How to Create the Ultimate Outdoor Grilling Kitchen

When designing and planning an outdoor space, there are so many places that you can blow your budget, but there are just as many tricks that you can use to save it as well.

Here are some tricks I used when creating my ideal outdoor grilling kitchen.

10. First of all, if you don’t design a space you are happy with, you will most likely spend more money down the road on an outdoor remodel. So the first tip is to design what you want and what will work for you. If your dream kitchen costs more that you have to spend, you will be better off saving for another year or so before taking on the project. Otherwise, you will end up with an imperfect kitchen that you will spend more money to make right later on.

9. One of the strangest ways to save money is to spend it. This tip is very similar to number 10, but focuses entirely on your appliances. If you are going with a BBQ grill, choose a high quality model that will last for years. If you are adding additional appliances, such as a fridge, choose a model that flows with your design as well as other appliances. Quality is key, especially for something that will be exposed to the elements year round.

8. Propane is one of the least expensive ways to fuel your cooking. Running all the gas, electric, and water lines can be very expensive and time consuming. So if your design does not call for additional appliances that require these, choose ones that can be ran using propane. On top of the savings on the installation, it is inexpensive to buy a tank, usually around $20, and most grillers only use 1 to 2 tanks a season.

7. One great thing you can save money on is furniture. If you know you will be building your outdoor space next spring, you can pick up the furniture when it goes on clearance in the fall and store it in the boxes to keep it new. Many times you can save 50% versus if you were to wait and buy it in the spring or summer. However, be sure to go for quality, you want your new space to feel new many summers down the road.

6. Many people opt for a covered kitchen to create an indoor/luxurious feel. However, if you are on a budget, why not cover only a portion of the area and create an open feel. If the kitchen is right off your home, you can extend the roof to cover the appliances to help preserve them and use an umbrella to cover the seating areas.

5. Use a rolling cart. Especially if you’re outdoor kitchen is close to your indoor kitchen. You can load up the cart with all the essentials you will need for the meal and simply roll it out. It may even help you save space inside if you can find one to match both areas and multi-task it for both kitchens. Plus, you don’t have to worry about storing things outside where animals can get to them.

4. Can the fridge. By cutting this appliance out, you can save major bucks on construction and the appliance purchase. Think about it, you wouldn’t store anything but beverages there anyway, so why not buy a portable electric cooler. You can find them at Wal Mart for around $150 to $250, and they fit the requirements. You also can move them to store for the winter months to keep your purchase looking nice, and you can unplug it when you aren’t using it to cut down on electric bills.

3. Keep the decor simple. You want your outdoor kitchen to feel like an oasis, an escape from the day to day, so by keeping with the natural feel of the outdoors, you can save money. Choose a few key pieces to accentuate the style of your home. For example, I like the outdoor candle chandelier if your table is covered. Plus you can use citronella candles to keep the bugs away. Go green; choose plants that will add color and ambiance to the space, vine plants work well if you want to create a cheap wall. If you invest a little more up front, you can find beautiful plants that will come back year after year and keep adding to the outdoor decor of the space.

2. Floors are a great way that you can save money. Concrete is one of the most inexpensive materials when designing an outdoor space. Plus you can change the look every few years with the use of glaze. There are many things you can do with glazes. You can go a solid color or make designs. To create a stone look to the concrete, use a black and stone colored glaze. First glaze the entire area black and let it dry. Next take outdoor tape to create the stones. You don’t have to make them perfect because most stone paths are not. Then take the stone colored glaze and rub it on with a rag so that the texture is uneven. Once it is dry, remove the tape. This is an inexpensive way to create a unique feel to your outdoor kitchen.

1. Like number 10, do what you want. Your outdoor kitchen is your dream. Don’t let a contractor sway you. This tip is not really about saving money but fulfilling your dream. You envision the space you want and therefore you should get it. If you are on a budget, don’t be afraid to shop around or wait a few more months.

Here’s a cheap DIY video on building the ultimate outdoor grilling kitchen:

Photo by Szelei Robert from Pexels

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