The 10 Biggest Considerations When Designing an Outdoor Kitchen

There are many good reasons to want an outdoor kitchen, from having auxiliary kitchen equipment for large-scale productions to simply wanting to spend more time outside.

In any case, you’ll need to make sure your custom outdoor kitchen is exactly what you want it to be.

So, what are the most important considerations to bear in mind when designing one?

The Biggest Considerations When Designing an Outdoor Kitchen

Some of the most important considerations to bear in mind when designing your outdoor kitchen from scratch.

1. Location

First, you’ll need to think about the location. Most people build an outdoor kitchen in their own backyard, but depending on the size and layout of your backyard, there may be some tricky challenges to overcome. For example, if you’re working with a limited space or a space that is shaped unnaturally, you might be fundamentally limited in the type of kitchen you can build. Also, if you have a large enough backyard, you may have several location options for your outdoor kitchen.

2. Overall layout

You’ll also need to think about the overall layout. Do you want a single island where you can handle all your cooking and serving? Do you want an L-shaped counter? Do you want multiple islands that don’t necessarily connect? Are you more interested in a circular or encapsulating space where you can easily entertain guests?

3. Prebuilt vs. total custom

Next, think about whether you want to build your outdoor kitchen entirely from scratch or whether you want to take advantage of prebuilt components. If you’re building everything from the ground up, you’re going to have more questions to answer and you’ll probably need to hire a contractor to help you. If you purchase prebuilt, you may have fewer options, but it will be much more convenient – and you might be able to do at least some of the install work yourself.

4. Contractors and installers

No matter what, you’ll have to choose who is going to do the work. Professional installers and contractors can usually do the work for you, but installers and contractors aren’t all the same. You’ll need to find someone you trust who’s going to do safe, quality work for a reasonable price.

5. Utility hookups

If you already have utility hookups outside, like a natural gas line for an existing grill, you’ll have much more flexibility in the types of outdoor kitchens you can build. Otherwise, you’ll need to think about whether you want hookups for electricity, natural gas, water, or other utilities. If you want certain types of appliances, these are going to be a necessity.

6. Appliances

Speaking of appliances, you’ll need to decide which ones are most important for your outdoor kitchen. Most people at least get a stove top, but you can also get an oven, a refrigerator, freezer, a grill, and various other peripherals.

7. Counter space

How much counter space do you want? Generally, the more counter space you have, the better. It means you’ll have more room to prepare dishes, more room to serve, and more room to hang out with friends. However, more counter space is going to increase the total cost of your build.

8. Materials and aesthetics

Some materials are strictly better than others, offering more durability and functionality. Some materials have unique aesthetic value, like stone brick. You’ll need to decide materials based on your functional requirements, your budget, and your aesthetic preferences.

9. Price

Even if money is no object, you should think about price. You don’t want to overpay for your custom outdoor kitchen, nor do you want to deal with quality issues because you refused to pay a sufficient amount.

10. Maintenance

Finally, you’ll need to think about how you’re going to maintain your outdoor kitchen and keep it in good shape. Fortunately, outdoor kitchens don’t need a ton of work to stay in good working order if they’re built correctly from the start.

Making Your Decisions Simpler

If you’re having trouble making decisions for your outdoor kitchen, try the following:

Identify your needs

Before you start making any major decisions, identify your needs. Why exactly do you want an outdoor kitchen? What are you trying to accomplish? What kinds of foods are you going to cook out here?

Set a strict budget

Next, set a strict budget for yourself. Once you have a firm upper limit for what you want to spend, some of your decisions will be made for you. Just remember that building an outdoor kitchen typically has a high return on your investment (ROI), returning between 55 and 200 percent of what you spend on it.

Choose the essentials

Start building your outdoor kitchen by choosing only the absolute essentials. This can help you solidify certain foundational elements before you’re ready to make more fine-tuning decisions.

Fill in with extras

From there, you can fill in with extras until you reach your upper-limit budget, starting with your favorite potential peripherals.

Building an outdoor kitchen from scratch is a significant undertaking but one that’s highly rewarding when you’re at the finish line. Take these decisions seriously, but don’t torture yourself by drawing things out or over analyzing it. Almost any outdoor kitchen with decent quality is going to be valuable.