Are you one of the many homeowners who dream of creating the ultimate indoor/outdoor living space for entertaining at your home? It may be more doable that you ever realized! The perfect showpiece to any outdoor living space is centered on an outdoor kitchen design. If the kitchen is the heart of the home, why not bring it outdoors to give your space the ultimate entertaining area for friends, family, and neighbors?
Today, we’re looking at outdoor kitchen design ideas to have you fall in love with your backyard all over again. Any entertainer’s dream, learn how to design an outdoor kitchen to meet your needs and be a total wow factor with your other landscaping elements.
Outdoor Kitchen Design Ideas
If recent years have highlighted anything for homeowners, it’s the benefit of indoor/outdoor living to make the most of their home. Today’s landscaping trends have really shifted to making the most of outdoor space and giving homeowners a place to relax and enjoy from spring to fall. An outdoor kitchen design brings one of the biggest elements of your home right out to your backyard, so how could you go wrong? Now’s the time to up your game from a simple backyard grill and learn how outdoor kitchen design ideas could transform your space.
Some of our favorite outdoor kitchen design ideas for homeowners include:
- Creating an outdoor kitchen design for small spaces
- Grand outdoor kitchens with hardscaping designs
- Outdoor kitchen with patio dining
- Fire pit ideas for outdoor kitchen designs
- Water features for outdoor kitchens
Outdoor Kitchen Design for Small Space
When you think about outdoor kitchen design ideas, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is a grand kitchen space in a huge backyard, right? That doesn’t have to be the case! Kicking off our list of outdoor kitchen designs for an entertainer’s dream, we’re looking at how to design an outdoor kitchen for smaller spaces without sacrificing functionality or wow factor.
An outdoor kitchen design for small spaces should highlight the key elements of what you want your space to function for. Do you love grilling? A built-in grill is perfect. Be sure to add spots for storage to maximize your outdoor kitchen design ideas as much as possible. A built-in grill with storage drawers and a small refrigerator can go a long way to optimizing your backyard design plans for summer entertaining. Complete the look with a dining area and low-maintenance lawn ideas and you’ve added value while giving yourself a dream space to host!
Grand Outdoor Kitchens with Hardscaping Designs
Moving on to the next item on our list of outdoor kitchen designs for an entertainer’s dream we’re looking at those grand spaces you might’ve envisioned. The key to show-stopping outdoor kitchen design ideas is creating a cohesive, professional look. This is where DIY landscaping projects go badly so often because homeowners may not have the skills, tools, or experience needed to get the finished look they wanted. This is where our landscaping professionals in the Capital Region shine.
Determining how to design an outdoor kitchen for a large backyard space, think about the elements you want to include and how hardscaping can tie each of them together for a professional look. For example, your outdoor kitchen doesn’t have to stop at a grill setup. Sure, having storage space, a stovetop, and refrigerator as part of your outdoor kitchen design ideas is great, but what about creating a space for your guests to relax, as well? Outdoor fireplaces are very popular for grand outdoor kitchen design ideas because they give your space a wow factor while incorporating hardscaping services to complete the look.
Outdoor Kitchen With Patio Dining
Another must-have element of outdoor kitchen design ideas is patio dining. Building an outdoor kitchen is much more than putting in a grill and storage. New patio installation ideas give you the opportunity to create a dining space for guests as well as incorporate other elements of backyard landscaping into your overall look. After all, once the cooking is done, it’s time to share in the food!
A new patio installation truly completes the look of your outdoor kitchen design regardless of the size. Additionally, they add value if you’re considering landscaping tips for selling your home down the line.
Bonus: Patio landscape design ideas like raised flower beds, water features, and more elevate your backyard space to its full potential. Complete the look of your outdoor kitchen design and wow your guests!
Fire Pit Ideas for Outdoor Kitchen Designs
We mentioned fireplaces as popular hardscaping elements in outdoor kitchen design, but have you considered a fire pit, instead? Outdoor fire pit ideas give you and your guests the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the company while adding pizzazz to your space. Smokeless fire pits ensure you’re not having to shift every time a breeze comes by, so adding one of these to your outdoor kitchen design ideas is a must for entertaining.
When deciding how to design an outdoor kitchen you have four different kinds of fire pits to choose from:
- Wood burning fire pits
- Propane fire pits
- Natural gas fire pits
- Gel fuel fire pits
Learning about each will give you a better idea of what kind of fire pit you should get and how to make your backyard flow to meet your needs. Aside from being a wow factor to your outdoor kitchen design, fire pits also offer the opportunity to design built-in seating using hardscaping! These gathering spaces let you and your guests enjoy each other’s company even after dark.
Note: When you decide to add a fire pit to your backyard, be sure to check local laws regarding fire features or consult with a landscape designer in the Capital region and appropriate county (Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, etc) who will be familiar with local regulations.
Water Features for Outdoor Kitchens
Fire elements are the only ways to make a statement with your outdoor kitchen design ideas. Adding in a water feature installation can give your backyard a cool, professional look to enjoy with friends and family or while hanging solo. Today’s water features come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and types to fit almost any size yard and budget, meaning there’s a perfect design to suit your outdoor kitchen. The hardest part will be deciding which water feature design is right for your yard!
From backyard fountains to grand koi ponds, having a water feature as part of your outdoor kitchen design ideas adds value to your home and will absolutely stun your guests.
In Case You Didn’t Know: NVS Waterscapes, a division of NVS Landscapes, will build you the water feature installation of your dreams. From garden ponds to backyard fountains, we’ll bring your vision to life and complete the look of your outdoor kitchen design in ways you never thought possible!
When it comes to outdoor kitchen design, the sky’s the limit. Whether you’ve got a huge backyard or you’re working with a smaller space, you can create the ultimate outdoor entertaining space to host friends, family, and neighbors. Combining an outdoor kitchen with professional landscaping services in the Capital Region wil give your backyard a unique look nobody else had. Ready to get started? Check out the NVS Project Planner to start budgeting and planning your outdoor kitchen design ideas. Save your plans or submit them to us and let our team create the backyard of your dreams!
Looking for more inspiration and tips for your backyard makeover ideas? Check out these resources:
- Sad Lawn? Landscaping Ideas Where Grass Won’t Grow
- Have Neighbors Nearby? Landscape Privacy Ideas to Help
- 9 Landscaping Tips for New Homeowners 🏡
- Dog Friendly Landscaping Ideas
