DIY Outdoor Kitchen Design Plans

Outdoor kitchens can enhance the look and viability of your home, especially during those spring and summer months when you simply must cook outside. While these kitchen design plans are a little different from their indoor brethren, you should still turn to what works in your standard kitchen for ideas about what will work outside. In addition to this, it helps to survey your backyard. Do you have a concrete patio or a wooden deck? How much room is at your disposal? Where are your electrical outlets, and how protected will your outdoor creation be from the elements? A kitchen outdoors, depending on how much detail you go in to, can be very expensive, so you want to make sure that you've done everything you can to protect your valuables.

Once you have a good idea of the area where you want your design to come to life, it's time for you to think about materials, costs, and functionality. Most do-it-yourself types prefer stainless steel because it is durable, goes with just about everything, and easy to clean up. These factors are of enormous importance to the individual, who sees past the present to future upkeep. It could be that the design plan you think you want today is simply too much trouble tomorrow. So think this decision through.

Most designs make use of two key shapes, or letters. The first is the U-shape kitchen, which allows you to use movement more efficiently with grills or stove tops on one side, cabinets on the other and a refrigerator and/or dishwasher in between. Surrounding yourself with everything you need gives you an easier time locating and putting cookware or ingredients to proper use. While you do not have to enclose your kitchen in walls-after all, it would be hard to call it outdoors then-you still want to consider building protections for electrical appliances.

Before breaking ground, it is recommended that you look at a number of different ideas from websites and magazines that specialize in DIY activities, especially as they relate to building kitchens. Make a list of your favorites and then see what is realistic for your living situation. Grab some graph paper and begin using it to blueprint the work ahead. Graphing paper allows you to be more precise with your measurements before you do any serious work on the concept. Once you have a design that you like, you can then start ordering materials and work on turning your outdoor kitchen design plans into a reality.