The Ultimate Outdoor Kitchen Guide (with pictures for inspiration)
It's a gorgeous summer evening, and your outdoor living space is ready for guests:
The guests arrive and settle into your beautiful deck, ready for your delicious food and an enjoyable evening.
And then, it happens.
You start running frantically back and forth between the deck and your kitchen, carrying drinks, then appetizers — oh no! — extra napkins, grilling tools, meat for the grill, sauces, more drinks, then dessert, and the list goes on.
As the evening comes to a close, you wonder, “What happened to my relaxing evening with friends?”
If you enjoy hosting or spending time with family on your deck, you know exactly what I’m talking about!
But hosting doesn’t have to be this way.
At Keystone Custom Decks, we want you to relax and have a good time with your guests - and we think we might have the secret ingredient: outdoor kitchens!
Ready to learn about how an outdoor kitchen can revolutionize your hosting game?
Let's get started!
What Does An Outdoor Kitchen Include?
Close your eyes and imagine your kitchen. You probably see your refrigerator, stove, kitchen sink, cabinets, lighting, and decor that make the kitchen uniquely yours.
Now imagine all of this transported outside to a beautiful deck.
That's what an outdoor kitchen is!
From cooking stations to kitchen islands and bar counters, outdoor kitchens can include almost all the same things as indoor ones.
It's a fully equipped kitchen, only outdoors!
At Keystone Custom Decks, we offer fully-equipped outdoor kitchens. If a full outdoor kitchen isn't within your budget, we also offer small space and core outdoor kitchens!
What would your ideal outdoor kitchen include? Here are some ideas to get you started!
Common Features Included In Outdoor Kitchens
Your grill is the center of the action (and the food)! From baby-back ribs to shrimp to summer squash, get your party started with a quality grill and grill station!
Plus, a grill provides a place to gather while the food cooks. It just seems natural to stand around and chat with the chef while the steaks sizzle. That's much better than being stuck inside at the kitchen stove all by yourself!
Let us give a little pro tip here:
Nothing is more important than the food when you are enjoying an evening with friends, right?
That’s why we encourage spending plenty of time choosing the right high-quality grill for your deck. Sure, the deck add-ons are neat, too, but you have to nail the grill!
There are lots of different types of grills to suit different situations and needs. Looking for a place to get started? Check out this article on the 10 Best Built-In Gas Grills.
Or read on to find out more about some of the most common types of grills.
2 - Charcoal grills
Many chefs prefer charcoal over gas grills because the smoke from charcoal adds a delicious smoky flavor to their food! You simply cannot duplicate the real, smoky flavor that charcoal gives your food with any other grill type.
For example, grilling spice-rubbed turkey over charcoal adds a fabulous smoky flavor!
The good news is that you don’t have to settle for just a gas grill or just a charcoal grill. You can literally have both, so you can grill on whatever you’re in the mood for!
3 - BBQ smokers
To many people, cooking something on the grill feels vital to any kind of outdoor hangout on the deck. But those who want to take it to the next level know that BBQ smokers can be just as effective.
While your standard grill relies on high heat to cook foods, smokers cook food at lower temperatures for long periods of time and enhance the flavor of your food with smoke.
Just like grills, there are very easy-to-use smoker options as well as ones that demand a bit more skill.
One of the simplest smokers to handle — and one we recommend for beginners — uses wood pellets. One cool thing about wood pellets is that you can get lots of different "flavors."
From hickory to maple to applewood, you can have fun infusing your smoked fish, veggies, cheeses, and meats with a range of unique flavors. (Applewood smoked bacon, anyone?)
And if you want a smoker that doesn’t use pellets, there are plenty of other options!
Smokers can be electric, charcoal, gas, or pellet-fueled. It’s just a matter of you finding the right kind of smoker for your outdoor space!
As Americans, we love our meat. But we all know that you can't make a meal out of just meat. Plus, you probably won’t feel the best after filling up exclusively on steak.
Thankfully, you don’t have to limit yourself to meat on the grill.
An outdoor kitchen equipped with side burners or a griddle allows you to cook pasta, simmer sauces, or saute vegetables, all while grilling your main course.
You’ll be turning out delicious three-course meals in no time!
Want some inspiration? Here are 120 fabulous recipes for the grill from Taste of Home.
