Are you finally coming round to the idea of building your own outdoor kitchen? Warm evenings and al fresco dining awaits! Having an outdoor kitchen is a great talking point for guests, and adds something different to any dinner party.
You might not be aware, but anything you can have inside can usually be implemented outdoors too. That goes for ovens, grills, sinks, cupboards, and everything in between!
Here are some things to consider when designing your outdoor kitchen:
Are you going for a more basic or luxurious outdoor kitchen?
You can still achieve a pretty awesome setup with a basic grill and worktop. However, more luxurious setups can involve sinks, cupboards, or even pizza ovens! Bear in mind that the more extravagant you choose to go, the more expensive your project will be, naturally.
This might also depend on the size of your property. If you happen to have a very large backyard with acres of space, you could design a more fully-functional outdoor kitchen.
Is this outdoor kitchen going to be permanent?
There are a couple of considerations here. If you have fallen in love with cooking outdoors and would love nothing more than the al fresco lifestyle, feel free to jump right in with installing appliances and cooking apparatus! However, if you think this might be something you only do once in a while, ask yourself if you really need permanent features.
Also, if your property is rented, it could be better to steer clear of setting up a permanent outdoor kitchen!
Consider your costs
Sit down and have a real think about everything that might add up to the grand total cost of your outdoor kitchen:
Appliances
Furniture
Permits
Tools
Electrician or plumber fees
Where in your backyard will it go?
If you live in the north of the country, or an area that receives plenty of rain or wind, make sure your outdoor kitchen will be well protected. Give your appliances plenty of shelter from the elements.
Make sure you keep grills covered and regularly clean them after using them!
If your kitchen will be subject to extreme temperatures, be sure to think twice about using PVC or non-stainless steel appliances. These can get damaged in extreme weather conditions.
Jack Vale is a writer from Happy Writers, Co.
