An outdoor kitchen is the perfect space for socialising and entertaining guests. When the weather is favourable, cooking new dishes, starting the grill and hosting parties outside is most desirable. Here are easy tips to create a well-planned outdoor kitchen .

Location

• Incorporate an outdoor kitchen within the front lawn or the backyard of the home and merge it with the living or dining space.
• You can introduce a rooftop and make it an extension of an indoor bar.
• If you live in an apartment with no access to the outdoor areas then utilise a corner of the balcony and transform it into a compact outside kitchen.

Layout

• The outdoor kitchen can be compact or elaborate depending on the size of the home, the frequency of use and lifestyle of the homeowners.
• Just like an indoor kitchen, divide the outdoor space into distinct zones like the cooking zone, food preparation and wet zone for washing utensils.
• Some of the basic kitchen appliances which can be included within an outdoor kitchen are a barbecue, a cooktop and a small built-in refrigerator for keeping juices, sodas, water, ice etc.
• Make provisions for utensil storage or install the crockery unit in a convenient location so that it can be easily accessed by the indoor and the outdoor kitchen.
• Install a small counter which can function as a buffet space or an outdoor countertop with bar stools.
• Incorporate additional electrical points for running small kitchen appliances like the mixer, grinder and even the music system.

Shade

• Consider a partial roof above the outdoor kitchen in materials like concrete, a light-weight semi-permanent structure, a pergola or an awning.
• Introduce tall plants and grow trees around the outdoor kitchen for added shade.
• Use patio umbrellas for creating shaded seating.

Materials

• Beautify the outdoor kitchen by co-ordinating the design of the countertop, flooring, cabinetry and furniture with the interiors and exteriors of the home.
• Consider earthy colours so that they blend with the natural setting of the exteriors.
• Flamed granite finish countertops are perfect for the outdoor kitchen.
• For the flooring install anti skid porcelain tiles, natural stone, wooden pavers, terracotta or cement finish tiles.
• Use WPC boards for the cabinets and SS finish appliances for the outdoor kitchen.
• Use moisture-resistant fabrics for the seating. All the outdoor furniture should be in materials like wicker, rattan, plastic resins, steel, aluminium or wrought iron because they are highly durable and resistant to outdoor weather conditions.

Tip: In coastal areas, avoid aluminium or SS finish furniture as they may corrode in the presence of salt-laden air. Go for powder coated finishes only.

Lighting

• Incorporate soft lighting to set the perfect mood.
• The focussed or task lighting may include pendant lights above the food preparation and cooking zone of the outdoor kitchen.

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Source: architecturaldigest.in/