There are great benefits to designing an outdoor kitchen that feels like an extension of your home. It improves (or preserves) the overall flow of the entire property, makes entertaining much easier, and ensures you use your outdoor kitchen more, maximizing ROI.
Today, we’re sharing five design principles that can help you achieve the perfect blend.
1. The cabinet connection
Most outdoor kitchens are adjacent to indoor kitchens. To create cohesion between the two, focus on the cabinets first.
A perfect match is unnecessary, if not impossible. Your outdoor cabinets will be constructed of special, UV-resistant, weather-rated materials. However, the style, finish, hardware, and other details help make them the outdoorsy cousin of your indoor space.
2. Bring indoor “comforts” outside
Making a patio kitchen feel like an extension of your home isn’t all about sinks and furniture. Features like pergolas, fireplaces, and retainer walls make the area feel contained and complete. That makes it feel more integrated with the rest of the home.
3. Bring outdoor beauty inside
Let your outdoor kitchen inspire your indoor design. Stone, wood, and plant life can all find their way in. Stone or butcher block counters, tile floors that coordinate with patio pavers, and potted plants all make the two adjacent spaces feel natural.
4. Draw from the same color palette
Just like with cabinets, a seamless match in weather-friendly materials is unlikely. Total matches also aren’t as effective as clever coordination.
If you’ve employed anything akin to the 60/30/10 design principle indoors, swap some of those proportions around and take it outdoors. A deeper accent color indoors can become the principal color of the outdoor design.
5. Open up the entryway
The physical transition between the indoor and outdoor kitchen is one of the most important considerations for flow. Larger windows and doors allow in more natural light and a view of the outdoor space.
If your remodel doesn’t include actually expanding these areas, update the glass. The modern appearance of kerfed windows places the focus on the view, rather than the window. Glass doors with minimal framing and trim similarly tie the two spaces together more efficiently.
Outdoor living gets a new lease on life at The Designery
Many outdoor kitchens don’t fit into the rest of a home’s design because they don’t feel complete. People don’t think twice about outfitting their indoor kitchens with integrated appliances, built-ins, and custom layouts. Outdoor kitchens deserve the same.
The Designery specializes in low-maintenance, weather-resistant outdoor kitchens. Just like your interior kitchen, the design highlights the features you rely on most, from grills and smokers to countertops and beverage coolers.
Getting an outdoor kitchen that not only feels like part of your home, but the best part of your home, is possible in three simple steps. The first is your free consultation.
Outdoor kitchen design FAQ
How do you design an outdoor kitchen layout?
Outdoor kitchens can come in all of the same layouts as an indoor kitchen. U-shaped, L-shaped, galley, and linear kitchens all sit comfortably in your own backyard. Outdoor kitchen islands are even growing in popularity. Which you choose depends on your available space and what you want from your kitchen, so consulting a designer is a safe bet.
Simple, linear layouts and L-shaped kitchens are most popular outdoors. The Designery works with both custom layouts and prefabricated designs.
What countertop is best for an outdoor kitchen?
Loving your quartz countertop and looking to take the fun outdoors? Granite and other natural stone may be a better choice for outdoor kitchens.
UV rays can compromise the resin in many engineered quartz products over time. Natural stone requires sealing, but is more resilient when exposed to the elements. If you live in a relatively stable climate and will have a roof over your countertop area, your options open up.
What are common outdoor cabinet problems?
Poor design and installation can cut the life of outdoor cabinets in half. When rain and snow get in and accumulate, myriad problems show up, from warping to electrical problems to appliance failure.
The Designery offers thick, HDPE outdoor cabinets that are resistant to moisture, microbes, and sun. They still come in a variety of colors and finishes for the look you want, but are designed and constructed for long-term performance.
What are the cons of outdoor kitchens?
If you live in a harsh climate, you may not get as much out of your outdoor kitchen as you’d like. However, covering your kitchen and following a maintenance schedule helps. Fireplaces are another solution that can add months of use per year to your space.
For most of us, additional maintenance is the only drawback. This typically balances out with the increased opportunities for physical activity, fresh air, and togetherness that an outdoor kitchen provides.
