With an increase in temperatures, we are lured to the idea of living outside. The smell of the backyard barbecues and the blooming flowers attract us to the porch or the patio to spend some quality time with our friends and family.
Before you start planning about setting up an outdoor kitchen, you need to take several points into consideration. Start by collecting as much information as possible about the direction, position, and outlook. Not only will this influence your planting but also help you dissect how you will use your space.
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The 12 Design Tips To Plan The Perfect Outdoor Kitchen
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Extend Your Living Space
Carefully think about how you will use your outdoor space and plan accordingly. Consider the following questions before you arrive at a decision:
Do you host BBQs or dinner parties?
How many guests do you usually invite?
Are you looking for a peaceful space to relax and self-introspect?
Do you need a space that ought to be kid or pet friendly with a distinct area primarily for them?
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Consider Your Surroundings
Make sure you take the most advantage of the scenic views that your property has to provide. For instance, you can arrange a small sitting area for the primary purpose of sitting and enjoying a cup of coffee and enjoying the sunrise or sunset. Or you can set up a table and chairs to enjoy drinks at sunset.
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Plan Your Layout
When you design an outdoor space, it is advised that you use the same thoughtfulness that you would use when preparing the floor plan of your new house. Make sure that each outdoor area has a functional as well as a logical connection to the interiors of your house. For example, you can situate the outside dining area close to the kitchen.
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Consider What Appliances You’ll Want
Grills & Smokers: Grills and smokers are an integral part of any outdoor party with friends or family. There are several grills available in the market such as portable grills and countertop grills. If you reside in an area that is prone to weather changes, you should opt for a portable grill without any thought.
Smokers too allow you to enjoy BBQs or other food items with a smoky flavor. Smokers even allow you to experiment and invent new recipes while spending quality time with your friends and family. Cooking with a smoker enables you to enjoy the smoky flavor that is often not provided by a grill.
Built-In Refrigerator: There are a wide variety of refrigerators that you can choose from for your outdoor kitchen. Opting for a built-in refrigerator allows you to enjoy the purpose served by the refrigerator and at the same time conserve space especially if you have a compact outdoor kitchen space.
Built-In Kegerator: A kegerator refers to a refrigerator that is particularly built to serve an individual beer from a keg. There are several kegerators that are available for outdoor use. A built-in kegerator or an under-counter kegerator enables you to enjoy cold beer especially when you are hosting a party for your friends and family.
Kegerators keep your beer both fresh and cold by making use of carbon dioxide compression. The size, design, and features of a kegerator are subject to variation. Picking the one that best fits your requirements can definitely be tricky. The basic components in most kegerators include a cabinet or refrigerator, faucet, keg, coupler, carbon dioxide tank and regulator, and tubing. The different types of kegerators that are available for you to choose from are Freestanding kegerators, built-in kegerators, single-faucet kegerators, and multi-faucet kegerators.
A built-in kegerator is meant to be incorporated into the cabinets or other structures to enjoy a rather seamless look. A built-in kegerator ought to be professionally installed so that it is properly insulated.
Ice Maker: An ice maker which is meant for an outdoor kitchen enables users to have an endless supply of ice while spending quality time with friends and family. Overall, ice makers are relatively simple devices that are easy to operate. Although there are different models of ice makers available in the market, each one of them has only slight variations.
Now the type of ice maker that you choose for your outdoor kitchen depends on the type of ice you wish to make. There are cube ice machines, crescent ice machines, gourmet ice machines, and nugget ice machines available in the market. Also, consider the drain type that you require. For instance, you can either opt for gravity drains for outdoor ice makers or drain pumps for outdoor ice makers. Lastly, depending on your budget, you can also choose from luxury ice makers, premium ice makers, and standard ice makers.
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Choose Your Materials
The type of materials that you opt for will depend upon the purpose of your outdoor kitchen. Whether you wish to use it for entertaining, dining or relaxing will have an impact on the kind of furnishing that you go for. Choose furniture that is both practical and comfortable for outdoor use. For instance, go for furniture that is washable and weather resistant. You can purchase small movable tables for snacks and cocktails. You can even bring your interior style to your patio by using similar colors and patterns.
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Outfit It in Style
Your outdoor space should complement the interiors of your house. Therefore, the design and style that you choose for your outdoors should more or less correspond with the overall vibe of your interiors. You can illuminate the hangout zones such as the seating area and outdoor kitchen. Add some lighting to prevent yourself or others from falling down on the way. You can even add more drama by emphasizing noteworthy points like a vine-covered trellis or large boulders.
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Add Some Lighting
To make your outdoor space an actual extension of your house, you can add lighting. Illuminating outdoor cooking areas will enable you to do more of the meal preparation outside. It is important for you to create visual interest and in fact, further enhance the feel of the outdoor space by fencing farther out in your yard or even lighting up the trees as well. For safety purposes, you can add decorative lighting to make the pathways and steps more clearly visible. Don’t forget to use your creativity even when lighting the outdoor space.
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Plan Your Party
Adjust your outdoor kitchen depending on your requirements. If you’re planning to host a party in your outdoor kitchen, you can ensure perfect lighting and set-up appliances such as a smoker or a grill, appliances that you will need for the event.
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Adjust For Household Needs
Although the idea of starting a new project sounds exciting, it’s also a common practice to set unrealistic expectations when you start planning your outdoor kitchen. Once you have decided on the general outlines of your project, make sure that the basic elements are in line with what you need.
For instance, how many family members or friends will you be cooking for? What kind of cooking do you prefer? How often are you or your family members going to use the outdoor kitchen? Remember that you have to be practical.
You will always have the option to add appliances and other equipment later on as well. If you primarily opt for the basic items first, you will be able to enjoy your outdoor kitchen design from the start. And it will keep getting better as you keep adding stuff.
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Select Outdoor Kitchen Materials
If your outdoor kitchen is going to be a permanent installation, go for building materials that have been used on the exterior of your building such as bricks, stucco, or concrete. Any detailing that is done in the kitchen should be made out of tile or metal. Not only do these materials look attractive but also they are durable, especially when used in outdoor structures such as kitchens.
Apart from the outlook, it is important to take into consideration the materials that are available, the budget, and the scope as well as the size of the project you’re planning to undertake. Special installations and labor costs will also have an impact on the overall costs of each alternative.
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Set A Budget
It is extremely important to prepare a budget and limit yourself to it. The necessary requirements such as labor, materials, and appliances can easily exceed your budget if you don’t monitor the costs. Make sure you aim high in case the project will cost more than projected.
The additional costs that might be incurred as well are obtaining permits, enlisting the services of a designer, hiring professional help, and purchasing tools. Always analyze the predicted costs by consulting a local pro before you actually begin work.
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Consider Climate And Environment
If you reside in Florida, the Western United States, or another area that has a warm climate, you are likely to spend more time in your outdoor kitchen than the one that is inside your kitchen. If this is the situation, a bigger outdoor setting might be justified.
Now for other regions that experience more extreme weather conditions, the location within the yard is crucial. It is important to note that the region you reside in will have varying microclimates. It is advised to avoid spots that are either too hot, windy, or cold. Unless you reside in a region that experiences very little rainfall, a partial patio roof or appliance covers will be a necessity as well.
Conclusion
Therefore, it is evident that you need to take several points into consideration when you’re planning to set up an outdoor kitchen space. Consider the layout, design, materials, appliances you need, and most importantly, the costs that you are willing to incur. Remember that your outdoor kitchen setup will be a success only if you work within your stipulated budget.
