How to Avoid Common Mistakes When Designing an Outdoor Kitchen

Grilling out, enjoying drinks with friends and spending time in your backyard: Those are all things you can do with an outdoor kitchen.

To do all of those things, though, you need a well-designed outdoor kitchen space.

Here are seven common outdoor kitchen design mistakes to avoid.

1. Kitchen and Patio Area Are Too Small

One of the most common outdoor kitchen design mistakes is not making the area large enough. We never hear anyone say they wish it was smaller.

It happens too often because people don’t think about the logistics of using the outdoor kitchen space. You need room for outdoor furniture, comfortable walking space and standing room (if you want to accommodate more guests).

A good rule of thumb is to have at least three feet of walking space between elements, like the furniture and kitchen or around the edge of the patio.

Knowing the size of your outdoor furniture, planters, or any other items that will be on the patio before you install the outdoor kitchen will help you determine how much space you need.

2. Not Enough Counter Space

This is another example of forgetting about the practical uses of your outdoor kitchen area. You need enough counter space to place dishes, drinks and ingredients.

When you pull food off of the grill, or guests are finished with their plates, you’ll need a place to put them all.

Think about how much counter space you use to prep and cook food indoors, and that will give you a better idea of what you need outside. You can also extend and raise the counters if you want to include barstools.

3. Turning the Grill the Wrong Direction

Another outdoor kitchen design mistake homeowners make is grill placement.

You don’t want your back to the party while you’re grilling: You want to be able to look out to the bar and patio areas, entertain and cook all at the same time.

So, make sure your grill is positioned correctly.

4. Not Enough Landscape Lighting

The majority of people want to grill out for dinner, so it’s probably going to be dark when you want to be in the outdoor kitchen. So it’s surprising that so many people forget to install landscape lighting around the kitchen.

You can put lighting under overhangs, on your home, in trees or in shade structures to illuminate the space. Don’t limit the space’s use by forgetting landscape lighting.

5. Not Factoring in How You’ll Use The Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen design can look great on paper, but if it doesn’t actually fit with how you want to use the space, it does you no good.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before designing your outdoor kitchen:

• What will I use the outdoor kitchen for (ex., grilling out, entertaining, aesthetic value, etc.)?
• How many people should the space accommodate?
• Do I want the kitchen next to my home for convenience, or would I rather have it disconnected?

These answers will play a big role in the outdoor kitchen design, so it’s important to figure them out before breaking ground.

For example, if you plan to use the space for entertaining guests, make sure the design includes a large patio space and maybe even add-on features.

Popular outdoor kitchen trends include fire pits, fireplaces, sitting walls and landscape lighting. Those features can also extend the space's use well into the night.

6. Cutting Design Costs in the Wrong Places

Outdoor kitchen options fit almost any budget. But you need to figure out how to fit what you want into the design before you get started.

There are some good (and bad) ways to cut costs with your outdoor kitchen. You may not need every appliance, like ovens and refrigerators, and skipping them can save you a few thousand.

You just don’t want to try to save money on the fundamentals, like having a solid structure and high-quality grill. Those are the outdoor kitchen essentials, so don’t skimp there.

Make a list of your wants and needs to see what you can realistically fit in your budget. You don’t want to go into the project blind to cost, only to end up cutting corners at the end.

7. Attempting a DIY Outdoor Kitchen

It may look fairly simple on TV or YouTube, but installing an outdoor kitchen requires the right tools, experience, materials, design and a good amount of time.

You may be tempted to save a few bucks by installing it yourself: I mean, who doesn’t want to spend less? But you could end up spending more by the time it’s done because you either call a professional to fix your mistakes or pay for later repairs because it wasn’t built well.

Imagine putting in days of work and countless dollars, only to have the kitchen look like it was thrown together and will fall apart at any minute. Talk about a big outdoor kitchen design mistake.

Create Your Next Outdoor Kitchen with Help From Outback

An outdoor kitchen is an investment in your home, so make sure it’s done right from the start by hiring an outdoor kitchen builder. You’ll also be able to pick the professional’s brain to get design and material ideas — and that’s insight you wouldn’t have if you DIY.

If you’re ready for a stunning, professionally designed outdoor kitchen, we’d love to work with you.

Call us at 208-656-3220, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced landscape designers.