An outdoor kitchen is a fun space to entertain guests or to eat meals as a family during the warm summer months. Eating outdoors is one of the most enjoyable and memorable aspects of the summer months. It is a great time to bond as a family, have friends over, or enjoy a relaxing meal on your own. There are a few choices to make with regard to the design of an outdoor kitchen.
The first choice you will need to make is what you will use for cooking outdoors. A wood burning oven is a great addition to the design of an outdoor kitchen. This type of oven will enable you to easily make your own delicious pizzas outdoors. They also are relatively easy to build on your own. You need to first build a cement foundation for your oven, so that it does not become unstable. You then will put the frame of the oven on top of the foundation and make sure that it is steady. The exterior of the oven can be constructed using stucco or brick. If a wood burning oven is not something that you are interested in, you can always install a traditional grilling station. There are many grill varieties, ranging from very expensive to very affordable, and you can be sure to find one to fit your budget.
Your cabinetry and countertops are another important choice to make in your outdoor kitchen design. Stone is very popular for counter exterior, and granite countertops can complete the look. Grey, beige, or earth tones are often the color schemes chosen for outdoor kitchen, so as to look natural in a backyard. If you are inclined, you can include a bar in your outdoor kitchen design. If not a traditional bar, a built in cooler can be constructed under one of the countertops. Stainless steel appliances go well with stone cabinetry. Brick is another design option for your outdoor kitchen. With a brick design, you can bring in other earth tones for your accent pieces, such as seat cushions and other décor.
You will also need to consider what aspects of your indoor kitchen are necessary to have outside. A sink is a very common and helpful feature of an outdoor kitchen. If you have the space, also consider adding a small refrigerator to your outdoor kitchen. These additions can make cooking outdoors much faster and more convenient. You won’t have to constantly be running back and forth between kitchens in order to prepare a meal.
A pergola canopy is a great addition to an outdoor kitchen design. You can cover your pergola in small lights to add a unique and beautiful component to your outdoor kitchen. You can also grow plants or flowers around your pergola. There are practical as well as aesthetic benefits to a pergola. An ivy coated pergola can assist with covering your eating area and creating shade, while a pergola covered with lights makes eating outside at night possible without additional outdoor lighting.
Something to consider is whether or not your outdoor kitchen table is covered. If it is out in the sun, an umbrella is a necessary addition. This will make eating outdoors a much more comfortable experience during the hot days of summer. Without an umbrella, eating outside in the sun will be a hot and sticky experience.
Finally, a great addition to an outdoor kitchen is a fire pit. You can move to the fire pit area after your meal is over when entertaining guests. This keeps the outdoor setting consistent, and is a beautiful area to lounge and talk with friends. It is the perfect final touch to an outdoor kitchen and lounge area, and you can also have a fire going while you cook or eat meals.
Related post: Painting Your Home Theater