Our Top 5 Outdoor Kitchen Planning Tips

Outdoor kitchens are continuing to increase in popularity. As more and more homeowners decide to expand the outdoor living space, adding a kitchen is a natural choice. But in order to get the finished project you want, it’s important to do some planning.

We’ve pulled together some of our top tips to help you get the outdoor kitchen you’ve been dreaming of.

1.    Assess Your Space

The first thing is to critically address your space. If you have a tiny patio, you may need a smaller kitchen design. On the other hand, if you have a larger space, or you’re willing to extend your patio, you can have a full outdoor kitchen with all the bells and whistles.

2.    Set a Budget

It’s important to set a realistic budget for your outdoor kitchen. This will help you determine what elements you can include, and help you decide on what materials to use. It’s helpful to work with an outdoor kitchen contractor who provides financing, as this can help stretch your overall budget a bit.

3.    Choose the Elements You Want to Include

Based on the space you have available and your budget, it’s time to choose the elements you want to include in your outdoor kitchen space. These can include, but are not limited to:

• A gas grill
• A smoker
• An outdoor fireplace with pizza oven
• A sink
• Countertops and cabinets
• Trash bin
• Outdoor bar
• Refrigerator
• Kegerator
• Wine cooler
• Pavilion to cover the kitchen
• Ceiling fan
• Lighting

4.    Select Materials and Appliances

Once you’ve decided on the elements to include, then you have to select materials and appliances. For example, will the countertop be granite? Will the supporting structure be pavers? Will you have stainless steel cabinets and appliances? Will you include a pavilion to shelter your outdoor kitchen? Will it be wood, vinyl, or metal?

Your budget and your tastes will help dictate these choices.

5.    Get Professional Outdoor Kitchen Installation

Unless all you want is a grill and an out-of-the-box bar kit, designing and installing an outdoor kitchen is not a weekend DIY job, despite what some videos on the internet will tell you. In reality, we should have put this tip as #1. An experienced professional can help guide you through some of the other steps.

In addition, with the plumbing, electrical, and technical work involved, it’s best to hire a professional who has experience with these things and can address any unexpected problems.

This also ensures your outdoor kitchen is up to code and meets all safety requirements. The other thing with hiring a licensed and bonded professional Like Lazo is that we stand behind our work and will fix any issues that might arise within our warranty period.

As with hiring any service contractor, get several estimates before deciding who to hire.

Once you get your installation scheduled, you can start planning a party to try everything out. You’re going to enjoy this outdoor kitchen for years to come!

Get a Better Outdoor Experience with Lazo

At Lazo, we’ve been designing and installing outdoor kitchens for homeowners for years. Do you have a tight space? We can work with that. Got lots of room but aren’t sure of the best layout? We can help. We listen to what you want, we give you options to choose from, and then we deliver a high-quality finished project.

Schedule a free estimate by filling out the contact form or calling us at 866-568-6264. We serve homeowners throughout the Baltimore region.