Outdoor kitchens are much more than just a second home cooking space.
The best outdoor kitchens are an extension of the living space that support a homeowner’s lifestyle and enhance their home’s aesthetic appeal.
Choosing the right outdoor kitchen colours is a crucial step in the design process. Any room’s colour scheme plays a huge role in shaping its identity and look.
Why outdoor kitchen colours matter
Well-chosen colours can elevate an ordinary outdoor kitchen aesthetic into something that looks truly extraordinary.
For an outdoor kitchen, the colours chosen should primarily accomplish these four things:
- harmonize with its surroundings
- be visually appealing
- reflect the owner’s personality and style
- enhance the outdoor living experience
We’ll show you how to make the right choices for your outdoor kitchen colours by explaining what factors to take into consideration and what the most popular colour schemes are.
6 outdoor kitchen colour considerations
While there are general theories and guidelines about picking proper design colours, it’s a subjective choice. If a certain design theme and colour palette is aesthetically pleasing to you, that’s all that matters.
Several factors will influence which outdoor kitchen colour choices you should make.
1. Complement the surrounding environment
Most people who add an outdoor kitchen to their backyard choose a design theme that complements their home exterior’s overall aesthetic.
Along with the home’s walls and roof, the colours of features like decking, patio stones, fences, landscaping, an overhead covering, and even outdoor furniture should be taken into account.
The natural colours used for this kitchen’s cabinetry beautifully complement the home’s exterior and furniture finish, as well as the scenic setting.
2. Climate and deck/patio location
The climate you live in and the kitchen’s location on your property also play an important role in your colour choices. Consider how the kitchen colours will interact with the environment throughout the year.
Bright, reflective surfaces might be too harsh in a sunny backyard without a kitchen roof, while dark colours will absorb more sunlight and heat up the area faster.
3. Outdoor kitchen materials
A kitchen’s materials and finishes will impact your colour choices. The most popular outdoor kitchen materials are stainless steel, marine-grade aluminum, PVC, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and masonry.
Each one has its own natural colour tone, texture, and reflectiveness and using the right contrasting colours can enhance the beauty of these materials. Many outdoor kitchen products offer an array of stylish colour and finish options.
4. Durability and maintenance
Outdoor kitchen products are designed to withstand the elements, but their durability is dependent on what materials they’re made with and what the quality of those materials is.
Lighter colours may show less wear from UV exposure compared to darker-coloured cabinets. In terms of maintenance, darker colours hide stains and spills more effectively, but both they and lighter-coloured cabinets tend to need more frequent cleaning to remove marks and smudges.
5. How your kitchen will function
If you want a cooking space where functionality is more important than aesthetics, a simple colour theme is probably what you’re after. On the other hand, outdoor kitchen and living spaces have become a part of the home we use more for entertaining.
If you plan to host a lot of backyard cookouts and summer gatherings, you may want your kitchen to have more of a luxury look that has the kind of “wow factor” that impresses guests.
Also consider that outdoor kitchens that incorporate features like a dining space, bar, and outdoor living room will naturally require more planning to create a cohesive design aesthetic.
This outdoor kitchen features natural colours, but has a thoroughly modern look. It’s a spectacular home showpiece that is guaranteed to wow guests.
6. Whether or not you want an indoor-outdoor living space
Indoor-outdoor spaces are one of the biggest trends in outdoor living right now. This concept creates a seamless transition between a home’s interior and an outdoor living space.
If you’re after that type of design, the décor of the indoor area that transitions to your outdoor kitchen provides a logical design blueprint for your colours.
Popular outdoor kitchen colour themes
Outdoor kitchens are a long-term investment, so it’s important to choose colours that will age well. Classic neutrals and natural tones tend to stand the test of time better than trendy, high-saturation colours.
Now that you have a better understanding of what to consider when choosing your outdoor kitchen colours, let’s explore some popular colour themes that can inspire your design.
1. Biophilic/nature-inspired colours
Many of us are paying more attention to our wellness and self-care these days. The spaces we inhabit play a role in aiding our well-being, which is what the increasingly popular biophilic design concept is all about.
Biophilic design incorporates natural elements like greenery, organic materials, natural light, and natural colours into a living space. Research shows this can be beneficial for our mental and physical well-being because creating a stronger connection to nature helps us feel more relaxed.
