Cooking Outdoors: Maximising Space and Functionality in Your Outdoor Kitchen Design

Cooking outdoors is a wonderful way to enjoy delicious food with friends and family while breathing in fresh air and listening to the world. Many of us spend so much of our lives indoors, so having time to head outside and simply be in the moment with loved ones can create wonderful memories. A practical and welcoming outdoor kitchen can be an amazing backdrop for your outdoor meals. 

You don’t need a massive yard to create a wonderful kitchen outdoors, either. You can use your space well to create a comfortable and inviting dining area, complete with cooking appliances and seating for you and your loved ones. 

But if you want a beautiful kitchen outdoors, where do you start? In this article, we’ll provide you with a handful of helpful tips that you can consider before you begin your kitchen project. 

What To Do When Creating Your Own NZ Outdoor Kitchen

When designing your kitchen, you’ll want to consider functionality and aesthetics. Functionality helps you make the most of your space and make delicious food, while aesthetics create a beautiful area that people will love. 

How can you do this? Consider the following tips before you begin your project:

Collaborate With Professional Landscapers. Once you start visualising your lovely new kitchen, you may realise that landscaping isn’t quite as easy as placing a few new pieces of furniture or appliances in your yard. There are plenty of factors to think about, and experienced landscapers have the training, expertise and passion needed to discover amazing outdoor kitchen opportunities for your exact NZ property. 

Your landscapers can discuss your budget, preferred materials, lifestyle and more with you to determine the right materials, appliances, layout and more for your new kitchen. Overall, their help can be invaluable for streamlining the process and finding the perfect results.

When choosing your landscapers, make sure you look at their past work to see what they’re capable of. Ask if they’ve worked on spaces like yours before and if they can accommodate any specific lifestyle choices or preferences you have. 

Don’t Forget About Drainage And Ventilation. Your next barbeque won’t be very fun if your entire outdoor kitchen gets filled with smoke from your grill, nor will you be happy if your kitchen floods during the next rainstorm. Before you begin organising your furniture or landscaping features, discuss drainage and ventilation with your landscaper. It’s essential to consider practical matters first and then choose appliances, materials and more that suit your needs. 

Utilise Multi-Functional Furniture. If your outdoor space is a bit smaller, then multi-functional furniture can be a game-changer. Consider dining sets with built-in storage, benches with storage room or even tables with collapsible or extendable features. This can help you maximise your storage, which is a very important part of making the most of your space. This kind of furniture can also add functionality to your dining area, creating a versatile space for your needs. 

For example, if you choose a table that can be collapsed or expanded, you can easily modify it depending on how many guests you have over so that everyone can have a spot. 

Create Vertical Storage Solutions. If you’re running out of floor space for your outdoor kitchen, think about vertical storage options like shelves, cabinets or hanging racks for cooking utensils and other essentials. Make sure your storage solutions are safe and secure so that your items stay clean, and you may want to avoid leaving food outdoors so that animals don’t become interested in your space. 

Choose Compact Appliances. Compact appliances are perfect for smaller spaces. Look for grills, refrigerators and sleek prep stations that are compact but don’t compromise on functionality. 

Incorporate An Outdoor Fireplace. There’s nothing like the delicious, smoky flavour of food cooked over a toasty fire. A lovely outdoor fireplace is the perfect place to cook snacks and could be the ideal addition to your outdoor kitchen.

Furthermore, a warm fireplace isn’t just good for practical matters - the crackling of the kindling and the warmth of the fire can add to your kitchen’s ambience. The smells, sounds and sight of the fireplace create a cosy outdoor atmosphere that’s wonderful for summer nights. However, these fireplaces are also perfect for outdoor gatherings during the colder months, letting people keep warm and happy.

An outdoor fireplace is a wonderful aspect of any outdoor gathering, regardless of the time of year. 

Creating The Perfect Outdoor Kitchen For Your NZ Space

A beautiful kitchen can add sophistication, practicality and comfort to any NZ home. Are you interested in creating one on your property? Call us at Ridler Landscapes, and we’ll be happy to see how we can improve your property.

If you have any questions for us, or if you’re ready to get the design process started as soon as possible, please feel free to contact us on 027 341 0037 or use our contact page.

Personalise and elevate your home with Ridler Landscapes.