Here are a few tips to improve your outdoor kitchen design.
Spending quality time in your backyard with loved ones means having plenty of opportunities for refreshment and nourishment, no matter the weather. Running back and forth from the house to bring heavy plates of food and full glasses gets tiring and complicated. An outdoor kitchen will significantly improve your outdoor living experience with friends and family. Much like a traditional kitchen, your cooking area should be thoughtfully designed to cater to your needs, ensuring it’s both functional and enjoyable. Here are a few tips to improve your outdoor kitchen design.
Add a Pavilion
At some point, the outdoor fun must move inside. However, you can prolong your outdoor enjoyment and keep everyone happy and comfortable with a pavilion that houses your outdoor kitchen, dining space, and seating area. Pavilions have a closed roof with open walls to provide shelter from rain and sun and relaxation from a cooling breeze. A pavilion lets you enjoy your meals outdoors without feeling confined by four walls.
Integrate your Kitchen with the Existing Landscape
Blending your outdoor kitchen seamlessly with the surrounding landscape is essential for an aesthetically pleasing result. To connect with nature, incorporate lush greenery, potted plants, or an herb garden near your outdoor kitchen. Additionally, you can use natural stone pathways and borders to define the space and enhance its visual appeal.
You should also choose plants and herbs that serve practical purposes. Fragrant herbs like rosemary, basil, and mint add a delightful aroma to your outdoor space and can be used in your cooking. Additionally, strategically placed trees and shrubs provide shade and create a more comfortable environment during hot summer days.
Invest in Outdoor Lighting
Good outdoor lighting can make or break the ambiance of your outdoor kitchen. Consider combining task lighting for the cooking areas and ambient lighting for the dining and lounging areas. Some popular examples of lighting for your outdoor kitchen can include:
- Task lighting: strategically placed lights above the cooking and prep areas
- Mood lighting: string lights or lanterns to add ambiance
- Accent lighting: used for highlighting focal points of your outdoor kitchen, such as the bar area.
- Safety lighting: lights to help guests find their way back inside or to identify a change in ground level
Be sure to choose outdoor fixtures that withstand the elements before leaving them outside at night or in the rain. Luckily, there are plenty of options, so get your creative juices flowing while also considering functionality!
Prioritize Comfort
If your outdoor kitchen has enough space, let it serve as a prep and entertainment area. Add a dining table and chairs for comfort and function. If there’s not enough room, you can add a few bar stools to open counter space. Don’t be afraid to bring color into your space with bright, eye-catching accent cushions or rugs.
Interested in Improving Your Outdoor Living Space? Consider Landscape and Hardscaping Design Services from Carroll Landscaping
Carroll Landscaping has over 30 years of experience with landscape construction, porch construction, deck building, and hardscape installation. Our award-winning landscape designers are passionate about providing customers with top-notch service and landscape design. Our landscape designers have a creative design outlook and work as a team with our installation crews to make your vision a reality. We are committed to providing every customer with the highest quality workmanship, professional and knowledgeable service, and creativity in design in order to surpass our clients’ expectations in every aspect of the project.
We serve residents throughout the beautiful state of Maryland including Baltimore, Columbia, Ellicott City, Eldersburg, Clarksville, Sykesville, Manchester, Westminster, and Woodstock. For more information and to schedule a consultation with one of our expert designers, contact us online or give us a call at 410-922-2416.