Earthy colours like brown, tan, and beige are ideal for a nature-inspired outdoor kitchen colour scheme, as well as kitchens with a rustic design style. Whites are also effective when combined with secondary organic tones and natural decorative features like a living green wall with vining plants or some potted plants and flowers.
Using natural colours may be preferable if you live in an urban location where you’re surrounded by large homes and don’t have much yard foliage. A nature-inspired outdoor kitchen colour scheme also blends in well with the surroundings of a rural home that’s surrounded by an abundance of nature.
Elements like the foliage in this colourful outdoor kitchen make us feel more connected to nature.
2. Monochromatic colours
A monochromatic colour scheme uses varying shades of the same colour to add depth and visual interest to a space. Using a palette rooted in one colour helps designers create a balanced, cohesive look.
Monochromatic colour schemes have plenty of versatility and can be used with any hue, whether they’re neutral or vibrant.
Here are some examples of the colour combinations that could comprise a monochromatic colour palette:
- sky blue, blue-gray, navy blue
- charcoal, light gray, slate
- olive green, teal, forest green
- off-white, ivory white, alabaster
3. Neutral and muted colours
Neutral colours are favoured for their design versatility and timeless appeal. If you prefer a sophisticated, understated aesthetic, shades such as white, taupe, black, and gray are excellent choices. Minimalist design themes typically use neutral colours.
If subtle shades appeal to you and you want a few more options, consider using muted colours. These are colours that are desaturated, which gives them a more subdued appearance. Primary colours like reds, greens, and blues can be muted to soften their intensity.
4. Adding pops of bold colour
While using a neutral colour scheme is safe and versatile, there’s still room to inject a touch of personality into your design. Tastefully adding playful splashes of bold colours in spaces with predominantly neutral colours creates a striking contrast.
This design strategy may be appealing to those who entertain regularly and want their outdoor kitchen to be a backyard focal point and a conversation starter. The key is not to overdo it, however. You don’t want the vibrant colours you’re using to overwhelm the kitchen space.
Adding pops of colour to an outdoor kitchen can be achieved by buying products with colourful finishes. Some outdoor kitchen appliance manufacturers are catering to the increasing demand for products with colourful finishes. Here are some examples:
- Alfresco’s premium ALXE grills come in a variety of vibrant primary colours
- Hestan grills feature stylish bold colours on their front accent panels
- some pizza ovens come in colourful finishes
Outdoor cabinet and countertop colour ideas
Although we’ve briefly mentioned outdoor kitchen cabinets, this essential part of an outdoor kitchen’s design warrants a little more attention. After all, cabinets have the biggest impact on an outdoor kitchen’s overall aesthetic.
Outdoor cabinets can be found in a wide range of colours and distinctive finishes. Whether you want the natural look of stone, the earthy warmth of wood (using synthetic materials that perfectly replicate wood’s colour and texture), or the sleek, modern aesthetic of stainless steel and aluminum, there’s a style to suit your taste.
Invest in high-quality outdoor kitchen cabinets to give you more colour customization options and to ensure they retain their beautiful appearance for a long time.
Outdoor kitchen countertops, which typically have a solid or stone look, also factor into your colour choices. The countertop colour can boldly contrast the colour of the cabinetry it’s installed on or have a similar or slightly different hue to the cabinets to subtly support the colour palette.
Remember that the countertops and cabinets don’t just have to complement the predominant surrounding features like the flooring and home exterior. They also have to account for how things like appliances and a sink will work aesthetically within the space. Fortunately, stainless steel appliances tend to pair well with most cabinet and countertop colours, adding visually appealing metallic accents.
This dark countertop contrasts nicely with the white cabinets. The grill, side burners, and fridge add tasteful metallic accents.
Make your outdoor kitchen stand out with style
Outeriors carries everything you need to create a dynamic outdoor kitchen space that will become a centrepiece for your home’s outdoor gatherings.
We specialize in designing bespoke outdoor kitchens that give our clients ample creative freedom to choose the colours and design features that will make their backyard space stand out with style.
Schedule a free design consultation with us to begin planning your custom outdoor kitchen.
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