Are you a homeowner who loves spending time outside? If you have the space and desire to enjoy as much of the outdoors as possible, you should consider adding an outdoor kitchen to your property. Outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular and making beautiful additions to homes everywhere. Planning your outdoor kitchen area is the first step, and you need to know the essentials. Before starting construction, note these six necessary times for your exterior cooking area.
1. Cabinets
You don’t want to haul everything back and forth from inside to outside every time you use your outdoor kitchen. For better functionality and efficiency, having the right amount of storage cabinets to hold everything is essential. Think pots and pans, silverware, serving dishes, and whatever else you typically use when cooking and dining.
2. Faucet and Sink
Cooking is messy wherever you do it, and you usually need water as an ingredient. Again, you don’t want to have to run back inside to clean up or to get whatever you’re just bringing outdoors. Install a solid sink with a nice faucet to always have water available.
3. Refrigerator
You want to have ingredients, drinks, and other items chilled and at the ready while you’re cooking outdoors. There are several outdoor-rated models on the market for you to choose from. Consider your space available and the budget you’re looking at when shopping around.
4. Countertop and Preparation Area
Prepping is a big part of cooking, and you want to have ample space available as not to take away from the enjoyment of doing it outdoors. Granite, stainless steel, and concrete are popular outdoor kitchen options and work well because of their durability. You can have a little fun in this department with the plethora of styles and colors available.
5. Lighting
When it comes time to cook, you want to make sure you have enough light to see what you’re doing. On the other hand, you’ll likely be entertaining in this space, too, so you’ll want appropriate lighting for that as well. Many choose task or bright lights for the cooking area and softer, ambient light for the dining and entertaining spaces.
6. Grill
Last but certainly not least is a grill for all the cooking! The grill area is the main centerpiece of the outdoor kitchen, so you don’t want to cut any corners. Some of the options available include pellet grills, charcoal, and gas. Take your time shopping around to make sure you get the perfect size for the group you plan to feed and the grilling type that you like using the most.
You need these six essential things to build an outdoor kitchen at your location. Of course, all of these items can be customized to your liking and budget. For those of you who aren’t sure what direction to go or where to start, you may want to consider bringing in a professional to assist you with the design process. This is an addition that can and will last a lifetime as long as it’s done properly and in a way that you and your family can really enjoy.