5 - Kitchen Islands and bar counters
Do you know what the most common complaint about kitchens is?
The answer is insufficient storage.
Just because you're outside doesn’t mean you won’t need that extra counter space! Think about the counter space you use indoors and plan accordingly. You’ll be glad you did!
6 - Outdoor sinks
If there’s one thing we know about making a delicious meal, it’s this: all that scrumptious food doesn’t come without some hard work and a serious mess!
Thankfully, cooking-related messes aren't that bad to clean up if you keep after them - and an outdoor sink allows you to stay on top. It's so much easier to use your outdoor sink than to constantly haul buckets of soapy water from the kitchen.
Not only will an outdoor sink make clean-up easier, but it's also an essential part of sanitary food preparation. You can wash your hands before cooking and eating and wash cutting boards, countertops, and knives after handling raw meat.
Who wants a room-temperature slice of watermelon? While it might do in a pinch, everyone knows watermelon tastes 100% better when it's cold! The same goes for pop, beer, and other beverages.
Keeping foods refrigerated not only makes food and drink taste better, but it's also an essential part of food safety. Some meats and other foods can get iffy pretty quickly if left out on a hot day.
Outdoor refrigerators are usually counter-height and built into your kitchen like a dishwasher. It’s convenience at its best!
Plus, you have lots of options, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Are you a stainless steel person? Perhaps black or white is your preferred color. Whatever you like, you can have. You can also choose from single-door or double-drawer refrigerators.
8 - Decorative and task lighting
Can you imagine having a romantic moment with bright lights flashing and music blaring? Probably not!
On the other hand, it would be difficult to get in a good workout in the peaceful atmosphere of soft, flickering candlelight.
Here’s the point: lighting has a tremendous impact on the atmosphere of a space. Beyond that, we need it to see. That’s why it's critical to choose the right sort of lighting for your outdoor space.
When working in your outdoor kitchen, you want plenty of light - so you can avoid gashing yourself while chopping vegetables or adding the wrong spice to a dish. However, when the meal is over, you want to relax in the bliss and peace of soft lighting.
At Keystone Custom Decks you can have both! Our outdoor lighting options allow you to get the exact vibe you are going for. Plus, decorative lights give you an opportunity to express your style and personality in your outdoor kitchen.
Like we said, beer is best when it's good and chilled. Level up your hosting game with an outdoor kegerator!
If you haven't heard of a kegerator yet, it is like a little miniature fridge made for dispensing drinks. It's a way to simultaneously chill and serve your drinks.
This may not only save you money but also produce less waste. What’s more, you’ll free up fridge space, too!
Check out five reasons you should get a kegerator here.
Just be sure to get a kegerator that’s rated for outdoors.
10 - Bar stations and ice buckets or bins
Do you want to keep your drinks cold but don’t have funds for an outdoor ice machine or beverage cooler?
Keep your beverages cold with a simple ice bin, bucket, or cooler.
Want to add a little more? Try an outdoor bar station.
That way, you can keep a stock of your favorite drinks cold and close to the party.
Ultimate Features That Take Your Outdoor Kitchen To The Next Level
1 - Pizza ovens
Friday night pizza night will never be the same again when making your very own brick-oven pizza!
The crust is crisp and flecked with tell-tale charred spots, evidence of being baked in an extremely hot oven. The interior of the dough is soft, elastic, tender, and fragrant, and the toppings are cooked to perfection. Eaten in the beauty of the outdoors, there's almost nothing better!
If this doesn’t bring your friends and neighbors running, nothing will.
Brick ovens can achieve such pizza perfection because of their thermal conductivity (how efficiently they transfer heat into the dough.)
See how it's done here!
What makes being outside during the summer months fun?
Ice cold drinks, ice cream, and smoothies!
Nothing’s better than the hot summer sun and an ice-cold refreshing treat!
On those hot summer days, serve your favorite drinks on the rocks, keep your ice bucket or bin filled, and make homemade ice cream or smoothies conveniently with your outdoor ice machine.
3 - Outdoor pantry and storage
Nothing is more frustrating than a countertop cluttered with cooking utensils, dishes, cocktail shakers, and cutting boards!
