Trendy Outdoor Kitchen Ideas
Outdoor kitchens have been a popular feature in homes for decades. What started as a fad has become a modern-day fixture that defines a yard and, in large part, a home as well.
An outdoor kitchen is a fluid space where you can prepare and serve food. Some are small, single-grilling units, while others are luxury spaces made for al fresco entertainment with all the bells and whistles. Many feature an entire range of appliances and storage solutions, such as refrigerators and dishwashers.
No matter how big or small, an outdoor kitchen enhances everything from your patio or deck to your yard and home. Let’s put the latest outdoor kitchen trends under the microscope and take a closer look at innovations and design ideas.
Outdoor kitchens have been a popular feature in homes for decades. What started as a fad has become a modern-day fixture that defines a yard and, in large part, a home as well.
An outdoor kitchen is a fluid space where you can prepare and serve food. Some are small, single-grilling units, while others are luxury spaces made for al fresco entertainment with all the bells and whistles. Many feature an entire range of appliances and storage solutions, such as refrigerators and dishwashers.
No matter how big or small, an outdoor kitchen enhances everything from your patio or deck to your yard and home. Let’s put the latest outdoor kitchen trends under the microscope and take a closer look at innovations and design ideas.
Designs
Color schemes, tiling patterns, plants, furniture, décor… There are endless choices and combinations, which can be confusing. Here are some suggestions worth considering.
Play dark and light colors against each other to spotlight variation and artistic flair. You can combine different materials to create these striking effects. Experiment with ideas, such as gray slate tiles and dark woods, for example. One of the top trends right now is the use of concrete and wood.
Create a farmhouse or cottage look by using rugged stone, wooden furniture, and earthy decor, such as terracotta pots for plants. This design contrasts dramatically when paired with gray flooring.
In recent years, gray stepped into the spotlight as the new neutral color of choice. It has proven to be a versatile and practical canvas for everything from floors to counters. Gray highlights colors across the entire spectrum, whether they’re bright, subdued, or something in between.
The industrial look is also getting a lot of attention these days. Many designers are embracing materials such as raw concrete and unassuming stainless steel, which give an outdoor kitchen a clean yet inspired aesthetic.
Rustic touches add a certain warmth and coziness. Nothing spells earthy (or rustic) quite like wood. Whether it’s a wooden table, logs, or vegetable boxes, these all add that country feel to an outdoor kitchen.
The beach house style is also popular. Go for fresh colors, such as subdued sandy backgrounds and splashes of sea greens and blues mingled with unfinished timber to bring this design to life.
Color Schemes, Furniture, and Decor
An outdoor kitchen should be anything but dull. From simple to all-out luxury setups, your chosen color schemes, furniture, and decor are personal signatures that reflect your style and taste.
Many people select dramatic, standout colors for everything from appliances and cabinets to counters to create eye-catching contrasts. These choices either establish a natural flow from home to garden or accentuate the more subtle exterior architectural features of the home and its surroundings.
A brightly colored backsplash with an intricate tiling pattern adds a modern flair to your exteriors, but it doesn’t have to be all color. Earthy tones, such as sandstone and woody grains, coming together in a country or Mediterranean style are equally elegant and trendy.
In industrial or minimalist designs, cabinets in vivid colors such as blue, green, yellow, red, or even neon variations can strikingly highlight an outdoor kitchen. You can also get appliances, such as refrigerators and stove hoods, in bright colors that make a statement. Even stainless steel, black, or matte silver appliances look stylish when paired with vibrant installations.
There are a million ways to spruce up your exterior kitchen with decor. These include outdoor rugs, wall art, and planters. The latter is especially eye-catching when you mix and match vivid greens with a subdued flower pot or vice versa.
The same goes for your furniture, whether it’s two solo wicker chairs or a complete patio set with sofas. Contrast subtle and vibrant hues, such as throw pillows and furniture fabrics, to make your outdoor kitchen the talk of the neighborhood.
Appliances
Through the years, outdoor kitchens have evolved from standalone grills to fully equipped facilities where you can concoct just about anything your culinary imagination envisions. There are many versatile appliances you can use to enhance your al fresco cooking corner.
A gas or wood pizza oven is great for everything from pizzas and focaccias to roasted vegetables and homemade breads. Warming drawers keep food piping hot and can also proof bread dough. Air fryers, flat-top grills, deep fryers, and burners provide alternatives to traditional grilling.
A fridge completes an outdoor kitchen. Depending on your design and taste, glass-fronted beverage coolers are both practical and stylish.
Different Outdoor Kitchen Constructions
An outdoor kitchen is often seen as the link between your home and yard. Therefore, many people go for patio-style kitchens that flow from the home to the garden.
The popularity of detached outdoor kitchens has also taken off in recent times. You’ll find expansive, open-plan setups combining kitchen, relaxation, dining, and bar areas.
This means there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to where to construct your outdoor kitchen. You should, however, keep in mind that it will be easier to hook up utilities when it’s closer to your home.
Some trending ideas include poolside kitchens with cocktail bars for a tropical touch, indoor-outdoor kitchens that seamlessly flow from living rooms to patios, and semi-outdoor kitchens, which are an enclosed extension of your home.
Even if you only have a balcony, you can design and install an outdoor kitchen. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
Lighting
Your al fresco kitchen is not only for daytime cooking. There are few things as pleasant as cooking under the stars while sipping on a cocktail.
Turn your outdoor kitchen into a haven of entertainment and relaxation with strategically placed lights. Soft lighting, with a brighter light over your cooking area, creates a marvelous atmosphere where camping and luxury meet.
Choose anything from wall-mounted lights with a vintage look to modern standalone lamps and lanterns. The choices, design options, and color arrangements are numerous!
Planning and designing your outdoor kitchen is a balancing act between flows and contrasts. Creating a symphony of monotones and vivid opposites checks all the boxes, providing both style and pizzazz.
If you’re unsure how to do this, ask professionals for an opinion and a helping hand. Experts recommend professional installations as opposed to DIY attempts as the latter rarely pan out in line with our well-imagined visions.
Follow these trends, add a personal touch, and create an exterior space that’s both functional and beautiful!
By: @Emma
(Emma Carlisle)