Outdoor kitchen tips: 8 things to keep in mind before designing it

In an ideal outdoor kitchen, style and functionality match perfectly, blending into an inseparable pair. Combined with the most evocative location and the addition of elegant furnishing accessories, these factors generate a winning technical-aesthetic combination that makes an outdoor kitchen a real luxury.

The best kitchen design projects come from the careful planning of each design phase, from the choice of the concept to the customisation of the furniture.

That is why, in this article, we have compiled a series of style and design suggestions useful for correctly designing an outdoor kitchen. Let's analyse them together.

8 outdoor kitchen tips for designing your own outdoor area

In an outdoor kitchen, performance, design and ergonomics must match perfectly.

To achieve a complete outdoor project, in terms of functionality and aesthetics, we recommend that you keep these 8 outdoor kitchen tips in mind:

1. Concept and mood
2. Location
3. Climate and materials
4. Layout
5. Food area
6. Cooking tools and appliances
7. Storage
8. Lighting
   
   

Let’s continue point by point.

1. Concept and mood

Before looking at the actual implementation of the project, it is important to listen to the customer's requests and understand how to satisfy their style and design needs.

To do this, the stylistic concept that best reflects the tastes and preferences of the client should be defined then applied to the materials, finishes, furnishing accessories and decorative accessories. Subsequently, it is necessary to think about the preparation of the various elements and then begin to outline the atmosphere of the entire outdoor location.

2. Location

Choose the location carefully to optimise your customer's experience in the kitchen. Placing the kitchen area in the wrong place could significantly reduce its functional and aesthetic quality.

For this reason, the design should offer a protected and welcoming location, where your customer can enjoy pleasant moments of conviviality and maximum comfort and cook in total ease.

If you want to avoid sacrificing aesthetics or comfort, you could install the outdoor kitchen inside a conservatory or within the perimeter of a bioclimatic pergola.

Both solutions will satisfy your needs in terms of functionality and style. The pergola, made of aluminium with a roof with adjustable slats, is resistant and ensures protection from atmospheric agents while providing proper shading and ventilation. The conservatory is a steel and glasshouse that allows for all the comforts of a closed environment while remaining in full contact with nature.

3. Climate and materials

When it comes to designing an outdoor kitchen, climatic conditions is one of the main factors to consider.

The location's climate will largely determine the overall design of the cooking space, conditioning the finishes and treatments of the materials that will constitute the structure of your kitchen. For example, if you have been commissioned to design an outdoor kitchen design project in a hot area, you will have to give priority to certain aspects.

First of all, high-quality and highly resistant materials for the cladding of kitchen countertops, doors and modules should be chosen. The quality of the materials chosen will determine the kitchen’s duration, as well as the user experience.

For this reason, to offer a kitchen that ensures high performance and is always aesthetically flawless, a robust and durable structure that leaves room for customisation is required. In this regard, we recommend a kitchen made with a powder-coated steel structure treated for the outdoors.

This coating makes the kitchen more resistance without giving up the aesthetic side. An ideal technical-aesthetic note in every location. Think about the climate of coastal areas and the relative climatic problems such as intense UV rays and salt in the air. These are highly corrosive elements for most materials.

Choosing these types of highly resistant materials and paints also applies to locations with more severe weather conditions.

In colder places, it could be interesting to install stone fireplaces or outdoor stoves. Both are excellent additions because, in addition to guaranteeing warmth and protection from the cold, they create a more welcoming and comfortable atmosphere outdoors.

Many products, such as porcelain stoneware and stainless steel, are more suitable for outdoor installations.

Specifically, stoneware is resistant to UV rays, frost, abrasion and oxidation and is easy to clean. Stainless steel, equally resistant and durable, is biologically neutral and, as a result, highly hygienic. These are materials with a great technical and aesthetic performance, ideal for creating tops, protective covers, covering for doors, tops and appliances (in the case of steel).

4. Layout

Once you have selected the most suitable materials for the kitchen, it is important to devise a functional and practical layout that guarantees freedom of movement and maximum fluidity while preparing food.

The configuration of the kitchen is one of the central points in outdoor projects. Every good arrangement has three main areas: the hob, sink and fridge, the so-called work triangle.

The work triangle is a highly functional arrangement of the three task areas, as well as a fixed principle to be respected in the conception of any layout. In this sense, the most suitable kitchens that comply with the work triangle rule are:

• Corner Kitchen
  
  The corner kitchen has a layout that can be adapted to large and medium-sized spaces, in areas with angular cuts or large open spaces.
  
