Everything you need to create your own outdoor kitchen
If you enjoy cooking and dining outside, why stop at just a BBQ or a grill? Building an outdoor kitchen is a great way to extend your living space into the outdoors, blending indoors and outdoors together as well as maximising usable space in your garden.
An outdoor kitchen can be anything from a simple BBQ setup to a fully equipped outdoor kitchen with a grill, food preparation areas, running water, storage and even a dining area.
If you follow David Beckham, you might have seen his outdoor kitchen setup. While his budget may be upwards of £50k, it’s still possible to create your own functional kitchen setup in your back garden.
In this blog, we’ll help you with inspiration for your own outdoor kitchen setup including how to plan, design and equip it.
Planning your outdoor kitchen
Once you’ve made the decision to upgrade your trusty BBQ setup that’s tucked away in the corner of your patio into a fully functioning outdoor kitchen, there are a few factors to consider to make sure you create your dream space and create an outdoor kitchen that suits your needs.
Choose the right location
The size and scale of your outdoor kitchen will depend on the size and layout of your garden and the space you have in mind. Placing your outdoor kitchen along the wall of your house, on your patio or on decking is a great way to connect your indoor and outdoor space, and offer a convenient way to transport food from inside to outside (that’s if you’re not intending to add a built-in fridge). The side of your house can offer additional protection from the elements and allows for easy connection of utilities.
Your kitchen can be built further away from your house, but consider how you’re going to extend your existing plumbing and electrics to reach your outdoor kitchen.
Budget
The cost of building an outdoor kitchen varies depending on a range of factors, including the size of the kitchen, the materials you want to use and the appliances you want to use.
Think about the components you want to include in your kitchen, whether you want to add a shelter and whether you’ll need to add utilities too. All of these factors can affect the cost, so think about exactly what you’re going to want before you start.
A simple BBQ space with a shelter over your patio will cost much less than a fully-equipped and covered outdoor kitchen with running water and electricity.
Function
A key element in planning your outdoor kitchen is deciding how you want the space to look and how it will function. Do you just want a BBQ zone that separates your BBQ off from the rest of the garden and shelters you from the elements or do you want a full outdoor kitchen.
This decision will have an impact on your budget, the location of your kitchen and whether you’ll need a shelter.
Choose the right shelter
For a space that’s functional and can be used all year round, you might want to consider adding a shelter to house it. There are a number of shelters to choose from, all offering their own benefits and features.
Gazebo
A gazebo is a great way to provide shelter for your outdoor kitchen and provides a versatile and attractive option. It provides protection from the sun and rain, allowing you to cook and entertain in comfort throughout the year.
Open-sided gazebos such as our Classico Gazebo or our Grande Gazebo create an airy, social space that keeps you connected to your garden, while still providing shade and shelter from various weather conditions.
For more privacy or additional protection from the elements, gazebos with sides, such as our Gabby Pent Gazebo or our Kentucky Gazebo, are a great choice. These are perfect if you want to add counters or storage along the walls or create cooking and dining zones as well as stay warm under a heater!
Pergola
A pergola is another great option for framing your outdoor kitchen. While it doesn’t provide full cover in the same way as a gazebo, it helps to define your kitchen space and provides structure for accessories such as lighting, hanging plants or shade sails. A pergola can create an open, airy feel while still offering a sense of enclosure, defining your kitchen area from the rest of your garden and to make it feel inviting.
Log Cabins
If you want to go one step further and build something with additional functionality, a log cabin with a gazebo or with a veranda is the perfect addition to your garden. A log cabin provides an all-in-one solution for an outdoor kitchen and additional dining or lounge area. The inside enclosed space gives you somewhere for your appliances or to allow you to prep food, or even create an indoor dining or seating area and the veranda provides a covered spot for your grill or BBQ. This allows for year-round use and is an option if you want a more permanent, weatherproof structure in your garden.
The below log cabins provide the perfect setting for an outdoor kitchen:
What to include in your outdoor kitchen
Once you’re past the planning stage and you know exactly how you want your outdoor kitchen to function and to look, it’s time to look at what you’re going to include in the space.
Cooking station: The heart of any kitchen is the cooking area so think about whether you want to include a BBQ, grill, pizza oven or even all three. The cooking facilities you want will depend on how you plan to use the space, but always make sure there’s adequate ventilation and that your kitchen is fire-safe.
Worktops or prep area: Think about where you’re going to prep the food before you cook it. You could include a worktop space similar to your indoor kitchen or our outdoor kitchen station is the perfect solution, providing both space to prep food and for use as storage.
Storage and cabinets: Are you going to add cupboards to store non-perishable food and crockery? Having storage will really transform your outdoor kitchen into a home away from home. Adequate storage will also keep your outdoor kitchen organised and functional too.
Utilities: If you want to go all in, you could even add a sink with a cold water tap and power so you can add a fridge, freezer and power sockets, ensuring your outdoor kitchen is fully functional and ready for both cooking and entertaining.
Decorating your outdoor kitchen: Inspiration for your new space
Once your outdoor kitchen is ready, you can start decorating it and turning it into a cosy and homely space.
Lighting
If you’ve built a shelter to house your outdoor kitchen and you’ve got power, you can add string lights or lanterns to light the dining area or even wall-mounted lights to provide lighting for your cooking area.
Seating or a dining area
Comfort is key when it comes to your outdoor kitchen. If you want to entertain and dine outdoors as well as cook, adding comfortable seating or a dining table will enhance the space and turn it into more than just a kitchen.
A comfortable table with seating will allow guests to relax while you cook and, once you’re done, you can sit down to relax and dine with them.
Alternatively, you could even consider a larger table for entertaining and enjoy an outdoor dining space along with your kitchen.
Heating
Adding a chiminea, fire pit or a heater can help you to get more out of your kitchen all year round. You could enjoy cooking, eating and entertaining outdoors in the autumn and winter months too with something as simple as a garden building heater.
Accessories
Finally, accessorising your space will really make it feel like home. These are the personal touches that make the space yours such as the tableware, shelving and decorations.
You could also consider adding planters if you have a shelter for your kitchen and add in climbing plants that will grow up the sides and create even more of a feature of your outdoor kitchen.
Ready to build your own outdoor kitchen?
Creating your own outdoor kitchen is a great way to enhance your garden and enjoy more time outdoors with family and friends. With careful planning and high-quality materials, you can create a space that will bring you enjoyment and functionality for years to come.
Ready to build your dream outdoor kitchen? Explore Tuin’s range of wooden shelter, decking and garden accessories today.