An outdoor kitchen is a home improvement project that increases your property’s worth, extends the living space, and saves on utility bills, especially during summer. It helps create a great entertainment space, keeps smells outside, and saves on restaurant food while letting you spend more time outside.
Outdoor kitchens can be customized to suit each budget and lifestyle. When establishing an outdoor kitchen, several considerations must be considered to ascertain that it aligns with your needs and budget. This article discusses four factors to consider when building your outdoor kitchen.
- Outdoor kitchen design
An outdoor kitchen is a significant investment that helps maximize your garden’s use all year round. Your design will depend on the space available and how much you’re ready to spend. Bespoke built-in kitchen designs allow you maximum flexibility to build your dream kitchen. You can add built-in appliances and select finishes that resonate with your landscape.
A modular outdoor kitchen is a budget-friendly way to establish a kitchen in your garden. Island outdoor kitchens are more suitable for smaller spaces. With the help of a professional landscape design expert such as Malone’s Landscape, you can find an outdoor kitchen design suitable for your needs and budget.
- Location
Location is a major consideration when designing an outdoor kitchen. The best outdoor kitchen location helps promote ease of use and functionality. Choosing the right location prevents unwanted interruptions from the surrounding environment to ensure kitchen use efficiency and convenience every time and for all purposes. When deciding where to place your outdoor kitchen, consider the following:
- Proximity: The kitchen should be close to your house. The nearer the outdoor kitchen is to your home’s entrance, the more convenient it will be to move and prepare food
- Utilities: Place your kitchen in a place where you can easily access electricity and gas
- View: When building an outdoor kitchen, consider the garden and surrounding view you want to experience from your space
- Privacy: Choosing an outdoor kitchen location that neighbors and passersby find hard to notice will make it easier for you to enjoy your space. You can use structures like walls and fences to achieve this
- Budget
A budget is essential when building an outdoor kitchen. It helps you determine what to prioritize depending on what you’re ready to spend. It also enables you to narrow your options down while setting your priorities. Setting a reasonable budget makes building your outdoor kitchen more accessible. It helps break down your project requirements while allowing you to understand better the facilities you require and if your budget needs adjustments for additional features.
When making an outdoor kitchen budget, consider what you wish to gain from it. Research and compare the material and appliance costs to ascertain how much money you’ll need to actualize your outdoor kitchen dream. If you work with a landscape design professional, factor in their payment and plan for contingencies.
- Outdoor kitchen materials
An outdoor kitchen is constantly exposed to inclement weather, so the materials, including wood, brick, concrete, stone, aluminum, and high-density polyethylene, used to make it should be durable and able to handle temperature changes without cracking or warping.
The materials should also be tough enough to go through all seasons and resist outdoor debris and food-dropping stains. When choosing outdoor kitchen materials, consider their outdoor use rating, cleaning ease, the maintenance they require, and if they need refinishing.
Endnote
Building the perfect outdoor kitchen involves multiple considerations. Considering these factors when planning an outdoor kitchen can be helpful.
