Outdoor Kitchen Basics: A Beginner’s Planning Guide

Outdoor kitchen additions have become an increasingly popular way for homeowners to increase their living space’s square footage.

An exterior cooking space commonly becomes the heart of the backyard, allowing homeowners to enjoy the outdoors more while entertaining and cooking for friends and family.

Building an outdoor kitchen involves careful planning and an understanding of the essential requirements to ensure the space is functional, safe, aesthetically pleasing, and durable.

If you’re new to the world of outdoor kitchens, learn about the outdoor kitchen basics to help get you ready to design the perfect space.

Outdoor kitchen basics you need to know

There are many types of outdoor kitchen products and design options on the market and trying to make sense of it all can be overwhelming.

Outdoor kitchen designs can get quite elaborate or be relatively simple. Regardless of what type of cooking space you’re planning to build, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some outdoor kitchen basics.

This beginner’s guide will explain everything you need to know about the basics of creating an outdoor kitchen.

We’ll explain what your design options are, the logistics to consider, and how to choose the best products. If you’re looking to get a little more creative with your kitchen design, we’ll also suggest some worthwhile add-on features worth considering.

Do you want a prefab or custom outdoor kitchen?

One of the first outdoor kitchen basics to consider is whether you want a prefab or custom outdoor kitchen. The size of the budget you’re working with, the scale of your project, and the quality level of the products you want for your kitchen will largely determine which option you choose.

A prefab or modular outdoor kitchen comes with pieces that are designed to be easily assembled. They’re ideal for homeowners with a smaller budget who want to install the kitchen themselves.

If you have a larger budget to work with, hiring a reputable custom kitchen design company is the way to go. Working with a full-service company like Outeriors offers the following benefits:

get full access to seasoned outdoor kitchen design pros
outfit your cooking space with the highest-quality outdoor kitchen products
create a one-of-a-kind outdoor kitchen that perfectly complements your lifestyle
we’ll handle all aspects of the project, removing the stress that comes with a renovation
be fully involved in the design process

Outeriors custom-designed this outdoor kitchen.

Location, utilities, and layout

Numerous factors will impact the location chosen to install an outdoor kitchen. Most homeowners opt to have their exterior kitchen close to the house for the sake of convenience, as well as the fact that houses provide deck and patio shade and protection from the wind. Also, consider how much privacy you’ll have and what your view looks like.

A backyard kitchen will need electricity and natural gas or propane to function. If you want an outdoor sink, ice machine, or cocktail station, a water connection is required. It’s important to consider the logistics of getting these utilities hooked up and how this will impact your project budget.

Choosing the best outdoor kitchen layout involves assessing your space and how the kitchen will be used, whether it’s for casual grilling, gourmet cooking, or as a space you also want to use for entertaining. Whichever layout you choose, build for optimal functionality, efficiency, and convenience.

The same types of layouts used for indoor kitchens can typically be used for outdoor spaces. The most common types of kitchen layouts are:

L-shaped (perfect for smaller spaces)
U-shaped (ideal for kitchens with more amenities and where more counter space is needed)
linear (best for simpler, budget-conscious kitchens)
galley (featuring two parallel counters separated by a walking space)
island (a freestanding counter)

Cabinets

The cabinets in an outdoor kitchen are one of its most important features. Not only do they have a major impact on the space’s aesthetic, they also provide essential storage space for cooking tools, dinnerware, glassware, and cutlery.

Cabinets can also house useful kitchen helpers like pullout trash bins and incorporate built-in appliances like a grill, fridge, a warming drawer, and more.

It’s essential for anything being installed in an outdoor cooking space to be made with resilient materials that can withstand the elements. Exposure to the sun, rain, snow, and humidity will cause cheap kitchen products to rust, fade, and deteriorate much quicker compared to high-quality products. You should also choose low-maintenance outdoor kitchen materials.

stainless steel
marine-grade aluminum
PVC
high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
masonry

Station Grill’s PUR Collection custom cabinets made from high-density marine-quality polyethylene.

Grill

As the centrepiece of most backyard cooking spaces, one of the outdoor kitchen basics is to get a high-quality grill. Most outdoor kitchens have a built-in grill, which makes more efficient use of your space.

Choose a proper grill size for your needs based on your cooking habits and the number of people you usually entertain.

When selecting a grill, get one made with high-quality construction materials like 304 stainless steel. This will help the grill last longer by more effectively resisting rust and corrosion.

Premium grills offer excellent durability and are worth investing in for a few more reasons:

luxury grills come with convenient high-tech features
they’re safer to use and more reliable
high-quality grills simply look and feel nicer than cheap grills
they offer more custom options, which works better for a custom kitchen design

Countertops

Outdoor kitchen countertops must serve a few purposes: they have to be weatherproof, visually appealing, and highly resistant to the scratches, stains, and high temperatures that come with cooking outdoors.

The most commonly used materials for outdoor countertops are non-porous ones like granite, soapstone, and porcelain. Concrete and quartzite are more porous materials but will last longer if they’re resealed annually. Stainless steel is another low-maintenance option, but only practical if the outdoor cooking area is covered (because of how hot the steel will get in direct sunlight).

Another smart option that is worth considering is Dekton countertops. They’re made with a high-tech Sinterized Particle Technology process that produces ultra-compact surfaces made from a combination of porcelain, quartz, and glass.

High-quality countertops like Dekton offer ample design versatility, which allows for a vast array of aesthetic possibilities.

Give yourself enough countertop space to comfortably accommodate all of your appliances (including built-ins) and handle all of your food prep, serving, and cleanup needs.

Add-ons to your outdoor kitchen basics

So far, we’ve covered the essential outdoor kitchen basics. There are many add-ons you can incorporate into your kitchen design that would fall into the “non-essential, but desirable” category.

These extras make an outdoor kitchen more functional, efficient, and convenient to use and create a complete, more impressive-looking outdoor living space. Fixr.com’s recent Outdoor Living Trends survey of home design and construction pros found that multi-functional exterior spaces were one of this year’s top outdoor living trends.

Here are some worthwhile add-ons that can improve a basic outdoor kitchen space:

a covering t0 protect your investment and let you cook and dine when it’s raining
appliances like a pizza oven, side burners, fridge, icemaker, and a flat-top grill
a bar with a beverage centre and sink
a built-in dining space
an outdoor living room with a TV and fire pit

Add-ons to this outdoor kitchen include a covering, sink, and extra appliances (a fridge, side burner, and pizza oven).

We have your outdoor kitchen basics and much more!

Now that you’re more informed about these outdoor kitchen basics, what type of design would be perfect for your backyard?

Let our experienced designers work with you to create a backyard cooking space that will enhance your family’s outdoor living experience.

Outeriors offers a full-service approach to outdoor kitchen design. We handle all aspects of the project to ensure a stress-free experience from start to finish.

Schedule a free design consultation with us to start bringing your dream outdoor kitchen concept to life.

Please share this post if you found it useful.