How To Design Your Outdoor Kitchen

There are nearly infinite ways to design and build an outdoor kitchen. Thinking through some of the available options and understanding the implications of each choice will make your outdoor kitchen project a success.

Some of the most important things to consider when planning your outdoor kitchen project include:

How much cooking and prep do you plan to do? Will it see heavy use or just occasional use? The more you plan to use your outdoor kitchen, the more it should be set up to meet your specific needs and desires. Someone who wants to use their outdoor kitchen frequently to cook entire meals will need a much different setup than someone who just wants to grill a few items and have a space for cold drinks.
For how much of the cooking process do you want to use the outdoor kitchen? Are you okay with going back and forth to the indoor kitchen, or do you want to be fully equipped to work outside, prep, cook, and serve? If you plan to do a lot of cooking in your outdoor kitchen, especially a wide variety of meals and styles, you will likely want to include features beyond just a cooking surface. Consider adding prep space, a sink, refrigeration, storage for cookware and dry goods, trash receptacles, and electrical outlets for appliances like blenders.
Do you plan to cook while guests are there? If so, you will likely want to create some nearby seating so you can cook and still engage with your guests. This can be as simple as a raised or lower bar top incorporated into the outdoor kitchen design, or it could be a separate seating area nearby. If you don’t plan on eating outdoors, then you may not need to include seating areas or bar top seating.
Do you want to use the kitchen in inclement weather? If you want to maximize your outdoor kitchen’s usability, consider how to protect the space from rain and snow. Summer thunderstorms or unexpected weather shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying a great grilled dinner. Depending on your project, there are many ways to shield your outdoor kitchen from the elements.
What appliances are important to you? The options for outdoor kitchen appliances and features have grown substantially over the last decade. Nearly every option available for an indoor kitchen is now available for outdoor kitchens. Your cooking style and the answers to the above considerations will drive your appliance choices. Options include gas grills, wood-fired grills, smokers, gas burners, griddles, refrigeration, coolers, wine fridges, kegerators, sinks, storage options, pizza ovens, dishwashers, and many more. This is the fun part!