Thankfully, if you have plenty of outdoor cabinets, drawers, or even a pantry, you can keep your counter space clear and ready for action.
Trust us on this one — you’ll enjoy cooking a lot more when you actually have space for it! Plus, having a space to store everything keeps your outdoor space looking nice and uncluttered.
Whether you're hosting an evening dinner party or a weekend pool party, we can all agree that you need to keep your wine and beverages close by AND at ideal temperatures.
And while wine should be stored at room temperature, it won’t stay at room temperature for very long on a warm summer evening.
A wine cooler can keep your beverages at just the right temperature and keep them close at hand. It’s a win-win!
Eating out of doors creates all kinds of trash: paperware, cans, bottles, extra napkins, and more. If you plan to eat outdoors, you’ll need a plan for the trash so you’re not left picking up everyone’s paper cups when the fun is over.
That being said, you don’t want to ruin your sleek, elegant kitchen with unsightly trash cans!
Built-in trash cans allow for easy clean-up and don’t detract from your kitchen's aesthetic. Just make sure your guests know where your trash can is (built-in trash cans are hard to find sometimes!) so you don't end up with a huge mess at the end of the night.
You’re eating and cooking: spills are inevitable.
Thankfully, it's all outdoors! But you still don't want your decking material to get stained.
Keep paper towels ready for spills, or just clean up after grilling by utilizing a paper towel holder.
If you’re like us, your deck is your favorite place to spend your time!
What if you could enjoy your deck (and that summer life) longer?
Whether you’re in the dog days of summer or into the cooler days of autumn, you’ll be able to keep enjoying your outdoor space with cooling systems, fans, and patio heaters.
7 - Outdoor TV
Watch a game, your family’s favorite show, or host a movie marathon with an outdoor TV!
Add comfy seating, and you’ll have a second living room - outdoors!
Just be sure to use a weatherized or outdoor TV. Your outdoor entertainment center can make some great family-and-friends bonding time.
8 - Luxury seating
Want to know what takes an outdoor space from good to great?
Quality seating!
For a luxurious feel with a cohesive look, you’ll need comfortable, beautiful chairs, tables, and outdoor couches. With some quality furniture, you'll be able to relax in comfort.
Don’t cheapen your gorgeous space with flimsy furniture. An impressive space needs impressive furniture!
Campfires are perfect memory-making spots. The conversation just seems to flow around a cozy campfire.
Whether it's telling stories, roasting s’mores, or pulling your chair a bit closer to get cozy, fireplaces have been bringing people together since the beginning of time.
Consider a fire pit, a wood-burning fireplace, or a gas fireplace in your outdoor living space. This will add a focal point and a place for memory-making.
10 - Water features
Your outdoor space may not be on a lake or oceanfront, but you still can enjoy the peaceful sound of water in your space!
A water feature adds natural beauty and sounds and creates a focal point for your outdoor space. Depending on the type of water feature you choose, it can even be a place for children to splash and play (fish ponds are not child-friendly).
Some beautiful water features include water fountains, water walls, fish ponds, patio spillways, or basalt water fountains.
You can even have a fire and water combination feature!
View our custom water features here.
Looking for a Five-Star Feel or Home-style Barbeque Deck?
At Keystone Custom Decks, we’ve created outdoor kitchen designs complete with almost any and every kitchen accessory on the market. Some of our outdoor kitchen ideas boast an elegant, five-star restaurant feel — while others possess a home-style barbecue charm.
You can design them to fit your outdoor living space needs!
Benefits Of An Outdoor Kitchen
Now we know that the sky's the limit with outdoor kitchens.
And as you have seen, they are incredibly convenient!
But is saving some time and energy really worth the investment in an outdoor kitchen?
Thankfully, spending more time with your guests is just the first in a long list of benefits that come with outdoor kitchens. There's more!
Let's take a look at them.
Here is a list of some of the exciting benefits of an outdoor kitchen:
- More time with your guests (and less time carrying food to and from the kitchen)!
- Convenient and efficient food prep and service (so you aren't stressed all evening)
- Better tasting food. Serve your food at ideal temperatures - hot off the grill or chilled from the fridge or ice bucket.
- Host fabulous parties and make memories. Outdoor living spaces with kitchens add luxury and create a beautiful space to make memories.