  This particular configuration leaves ample room for the customisation of furnishings, thus offering the possibility of setting up the free space in the centre of the kitchen area with tables, chairs and sofas. In this way, it will be possible to create a convivial and liveable atmosphere outdoors.
  
  
  
• Linear kitchen
  
  The linear kitchen is recognised for its excellent structural and aesthetic versatility and also guarantees freedom of movement and a fluid and easy workflow.
  
  
  
• U-shaped kitchen
  
  The U-shaped kitchen presents an optimal configuration of the work triangle, thus ensuring a comfortable performance of the activities in the kitchen and 360-degree liveability. Beyond that, the U-shaped layout is the most suitable to make the outdoor kitchen as liveable and welcoming as a living area. Also, in this case, the three adjoining floors leave a free space in the centre to be set up at the customer's complete discretion.
  
  

5. Food area

As for the previous step, the layout of the kitchen, you need to focus on the food area, where the food will be consumed. Outdoor kitchens are to all effects the spatial and emotional extension of cooking spaces and living rooms inside the home. For this reason, it is important to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, even outdoors.

How? By setting up a dining area and a living area adjacent to the kitchen. In doing so, you will give a new personality to outdoor environments, turning them into complete living spaces.

Both areas should have tables and chairs and sofas and coffee tables in perfect harmony with the stylistic concept designed for the entire outdoor space and consistent with the surrounding environment. 

6. Cooking tools and appliances

Choosing suitable and effective cooking tools and appliances is certainly one of the main outdoor kitchen tips. The perfect outdoor kitchen combines design and performance in a single solution.

To guarantee an experience of maximum exclusivity for your client, we will show you the options that should never be missing in an outdoor kitchen:

• Barbecue
  
  In an outdoor kitchen, you cannot forget about the barbecue: an ideal cooking tool for outdoor spaces, designed to be spacious and easy to clean. Choose a solution with a stainless steel protective cover, that way, you can ensure greater protection to the task area in question during periods of inactivity.
  
  

• Gas or induction hob
  
  Choosing between a gas or induction hob is the responsibility of the customer based on the way he or she prefers to cook. On the one hand, the practical and efficient gas hob allows for the instant adjustment of the temperature of the burners. On the other hand, the induction hob is more efficient and guarantees the optimisation of cooking and energy consumption times.
  
  

• Oven
  
  Another essential element in the kitchen is the oven. To select the best solution, evaluate the functions of the various models, the types of cooking and control systems, the capacity and resistance to high temperatures.
  
  

• Teppanyaki grill
  
  To add value to your client's kitchen, equip it with a teppanyaki grills: an oriental cooking tool that is now making its way into designer kitchens as it allows you to grill and cook without the fat.
  
  

• Grill or fryer
  
  The grill and fryer fully reflect the essence of the outdoor lifestyle. That's why they should never be lacking in an outdoor kitchen.
  
  

• Wine cellar
  
  This is a must-have in the kitchen, especially for those who don't want to give up comfort and luxury even outdoors. A wine cellar can be inserted into a drink cabinet equipped with glasses and an ice machine. That way, you have everything you need to prepare and serve delicious drinks or wines at the right temperature.
  
  

• Fridge
  
  In an outdoor kitchen, you can’t go without efficient preservation and cooling systems. Therefore, it is necessary to equip your customer's kitchen with a refrigerator of optimal capacity (visible or hidden behind doors), able to preserve the flavour and freshness of food and drinks. 
  
  

7. Storage

Make sure the outdoor kitchen can provide ample storage space.

The effective use of kitchen units, drawers, baskets and shelves can reduce clutter, optimise the workflow and create a more welcoming space.

If you wish to guarantee greater capacity and at the same time introduce an additional task area in the furnishing complex, we advise you to opt for a bar counter. In this way, you will be able to implement the functionality of the entire kitchen area.

8. Lighting

Lighting plays a central role, both inside the home and in outdoor design projects. In this case, to stay in line with the stylistic concept designed to furnish the location and finish the kitchen, choose suitable lighting sources.

Choose glamorous decorative lamps in perfect harmony with the furnishings selected for your project: arched lamps, floor lamps, appliqués and suspension lamps. 

Outdoor kitchen tips: the right steps to design the perfect space

To design the perfect outdoor kitchen, it is necessary to pay particular attention to every design phase, starting from the choice of the location to the choice of materials and finishes, and concluding with the selection of decorative elements and elegant furnishings.

To obtain a final result of refined aesthetics and strong technical content, be sure to always keep our outdoor kitchen tips in mind.

You will guarantee a kitchen that includes design and performance, as well as a complete solution for your customer.