If you have a deck or patio, consider an outdoor kitchen as your next home improvement project. It’s usually not the first project people think of, but once you do it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t install an outdoor kitchen years ago. Your friends will want the extra space too once they see the benefits.

Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen:

1. There’s More Space for Socializing

Guests love to congregate in kitchens, but it’s hard to get things done with everyone milling about. If you have outdoor tables and chairs, they will head outside. You’ll be stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is outside. With an outdoor kitchen, you can cook and enjoy your guests at the same time.

2. Your Indoor Kitchen Will Stay Cool

When you cook outside, especially with a pizza oven or regular oven, your kitchen gets hot. You end up sitting down to dinner with friends and family all hot and sweaty. Outside, the heat dissipates and you’ll stay cool and save on your air conditioning bills as well.

3. Your Kitchen Will Stay Cleaner

You can just hose off the floor of your outside kitchen. If you don’t have walls, they won’t get grease splatters on them. Also, people with muddy feet won’t be trampling through your kitchen, especially if you have an outdoor cooler.

4. Smells Dissipate Outside

Do you want to cook some healthy fish for your guests? Fish, no matter how delicious, leaves a smell that lingers in your kitchen.

5. Being Outdoors is Good for You

Increased serotonin levels can make you feel more positive and happy. If you have a landscaped backyard, you can put a few benches out and let guests enjoy the warm weather and sunshine.

6. You Can Keep Your Guests Together

Usually, guests will hang out in the kitchen or living room while you prepare meals. Then they will move to the dining room to eat. An outdoor kitchen with tables to eat at and comfy outdoor furniture will keep your guests together and enjoying each other’s company.

7. No Long Drive Home After Seeing Friends

You’ll be hosting a lot of gatherings if you have an outdoor kitchen. You won’t need to get a babysitter, as you are at home. Once your guests leave, you can go right to bed if you’re tired. Your indoor kitchen will be nice and clean for breakfast in the morning and you can clean up outside at your leisure.

Concerns About Outdoor Kitchens:

1. Rain

Are you concerned about rain ruining a meal or your appliances? Always put a high roof over your outdoor kitchen, so you can enjoy it during rainstorms and keep everything dry.

2. Cold Weather

If it gets chilly in the evenings, have a fire pit outside where guests can stay warm. There are also outdoor fireplaces, which are ideal, but you can’t roast marshmallows over them. You can also give your guests small, cozy throws to put over their legs.

3. The Expense

To build a functional outdoor kitchen, you’ll need water and electricity to run. You also need to buy your appliances, countertops, and cabinets. Nevertheless, an outdoor kitchen will add value to your home. When potential buyers come to look at your home, the extra living space will impress people, especially those who like to entertain. You might even find buyers in a bidding war over your unique home.

By: Katherine Robinson, a writer for Belgard