If you are considering building your own outdoor kitchen, you are facing some challenges and perhaps some questions. But above all, you have a very fun and educational time ahead of you! In this guide, we hope to answer your questions and provide inspiration for your new outdoor kitchen.
Different types of outdoor kitchens
There are many varieties of outdoor kitchens, and they are often not too difficult to build yourself. If you love to grill and want to maximize the grilling experience - why not make it this summer's project to build an outdoor kitchen for your grilling area?
One option for doing this is to build an outdoor kitchen with lightweight blocks or lightweight concrete blocks. Masonry with lightweight concrete blocks is not too complicated and can be an easy way for you who want to get started with your outdoor kitchen as quickly and easily as possible. A prerequisite is that the ground is well-drained and does not move too much. For softer substrates, some preparation is required; you will need to start with a couple of decimeters of draining gravel and then lay a flat base with garden slabs.
You can also build your outdoor kitchen in wood. Keep in mind to choose a durable type of wood that can withstand rain, unless you have the option to bring the kitchen under cover after use.
For the countertop, you can use, for example, garden tiles in concrete or a cast concrete slab that withstands outdoor life. Tiles are also an excellent option.
Placement of outdoor kitchen
Outdoor kitchens are often placed next to a pizza oven or grill to complement them. A workbench or grill table with less storage may be sufficient for you to chop, prepare, and process food, and then store all the utensils. Usually, no larger storage is needed for outdoor kitchens since you will want to store most of your utensils indoors to avoid rain, moisture, and possible cold.
Most often you want to have the kitchen placed on your patio and close to a possible summer dining table. Consider the smoke and odors created from the grill when placing your outdoor kitchen, and that fire hazards can arise if the grill is too close to a wall.
Outdoor kitchen on wheels
There are also variants of outdoor kitchens that are movable, where you might have built the grill into a countertop, or just have a separate bench on wheels that can be placed next to the grill. This variant is convenient if you enjoy grilling in different spots in the garden, or if you want to be able to put the bench away under cover. Of course, it is also possible to build a roof for your outdoor kitchen to avoid worrying about the weather and to put away tools.
Outdoor kitchen with or without a roof?
An outdoor kitchen really only needs to consist of a grill table outdoors, and a simple outdoor kitchen doesn't need to consist of more than a grill bench or an outdoor sink next to the grill. In most cases, it may therefore feel excessive to have a roof for the outdoor kitchen, but this obviously depends entirely on the level of your outdoor kitchen. If you are going to leave equipment that is sensitive to rain outside permanently, you need to consider a roof, but in most cases, you will do just fine without a roof for your outdoor kitchen.
Running water to the outdoor kitchen?
In some cases, a sink or basin can be a good idea for your outdoor kitchen if you want to be able to rinse vegetables and wash your hands. This means you need to bring water to the outdoor kitchen. Cold water is often sufficient, and you can manage by connecting a faucet to the garden hose; fittings to attach the hose to the mixer are available at most hardware stores.
Build an outdoor kitchen - what you need to consider
- Plan and design your outdoor kitchen based on what you have in mind. Get inspired by this guide!
- Should the kitchen have open shelves or cabinets with doors?
- Do you want the grill integrated into the bench or should the bench and grill stand separately?
- Do you need electricity for e.g. a hot plate?
- Do you need a sink to, for example, rinse vegetables and wash your hands?
- Do you want a mobile outdoor kitchen or a stationary outdoor kitchen?
- Will the placement of your kitchen pose a fire risk or smoke into the house?
- Do you want a bar counter for your outdoor kitchen? Outdoor kitchens with bar counters are a perfect place for hanging out during the summer.