4 Things To Know About Outdoor Kitchen Designs

Outdoor kitchens are wonderful and hugely practical inventions that make every dinner party all the more special. What could be better than cooking outside, taking in the fresh air, and enjoying all of the facilities of a typical indoor kitchen but weatherized for the great outdoors?

It’s no wonder that outdoor kitchen ideas are a hit with homeowners and guests alike. When coupled with a charming outdoor dining area, an outdoor kitchen is an intimate setting for family fun where everyone can stretch out, relax, and enjoy a scrumptious meal in the warm rays of the spring sun. 

1. Benefits of Building Your Own Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens come with a myriad of benefits, especially for those who love both the outdoors and the culinary arts.

A cookout aficionado needs a place to cook and host, and if you’ve grown tired of your little charcoal grill, it might be time for an upgrade. Pop-up grills might be convenient to move around, but they’re slow to heat up, and not big enough to feed many guests. If you want to get serious with your cookouts, it’s time to consider some outdoor kitchen ideas. You may be reluctant to go through the time and expense, but the benefits of having an outdoor kitchen are nothing to scoff at. 

Building an outdoor kitchen will hugely increase how much you can cook, but it will also make your cookouts much more convenient and comfortable. An outdoor kitchen takes some of the facilities of the home out into the great outdoors. As outdoor kitchens continue to grow in popularity, you could also stand to significantly increase your home’s value.

There are many different custom outdoor kitchen designs to choose from in today’s market. These outdoor kitchen designs cater to every possible preference and requirement you may have, so you won’t be wanting for choice. As with indoor kitchen remodeling, outdoor kitchen remodeling options vary based on price and the time it takes to set up. If you're itching for inspiration for your latest and greatest outdoor kitchen, look no further. We’ve compiled the most stylish and modern outdoor kitchen layouts currently on the market that will make you the favorite summer evening host.

2. Costs and Timeframe

Outdoor kitchen designs range from basic to luxurious.

Generally speaking, outdoor kitchens have a pretty wide price range and this is due to the large variety of options available for those that decide to install one. A basic outdoor kitchen can be built for around $2,000 at a minimum — the expected price to account for when considering small outdoor kitchen ideas. This includes the cost of construction as well as the price of appliances that you will likely install such as a sink, refrigerator, and grill.

However, basic outdoor kitchens tend to be mostly prefab, meaning that they are a rigid layout that can’t really be changed or customized too much. If you want something that has been tailor-made for your exact requirements, you’ll likely end up paying quite a lot more. A luxury outdoor kitchen can cost as much as $50,000, even $100,000. Having said that, most people aren’t going to pay anywhere near that much, but it does put in perspective that outdoor kitchens remain something of a luxury item.

It usually takes at least three months to fully construct an outdoor kitchen, and while it is possible for an experienced handyman to take on the task, it is best to have some hired help in the form of an outdoor kitchen contractor. A DIY outdoor kitchen may be more affordable but you’ll be limited in your options and your project will likely take longer. Of course, something basic like a stone pizza oven can be constructed DIY if you have experience with masonry and can make for a very nice outdoor cooking area, so DIY outdoor kitchens are not out of the question by any means. 

3. Enclosing An Outdoor Kitchen

Sliding doors allow a kitchen like this to be defended from the elements.

One option some may find appealing is to build an enclosed or partially enclosed outdoor kitchen. This kind of outdoor kitchen design can be quite handy for keeping out unpleasant things such as insects or bad weather. If you live in a rainy place but still want to cook outside from time to time it can be nice to have sliding doors that can close you in and keep the rain out and open up again when the rain recedes.

Of course, this kind of design will limit how much natural light filters into your outdoor kitchen and it will add to the price. An enclosed outdoor kitchen will typically cost an extra $1,000 or more depending on how much of the kitchen you are enclosing and how big the kitchen is to start with.

Having said that, you can also have a more basic screened-in setup. This will keep insects out much like with a screened-in porch and will still allow fresh air to flow through the kitchen. Screening for your outdoor kitchen can be installed for under $1,000, allowing you to enjoy outdoor meals without worrying about pesky flies and buzzy mosquitoes.

4. Design Ideas

If you’re ready to build your very own outdoor kitchen, the first step is to decide what the design of the outdoor kitchen shall be. In effect, you have many different configurations and looks to choose from, but here is a selection of some of the most popular outdoor kitchen ideas just to give you an idea of what is possible. Hopefully, these neat designs will spark your imagination for your own future outdoor kitchen.

Mediterranean Style 

Pizza ovens are a universal hit.

There’s nothing quite as charming and sophisticated as a Mediterranean-style outdoor kitchen design. Mediterranean-style in this case means beautiful sandstone, a large grill for cooking meat and vegetables, and a beautiful pizza oven for stone-baked pies that everyone will love. Of course, a fridge for some of your best wine vintages is simply a must with this kind of setup.

To really capture the aesthetic, consider investing in some granite worktops as well. They will need to be sealed against moisture but they’ll look quite good in the gleaming sun.

Modern Minimalist

The minimalist style reduces clutter.

What better aesthetic for those who love practicality and simplicity than minimalism? The straight clean lines of the minimalist kitchen design philosophy are perfect for an outdoor kitchen, especially one with a lot of stainless steel and modern equipment. Those straight lines emphasize decluttering and space-saving designs, allowing you to do more with less and making your outdoor kitchen more usable and ergonomic. It also goes without saying that it is pretty sweet that it’s easier to keep the equipment and grills clean after each use.

Plus, modern advancements are really helpful when it comes to simple outdoor kitchen ideas. This means making your outdoor kitchen feel more like an indoor space with LED lighting to keep things nice and bright. You can also top it off with all-weather furniture that could fit right into a fancy sitting room. 

Ranch Style 

Rustic and down-to-earth country designs are primary features of the ranch-style aesthetic.

Perhaps modern minimalism isn’t quite your speed, and you’re more into something with rural charm. In that case, a covered backyard porch with a nice gas range and some reclaimed brick counters topped with wooden worktops might be just the thing. This kind of country charm brings a certain feel with it that really helps you to slow down and give the frenetic vibes of modern life a rest if only for a moment so that you can enjoy a nice homemade meal with your family and take in the vast expanse of the big sky and the bright stars.

Pool House Setup 

Poolside luxury designs make parties all the more fun.

The only thing that makes a poolside party even better is some food, so why not have a poolhouse with some kitchen equipment and accouterments? These kinds of setups — also known as summer kitchens — draw inspiration from open-air houses of old and make a luxuriant day by the pool all the more luxurious. A Viking grill, some pendant lights, maybe even some timber louvers for style and you’ve got an outdoor grill station that looks distinctive and keeps everyone well-fed and is also a great idea for maximizing outdoor fun.