Picture a hot summer’s day in your garden, the sun dipping below the horizon, the aroma of a perfectly seared steak in the air, a crisp glass of wine in hand, and the warmth of friends and family all around you.
An outdoor kitchen is an extension of your indoor kitchen, an ultimate upgrade for keen chefs and those who love to host. It’s the second party place in your home, but outdoors under the moon-lit sky. Designing an outdoor kitchen is more than just placing a BBQ in the garden space, it needs to be built with function in mind, which includes the features that make it the ultimate outdoor area.
Whether you’re building a small, intimate outdoor cooking area or a full-scale culinary retreat, we have put together the top 10 must-have features for your outdoor kitchen design.
Lay-On Slatted Timber Outdoor Kitchen
1. At the Centre, a High-Quality Grill or BBQ
A luxurious outdoor kitchen space requires a high-quality built-in grill. This can be anything from The Big Green Egg to an award-winning Wolf Outdoor Grill. The grill is the centrepiece of any alfresco dining experience and is chosen to suit your desired cooking style. Keep in mind that stainless steel is an ideal choice for withstanding all weather conditions.
Depending on the model you choose, built-in grills come with multiple burners, rotisserie attachments, and storage shelves, adding to your outdoor cooking experience. It’s just your indoor cooking elevated.
2. Outdoor Worktops for Prep Space & Entertaining
Worktops are a key feature in the function of any cooking and entertaining space, and they need to withstand different weather conditions when placed outside. Choose a durable, weather-resistant surface like granite, porcelain, or engineered quartz to resist heat, UV, and moisture. These materials are known for their durability, but also their style as they bring a sleek, polished look to your outdoor entertaining space. Will you choose a design consisting of veins or a replica of concrete?
Ample prep space is also key to the outdoor kitchen’s function, as you need space to chop and serve.
Luxurious & Laidback Handleless Slim Vertical Slats Outdoor Kitchen
3. Functional Sink & Tap
A sink and tap combination can elevate the function of an outdoor kitchen, bringing an area to rinse produce and wash up after meals. Consider a deep stainless steel or ceramic sink combined with a pull-out spray tap for greater flexibility. The sink area is part of the ‘kitchen triangle’ and is a must when designing your ultimate outdoor setup.
4. Refrigeration Storage for Cold Beverages and Food
Reduce your trips back inside with an integrated fridge to keep food and drinks cool. Depending on the space and your layout design, there are small under-counter options or even full-height refrigerators to add to the outdoor aesthetics. Add a designated wine cooler or drinks drawers to elevate your entertaining needs and keep your guests with their favourite drink in hand at all times.
5. Handmade Outdoor Storage
An outdoor kitchen isn’t complete without bespoke storage to store cooking utensils, dishes and ingredients. Our handmade furniture can provide you with utensil drawers, dedicated compartments for ingredients, and ample space for dishes to ensure everything has its place. Designing an outdoor kitchen with smart organisation reduces clutter on the worktops, keeping the style sleek and tidy.
6. Canopy Structures
Build a canopy above the outdoor kitchen to provide a cover so you can use it all year round. Protect your appliances, worktops, seating and guests from unexpected rain and provide shade on hot days. The canopy structure can also act as a place to integrate built-in lighting and heaters to provide a cosy atmosphere after dark.
7. Outdoor Pizza Oven
Turn your outdoor cooking up a notch and deliver restaurant-quality pizzas to your guests with quality ingredients and a crisp base. Pizza ovens have surged in popularity, bringing people together through a shared cooking experience. Designed with a rustic charm and built with quick, high-temperature pizza ovens have become a centrepiece in many outdoor kitchens, where homeowners and guests enjoy casual al fresco dining with one another.
Beyond just a pizza oven, they have become a statement in modern outdoor spaces. Now it’s time to bite into that crisp crust and get the conversation flowing with your guests.
8. Layered Lighting
When the sun goes down, it’s nice to have layered lighting surrounding the outdoor space, but it’s also important for prepping and cooking. Integrated under-counter lights and suspended pendants to brighten up the prep and cooking zones. Then layer in soft lighting from LED strips or string lighting, to create the dreamiest, warm and inviting mood after sunset.
9. Comfortable Seating & Dining
Guests are important; you want them to feel comfortable enjoying the great outdoors. Design your outdoor kitchen with bar seating, built-in benches, or a dedicated dining area where you can all gather. Add cushions and blankets for a comfy setting, natural wood accents to tap into nature, and a fire pit nearby to bring a welcoming and relaxed space for socialising. There’s something about seeing those beautiful dancing flames.
10. Entertainment Features
Entertaining outdoors is more than just the cooking part; incorporate infrared heaters or a built-in fireplace to enjoy in the cooler months. Add a sound system setup for background music and even a TV for watching a match. After all, the outdoor kitchen is an entertaining space, so invite over your friends and enjoy the next game with a cool beer from the fridge.
Related blogs:
Expand Your Culinary Experience to the Outdoors with a Wolf Outdoor Grill
Complete your Outdoor Kitchen with a Big Green Egg
By incorporating any of these 10 must-have features into your outdoor kitchen design, you’ll create a space that effortlessly combines function and style, perfect for making memories from sunny afternoons to golden sunsets and evenings under the starry sky. An outdoor kitchen adds value to your home and brings people together in every season.
Contact the team at Planet Furniture today so we can bring you an outdoor space that looks exceptional and is built to withstand all the outdoor elements.
