Outdoor kitchens have been a growing trend for some time now. Texans are spending more time outside and are therefore installing outdoor kitchens in their yards. Gone are the days when homeowners were satisfied with just a rolling barbecue cart. Grill masters are taking center stage and are requesting fully functional kitchens with all the bells and whistles.

 

Durable and Resilient Outdoor Kitchens

Homeowners feel that a fully equipped outdoor kitchen is very important when designing their outdoor space. Outdoor kitchens offer many benefits, one of which is the ability to mimic an indoor kitchen with the look, feel, and convenience. And no kitchen is complete without cabinetry, and that includes outdoor kitchens. You can get cabinets that are weather-resistant and can safely store anything you need when you’re cooking outside, from cutlery to cups.

Stainless steel is one great option for weather-resistant cabinets. The material is frequently used in commercial kitchens because it is durable and easy to clean. If you don’t like the look of the metal, you can get it powder-coated to look like wood, including a realistic grain pattern.

 

Upgrade to Bar

You can upgrade your outdoor kitchen to an outdoor bar with the right appliances. Some must-have bar items we’re seeing in outdoor kitchens are Ice makers, dedicated wine refrigerators, small or drawer refrigerators, taps.

Your bar may also need other items for utility, such as a deep sink, drawers for your drink makers, pull-out trash bins, and bar stools.

 

Cook, Bake, and Smoke

A big trend is multiple ways to cook. You don’t have to limit yourself to grilling in your outdoor kitchen. You can get great appliances to add more variety to your cooking options. Here are some of our favorites:

• Pizza ovens
• Smokers
• Small ovens
• Small stove tops
• Griddles

Think outside the box, Outdoor kitchens can be as delightful for breakfast the morning after a party as they are for the party itself.

You can add storage space for your other cooking staples, like waffle irons, blenders, toaster ovens, and more.

 

Decking and Patio Floor Upgrades

If you’re shooting high for a backyard kitchen then it’s time to redo your flooring. Any stylish, long-lasting, comfortable spot must have a floor finish that is resistant to water and direct sunlight, heavy use, and allows easy cleaning. This is the reason why outdoor spaces benefit from the use of tile applications such as ceramic and porcelain.

The slip-resistant texture of the tile is just as impactful in outdoor applications as it is indoors. Tiles, especially honed marble or porcelain exterior tiles, are a popular alternative for wood and concrete due to their strength and density. They’re manufactured to withstand not only the typical concerns of etching, scratching or staining, but can stand up to direct sunlight, too. Even better, they offer limitless possibilities to create any style you fancy in your outdoor living area!

 

Comfort

Comfort is important if you want to enjoy your outdoor living space for 4 seasons. Fire pits and outdoor heating lamps help you do that. Gas fire pits are becoming more and more popular because you don’t have to keep feeding them wood to keep the area warm. Fire logs and lava rocks are where it’s at. Gas also allows for remote start and shut off.

 

Colors

In addition to the change in materials, the most up-to-date deck and patio furniture is warm and inviting in color. In recent history, color palettes for the home have been relatively cool-toned: grays, icy blues, white and black. Cool colors are refreshing and tend to have a calming effect, but they don’t often make a space feel welcoming or comfortable. As the new year dawns, almost every designer is shifting focus toward warm and earthy hues, like brown, taupe, golden yellow, dusty red, and olive green.

You can integrate warm colors in many places in your exterior design, not just your outdoor furniture. You might consider giving your front and back doors a new coat of paint or changing the color of your home’s trim around windows and doors. You could add decorative hardscaping, like fences, with a new and inviting color palette. Finally, you can stain your concrete or repaint your deck to add color to your exterior. Most of these fixes are relatively small but pack a major decorative punch.