6 Outdoor Kitchen Mistakes
Having an outdoor kitchen is a great addition to any home. It’s the perfect way for your family to relax outside in the summer or to make your house the “go-to” destination for neighborhood cookouts! Plus, it gives you an excuse to cook outside all year long. An outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven provides even more versatility and adds a unique touch to the space.
Aside from making sure an outdoor pizza oven is definitely part of your plans, the sky is really the limit when it comes to your outdoor kitchen design—but there are some things you should avoid when designing and building your kitchen.
By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll have a real hot spot in your backyard that you’ll love to use, rain or shine.
1. Not Having Enough Lighting
While having an afternoon barbeque or pizza party with the kids can be fun, you should be able to use your outdoor kitchen for late-night summer parties and dinners with friends. So, you’ll need ample lighting.
It may not be enough to just install a few bulbs or overhead lighting. You can add to the ambiance of the kitchen by using stringed lights or even clear Christmas lights. They’ll add a gentle glow that will complement the night, rather than overpower it. Having enough lighting is important not only for cooking but for everyone to enjoy their dining experience.
2. Keeping Your Appliances Close Together
If at all possible, keep your hot and cold appliances as far apart as possible when you’re putting together your outdoor kitchen.
Not only will this help to prevent overheating, but it’s also safer. By keeping all of the hot appliances like a grill or an outdoor oven in one area, you can steer children away from that particular space instead of having to chase them away from the whole kitchen.
3. Buying the Wrong Appliances
Not all appliances are meant for outdoor use. Even if your kitchen is covered, appliances are still often exposed to elements like extreme temperatures and moistures. If you’re buying new appliances specifically for your outdoor kitchen, make sure they’re designed to withstand those elements and they won’t get ruined after just one season. Additionally, it is always wise to cover outdoor appliances when not in use, to protect them from the elements.
4. Not Enough Counter Space
Don’t focus so much on your cooking devices and appliances that you leave out one of the most important parts to any kitchen—counter space! You’ll need plenty of space to prepare your food, as well as serve it. People will also undoubtedly want to “hang out” around your kitchen, so having ample space for them to get a closer look at what you’re preparing is important.
5. Improper Ventilation
Make sure your outdoor kitchen has enough ventilation. Multiple island vents are highly recommended in order to keep gas from building up in any confined spaces like in your cupboards or underneath the island itself. If too much gas does start to build, it could be hazardous and dangerous very quickly.
6. Dark Colors
When you’re designing an outdoor kitchen, think practically with your decor. Having dark-colored cabinets, countertops, furniture, etc. might look sleek in the daytime, but it’s going to be hard for people to see at night.
Brighter colors can be more inviting and they’re also easier to see. Do a little research into how to design your outdoor kitchen and choose a color palette that not only draws people in but one that can be seen no matter what time of day it is.
Keep in mind that putting together an outdoor kitchen should be fun, and the payoff is huge! That doesn’t mean mistakes can’t be made. Keep them in mind, and the whole process will feel smoother from start to finish.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to put together the perfect outdoor kitchen and how an outdoor pizza oven can benefit your backyard, feel free to contact us! We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about what you can expect from installing a pizza oven outside.