly absorb the aroma of the wood.

• ceramic grills

Ceramic grills are made with thick walls that allow heat to radiate off the sides of the walls for even cooking. Ceramic griddles are usually much deeper than typical griddles and are generally used to cook bread (such as Indian flatbreads or naan) directly on the sidewalls. The grill part of ceramic grills is more suitable for thinly sliced ​​meat, kebabs, fish or vegetables.

• grills for grilling

A rotisserie grill adds a rotating spit to the grill to allow even cooking of thick slabs of meat or whole animals. The food is cooked slowly over several hours, resulting in crispy skin on the outside and tender, moist meat on the inside. Rotisserie grills are best suited for thick steaks, fatty meats, or whole animals like chickens, ducks, or even whole pigs (if your grill is big enough).

• smoking grills

A smoker grill simmers meat for several hours over aromatic wood chips for tender, flavorful meat. The most common woods used for smokers include maple, hickory, mesquite, oak, and walnut. Smokers are best suited for tough cuts of meat that slowly soften while in the smoker. Meats like brisket and ribs are perfect for this.

• fire pit grills

A firepit grill allows your entire family to feel like they are camping in your backyard! Firepit grills are like fire pits but with a metal grate placed over the fire to cook food. The grill grates are height adjustable so food can be raised or lowered to be closer to or further from the fire. This makes fire pit grills extremely versatile and can handle everything from delicate foods like fish, vegetables, and s’mores to thick cuts of beef and whole animals.

3. Appliances

Take a look at these links to get some ideas for your appliance purchase.

• pizza ovens

Here’s an affordable portable outdoor pizza oven.

• grilling space

It is a complete and versatile barbecue specially designed for outdoor use.

• drink center

This is a great option for those who really want to entertain! Store your beverages and beverage accessories in a stylish design.

4. Decoration ideas

There are so many options to consider when it comes to furnishing. Do you prefer a table and chair setup, or a bench and stool setup? Consider what types of gatherings you’ll be using your kitchen for to help you decide which one is best.

• Colour: Try to think of what color combination you will like and enjoy over the years. You don’t want to go for a crazy, bold color palette that you end up getting tired of after a season. For a bold and bright touch, use interchangeable pillows, cushions and bedspreads. You can choose bright appliances or flowers to add color too. That way, your base palette stays neutral while adding pops of color that are easy to change.
• Cloth: Obviously, you should choose a weather-resistant fabric for your outdoor furniture, especially if there is minimal top cover. Treated canvas and olefin fiber are good choices for outdoor furniture.
• Shade Sails and Covers: It is important to protect your appliances and furniture from the weather and potentially harsh elements. If you live in an extreme climate, consider the type of protection you want to use for your outdoor kitchen. You can build awnings to shade the patio area or you can build a structure, such as a gazebo or pergola. Basically this has a sturdy roof and side pillars. You can also install weatherproof curtains on the side pillars that you can close to act as walls if you want some privacy on your patio.
• Finishing keys: Once the heavy appliances and furniture are installed, take a step back and think about what else the space needs. Here are some ideas for finishing the braces:

– Ornaments

– Lamps

– Small side tables

– Decorative trays and bowls

– Vases and artificial flowers of good quality.

– Water-resistant blankets and blankets for the winter months

5. DIY options to save money

You don’t need to rely on the expertise of others for every aspect of your outdoor cooking needs. You can handle something yourself if you are prepared!

• Use reclaimed wood and old furniture/benches from thrift stores or garage sales. Recycle yourself and get to work making your chairs, benches or shade sails.
• Go out and find weather-resistant fabrics at fabric stores or furniture sales. You can reupholster your outdoor furniture to suit your own personal aesthetic.