- Increase home value and appeal. Who wouldn’t want a home with an outdoor kitchen?
- Expand your living space. You’ll no longer have to cram inside your house for birthday or graduation parties.
- Lower energy costs. Avoid hot kitchens and an overworked AC by grilling and eating outdoors.
- Save money by eating at home. Why eat at a restaurant when you have a beautiful and convenient outdoor kitchen and dining space at home?
- Eat healthier. We all know home-cooked meals are healthier than take-out. In addition, grilled foods tend to be healthier (think grilled kebabs vs. take-out pizza). With a convenient outdoor kitchen, you’ll be more likely to cook at home and eat cleaner.
- Keep food smells outside. Fish and deep-fried food leave a strong, lingering odor in your house. If you’re outside? The only people it will bother are your jealous neighbors.
Want this list in visual form? Read to the end of the article to check out our infographic!
Getting Started On Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen
The benefits of an outdoor kitchen are undeniable.
But one big question remains: how do I get started with an outdoor kitchen?
Here are a few tips to get you on your way to creating your dream outdoor kitchen.
- Brainstorm. Take a look at the Keystone project gallery or Pinterest. Consider what type of outdoor kitchen would best serve you and your family. Here are ten things to consider when designing an outdoor kitchen.
- Set your budget. This is not always the most exciting part of a project, but super important. Thankfully, Keystone Custom Decks has designs for outdoor kitchens from simple to extravagant!
- Find a trustworthy contractor. It's your house, yard, and money. The last thing you want is a sloppy, late job, an expensive bill, and an outdoor space that doesn’t look the way you imagined. Go the extra mile and find someone you can trust to deliver on their promises.
Keystone Custom Decks promises to:
- Take care of every part of the construction process
- Deliver on our timeframe and proposal promises
Stand behind our work for life with our lifetime workmanship warranty.
FAQs About Outdoor Kitchens
By now, you may be inspired to get started on an outdoor kitchen!
However, we understand that each home and family is unique and has distinct needs. There's a good chance you are asking a lot of questions in your mind about how an outdoor kitchen might work in your home.
We can't answer all of your questions - but we'll do our best to answer some of them here.
And if you still have more questions, don't hesitate to contact us at Keystone Custom Decks.
We're always happy to help!
How should I care for my outdoor kitchen?
Hot, soapy water goes a long way for general cleaning! Always make sure you know what chemical cleaners are approved for your countertops and appliances.
We also recommend grabbing a bottle of marine-grade stainless steel polish. This will help keep the shine longer & hold up against mother nature.
What deck or patio spacing is recommended as a minimum for an outdoor kitchen?
There isn’t a definite answer because it depends on what you want out of the space!
Are you looking for a dine-in or separated feel to the space?
Do you host larger gatherings, or are you mainly cooking for your family?
Knowing how you want to use the space will help determine how much area to allot for the kitchen. We have full-scale and small-space kitchen options.
One rule of thumb to keep in mind is that for patios in general, you want about 25 sq ft of space per guest you want to host. Then you'll need some extra for your outdoor kitchen.
Are there any concerns or negatives with outdoor kitchens?
Not a single one! Here at Keystone, we might be biased – but a great meal cooked & consumed outdoors is the best!
Does an outdoor kitchen add value to the deck project and overall home value?
Yes, it does! We’ve connected with realtors over the years, and outdoor spaces are increasing the value and appeal of homes. There is an upward trend toward blended indoor and outdoor spaces.
And remember - like any home project, it's not just about getting your “money out of it.” Consider the memories, increased quality of life, and time you spend enjoying it as part of the return on your investment.
Conclusion
Whether you love to host large gatherings, occasional dinner parties, or just want a relaxing space for family meals, we have outdoor kitchen designs that will work for your needs and space.
We also design and build water features, porches, patios, custom decks, masonry features, fire pits and fireplaces, and more!
And the best part? Working with us is easy!
First, visit the Keystone showroom or browse our project gallery to get some ideas!
- Schedule an estimate by phone or submit an estimate online.
- Receive your quote and complimentary 3D rendering.
- Sign your proposal and watch your dreams become a reality.
- Enjoy the space you have to host parties and spend time with family!
Contact Keystone Custom Decks and start your dream outdoor space today!
