Pros and Cons of Outdoor Kitchens
January 22, 2018Nothing complements a get-together better than some delicious food and drinks, and what’s more delicious than homemade food? If you plan to include a patio, porch, or deck in your custom home design, you might consider an outdoor kitchen. There’s a lot to love about outdoor kitchens, but they may not make sense for everyone. Here are some pros and cons of outdoor kitchens to help you decide if you want one in your custom home design:
5 Pros of Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens are one of the hot housing trends and offer several benefits. Here are some pros of outdoor kitchens:
1. Outdoor Kitchens Make Entertainment Areas Complete
An outdoor kitchen gives you all the more reason to have guests over. This is why it’s a popular option and one of the patio ideas for ranch-style homes and other homes. Food is perfect for bringing people together!
If cooking is a pastime of yours and you love cooking out on the grill, an outdoor kitchen can help you complete your outdoor entertainment areas. You can even turn your cooking into part of the entertainment by showing off your skills.
2. They Are Customizable, Beautiful Spaces
Outdoor kitchens can be gorgeous. There are a lot of things to consider for your outdoor kitchen design. But, without the limitations of being surrounded by fixed walls, you are free to construct them however you wish!
You can make them as compact or lavish as your heart desires. One of the creative gazebo ideas is to include an outdoor kitchen. Plus, there are tons of built-in options, like ovens, grills, sinks, fireplaces, and more, you can consider to further elevate the space.
3. Outdoor Kitchens Provide Easy Access to Food
If you enjoy spending time outdoors on the deck, by a pool, or in a garden, an outdoor kitchen makes it that much easier to treat yourself and your guests. Without one, you are either stuck with serving simple grilled foods or traveling back and forth from the kitchen to wherever you are outside.
An outdoor kitchen means more appliances immediately at the ready to cook a large variety of foods for you and your guests while also ensuring the food and drinks are within easy reach. And, if your outdoor kitchen includes a sink, cleanup is even easier.
4. They Allow Open Flame Cooking
Cooking outdoors can add quality to your food. Flame-broiled food or food cooked over a wood-fired grill or open flame can have an elevated flavor, which is hard to do in an indoor kitchen.
The fresh air can enable you to use other cooking methods and cook food in ways that would be too dangerous to cook in a cramped indoor kitchen. Plus, if your neighborhood allows open-flame cooking, you can get that unique flavor that only comes from cooking over a flame and coal or wood.
5. Outdoor Kitchens Tend to Add Home Value
Even if you are not planning to sell your custom home anytime soon, you do still want to consider how things you plan to include in the design affect the home value. Although there may be some exceptions, outdoor kitchens tend to add home value.
Not only do you get the added value of enjoying the space, but you can also get the benefit of knowing your outdoor kitchen adds financial value to your home on top of it.
4 Cons of Outdoor Kitchens
As with anything, there are potential drawbacks to outdoor kitchens as well as benefits. Here are some potential cons of outdoor kitchens:
1. Outdoor Kitchens Require Space
An outdoor kitchen requires space. If you want a larger backyard, but are limited to a smaller lot, an outdoor kitchen will cut into the yard space you have available. Although an outdoor kitchen does take up some square footage, it does add outdoor entertainment space and extra cooking space.
Depending on what you want to include in your outdoor kitchen, you will need to make sure there is enough space between it and your home. You’ll also have to ensure there is enough space between the outdoor kitchen on your lot and any neighboring lots.
Otherwise, your outdoor kitchen could become a point of contention between you and your neighbors. There may also be local regulations and neighborhood or HOA regulations you may need to consider.
2. You Will Need Some Weather Protection
All outdoor equipment needs weather protection of some sort. Without it, all your equipment will likely corrode due to the elements. This is true, especially in the winter, so you need to always keep an eye on the weather and perform regular maintenance.
This is something to consider for any outdoor space. If you are already planning on a patio or deck in addition to an outdoor kitchen, you will want to make sure you plan for weather protection. From extending the roof to cover the area to retractable covers or awnings, there are plenty of options to choose from.
3. Outdoor Kitchens Need Security
Security can become an issue with outdoor kitchens. Sure, it’s difficult for someone to steal your built-in grill, but the same cannot be said for anything else you happen to leave or store in your outdoor kitchen. Anything left outside, if not properly secure, is susceptible to theft.
4. They Need to be Maintained
Another potential con of outdoor kitchens is that they require maintenance. Regular maintenance and upkeep are important for everything in and around your home. The more you add to your home design, the more things you need to maintain and keep up with.
Depending on the design of your outdoor kitchen, maintenance can be difficult down the road. For example, if you have a built-in oven and grill, you are limited to restricted specifications if you ever need to replace those appliances.
You are limited to what the built-in was originally built for. However, you can address these concerns during the design phase and design your outdoor kitchen in a way that limits or avoids potential issues like this.
Are You Ready to Get Started on Your Own Custom Home?
These are just a few pros and cons of outdoor kitchens to consider as you think about whether one is right for you. Outdoor kitchens are just one of many ideas for outdoor living spaces. A well-kept outdoor kitchen is a luxurious addition to your grounds.
It will never stop providing you and your guests with great food and entertainment. Plus, an area to relax and entertain is one of the backyard must-haves for your custom home. If the pros outweigh the cons for you, an outdoor kitchen could be the right choice.
Whether you want an outdoor kitchen or not, Custom Home Group can help you bring your dream home to life. If you’re ready to get started on your custom home, contact CHG at 717-284-4090!