Anyone who loves hosting has probably daydreamed about creating the outdoor kitchen of their dreams. There’s nothing quite like lazy afternoons spent by the pool with your friends and family, a drink in hand and a steak on the grill.
Being able to cook your whole meal outside and spend more time with your guests, even when you’re busy mixing drinks and chopping salad ingredients, would be a dream come true for many people. Here are a few tips to help you make that dream a reality.
Plan Your Design and Layout
First of all, having a solid game plan is essential. You’ll need to have an idea of what you want before you can get started, and you can even look online for some stunning outdoor kitchen ideas to inspire you.
Once you have a few ideas, you’ll need to determine what’s viable for your space. Here, you might want to reach out to professionals to help you with the design and planning of the layout, especially if you plan on building countertops and incorporating a stovetop.
Consider Maintenance and Care
Another thing you’ll need to consider is how easily you’ll be able to care for and maintain your outdoor kitchen. If you don’t have an awning outside, your patio furniture, kitchen appliances, etc. might become damaged by direct sunlight, rain, or other elements.
Make sure that you figure out a plan to take good care of everything you have in your outdoor space. Invest in appliances and items that you’ll be able to maintain, care 4, and replace as necessary. For example, make sure that you have patio furniture that is designed for the outdoors and spare gas grill parts for when things start looking a little rusty.
Get the Essential Gear
When you have the design and layout of your outdoor kitchen sorted; it’s time to start filling in the gaps with all the gear you need for hosting lavish dinner parties and spending more time in your backyard altogether.
If you foresee yourself using your outdoor kitchen regularly, then we would recommend investing in the best outdoor kitchen appliances your budget allows. This will help to ensure that everything you purchase lasts you for years of use and won’t need to be replaced or upgraded too soon after purchasing them. Don’t buy kitchen appliances just because they are popular online. Rather invest in the items you know will be useful for your specific needs.
Remember Lighting and Ambience
Just because you’re working with an outdoor area doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be decorating and creating a nice vibe. If you’re going to be hosting outside, you’ll want to make sure that your guests feel comfortable and at ease.
Creating the right ambience is what will turn your outdoor space into an oasis. Incorporate nice lighting, invest in outdoor speakers so you can play some background music, and decorate the space according to your tastes and personal style. This will help set the mood!