When you’re in the middle of the summer season, spending time outside is appealing, and so is cooking. Incorporating an outdoor kitchen is a popular choice when it comes to enhancing your outdoor space. It adds the perfect place to grill out, cook, and spend time with friends and family. Not all outdoor spaces are large, though. For smaller areas, you want to make the most of your space without making it feel overcrowded. If you’re on the hunt for small outdoor kitchen ideas, Oasis Landscapes & Irrigation has 10 innovative ideas to share.
1. Incorporate a Built-In Grill or Smoker
When summer rolls in, it’s the perfect time to grill out in your backyard. In a small outdoor living space, though, it may be difficult to find a place for a standalone grill. If you’re planning out a small outdoor kitchen space, the addition of a built-in grill or smoker can give your friends and family plenty of space. Incorporating a gas grill or ceramic egg smoker into a stone or butcher block counter can free up more space for seating and provide easy access to counter space beside your grill.
2. Add a Wall Behind Your Kitchen
If you’re looking for a way to accent an outdoor kitchen within a limited space, you can add a simple garden wall behind it to frame it. This is a great way to make your outdoor kitchen stand out without sacrificing free space. With a wide range of customization for garden walls, you can pick out colors and textures that best match your aesthetic. It can also provide a way to section off your outdoor kitchen setup in an organized but tasteful way.
3. Install a Pizza Oven
While a grill is a common option, pizza ovens are also an addition that is appealing for a modern outdoor kitchen. Made from brick, stone, or stainless steel, they can be compact in their design, making them innovative in a small outdoor space. The wood storage can be built directly under the oven and a counter can be added to the side, keeping everything in one place and leaving the remainder of your outdoor space free for other additions. It’s an excellent option for anyone wanting to branch out from a standard barbeque station.
4. Build a Linear Kitchen
Having all your kitchen appliances in one place is good for convenience as well as for optimizing your outdoor space. With a linear outdoor kitchen, you can have your grill, sink, and kitchen cabinetry together in a single unit, and it’s easy to customize what you want within it, whether you prefer more space for appliances or for food prep and storage. Having everything in one spot also helps when it comes to serving food, making it simple for you and your guests to form a quick serving line for a meal.
5. U-Shaped Kitchen Design
If you are looking for small kitchen ideas, you may consider a U-shaped kitchen out of the picture, However, U-shaped outdoor kitchens are a great way to maximize space and ease of movement. The design can easily be set in a corner, or even by the poolside. The wraparound layout allows for plenty of counter space and helps space out appliances like an outdoor sink and a grill. With the center of the outdoor kitchen being open, it’s easier for you and others to cook and prep food without overcrowding the space.
6. Make a Kitchen Under Your Patio
Cooking outdoors can be enjoyable, but sometimes you need protection from the elements. One way to optimize space and provide shade for your outdoor kitchen can be by setting it up under your patio. It’s a convenient nook for a small kitchen layout, offering the perfect amount of shade and shelter from the hot sun or bad weather. It also keeps you from having to fill up the limited space you have in your outdoor living space. You and your guests can stay shaded and comfortable while still enjoying the outdoors.
8. Add an Island or Two
Not every space for an outdoor kitchen can accommodate a large dining table or wide counter, and for some small spaces, you might be only able to fit one. With an island, though, you can have a seating area and a counter without wasting space. Kitchen islands make a great place for prep and serving food and dining. You can fashion an island with chairs to make it a dining table next to the rest of your kitchen, or you can use it as additional counter space for outdoor cooking.
9. Choose a Modular Outdoor Kitchen
Sometimes, it may be hard to pick a spot for your outdoor kitchen, but your choice doesn’t have to be permanent. Modular kitchens are an innovative way to make your kitchen mobile and rearrangeable. You can easily arrange the units of your kitchen, whether you keep them all together or spread them out to fit your small outdoor space. The versatility of a modular kitchen means you can test what arrangement you like the most.
10. Create an L-Shaped Kitchen with a Bar
An L-shaped kitchen layout is convenient if you have a small corner of space for an outdoor kitchen, or you want to minimize how much space it takes up. The design provides a counter designated to appliances, while the other counter perpendicular to it can be made it a seating area. With a narrow counter, you can create a sleek, modern bar by adding barstools. With this, you and your guests can relax and have a drink while grilling or cooking.
Ready to Enhance Your Outdoor Space with Our Small Outdoor Kitchen Ideas?
Incorporating an outdoor kitchen can significantly enhance your summer experience, even in small spaces, by providing a functional and inviting area for cooking and socializing. Oasis Landscapes & Irrigation offers a variety of innovative design ideas to help you maximize your outdoor space while creating a stylish and enjoyable kitchen environment. Ready to create your own small outdoor kitchen? Just talk to one of our talented designers.
