Things to Consider When Designing Your Outdoor Kitchen

Written by Davel Construction On May 25, 2021
three stainless steel gas BBQ grills

Outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular. They give you functionality and flexibility, making your outdoor space more about food, friends, and entertainment. Your outdoor kitchen will be a major feature in your home, so it makes sense to take time and really perfect the design before you get it installed.

Here are 6 things you should consider during the design process.

Connection to the Indoors

It may sound odd to focus on this first, but you may want to consider how far your outdoor kitchen will be from your indoor one. While the idea is to provide everything you need outside and minimize traffic between the two spaces, some movement inevitably occurs, and you want to have a clear path.

Material Choices for the Outdoors

You are more limited in your material options for an outdoor kitchen than an indoor one. Everything needs to stand up to rain and the other elements. Your countertop material is especially important because it needs to stand up to regular use and outdoor elements. Wood and laminate are less than ideal for this purpose, but flagstone, stainless steel, marble, and quartz are all more durable options.

Major Appliances and Features

One of the most fun parts of designing an outdoor kitchen is choosing the appliances and other features that you’ll be using in it. Here are some great options to get you started:

  • Barbecue
  • Side burner for the barbeque
  • Smoker
  • Rotisserie
  • Pizza oven
  • Small refrigerator
  • Wine refrigerator

Don’t forget that in your design it’s wise to include space for cabinets, so you can store utensils, plates, and other useful objects you’ll need while you’re cooking.

Seating Space

Where will the seating space be in relation to the kitchen? Will it have its own defined space, or be right nearby so it’s easier to serve food? It’s important to consider this before you start so that you end up with enough room for the number of seats that you want.

Thinking about building an outdoor kitchen? At Davel Construction, our team is here to help. Contact us today to learn more!

Contact Us

outdoor kitchen sink in backyard

Good Lighting

If you use your outdoor kitchen as the sun sets, you’ll need good lighting for safety. You don’t want to bump into any of the appliances, or accidentally switch something on. This might be one reason to keep the kitchen and dining space somewhat separate so that the dining space can have less intense lighting. When the lighting is right it creates a great atmosphere for dining at night.

Landscape Balance

With your outdoor kitchen and dining space all planned out, how much space do you have left for the lawn and the garden beds? If you have children or have another reason for the lawn, then you may need to rebalance things. If you have plenty left, you can expand the kitchen or your entertaining space.

Dreaming of having a beautiful kitchen? At Davel Construction, our team can help you design your outdoor kitchen from start to finish! Contact us today to learn more!