Summer is nearly upon us, and we’re hoping to spend as much time in the sunshine as possible. Around this time of year, people begin reconsidering the functions of their backyard and become inspired to find its potential, whether that be putting in a pool, building a spacious three-season room or designing their dream outdoor kitchen. Yes, you heard that right! Outdoor kitchens have been growing in popularity in recent years and are a fantastic way to combine your love of cooking and the outdoors. They can also be customized to suit your needs.
Here, our team discusses the advantages of building an outdoor kitchen and some design ideas to kickstart your imagination.
The Practical Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen
Despite what your initial assumptions may be, outdoor kitchens can actually be a practical addition to your home with a variety of benefits to your home and wallet:
Energy Costs
While outdoor kitchens require an upfront investment, they can actually help save you money in the long run. This is because they are much more sustainable and energy-efficient to use during the summer. They save on energy bills because cooking inside during the summer heats up your home and places strain on your air conditioning unit. By switching to using your outdoor kitchen during the summer months, you won’t have to constantly cool down your home after baking or roasting food in a hot oven.
Food Smell
Outdoor kitchens are great because they keep the smells of cooking food outside, as strong-smelling food can permeate your home and linger in furniture and clothing. Heat only exacerbates this issue–if you find yourself cooking strong-smelling foods, such as fish, during the summer months, you’re probably no stranger to the odor that may stick around in the home for days! This issue is even more prevalent in smaller homes.
Home Value
With any quality upgrades you make to your home, you often make back at least a partial amount of your initial investment. This especially applies to kitchen remodels.
Not only do outdoor kitchens have a historically high return on investment, but they are becoming more popular and desired among buyers. Depending on the type and quality of outdoor kitchen you build, you could see a return on investment ranging from 55% to anywhere between 100-200%.
Additional Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen
Besides the practical and financial benefits, there are many reasons to build an outdoor kitchen for the pure enjoyment of having one. Outdoor kitchens can become the centerpiece of backyard entertaining where your guests gather during parties and barbeques. Other benefits include:
Entertainment
Outdoor kitchens are the perfect place for family and friends to hang out and socialize. While hanging out in indoor kitchens can get crowded due to the limited amount of space, outdoor kitchens can accommodate larger gatherings. You can cook and serve guests without being isolated inside and even socialize and watch kids in the backyard or pool area while preparing food. A win-win, if we do say so ourselves.
Soaking Up the Sun
If you are a long-time resident of Maryland (or the Mid-Atlantic, for that matter), you know our winters can be dark and cold. Once spring and summer arrive, nothing feels better than soaking up Vitamin D and catching a few rays of sunshine. If you’re the chef of the house with a hungry family, it can be discouraging to spend so much time in the kitchen cooking when the weather is so beautiful. With an outdoor kitchen, you can make meals while soaking up the sunshine during our lovely but brief Maryland summers. You no longer have to feel like you’re missing out!
Making Memories
Outdoor kitchens are the perfect place for hosting birthday parties, graduation parties or even backyard weddings. Because you’re not limited to the confinements of your indoor kitchen, you have plenty of space to cater a large gathering. Also, because outdoor kitchens are unique, your home will surely be the default place to host memorable parties and celebrations among friends and family.
Whether you’re hanging out and grilling as a family unit, hosting a cookout with friends, or putting on the best backyard wedding that your loved ones have ever attended, an outdoor kitchen can be the perfect place to create memories that last a lifetime.
Design Ideas to Take Your Outdoor Kitchen to the Next Level
You might be intrigued by the idea of designing and building an outdoor kitchen–but where does one start? Below, our team lists out a few design ideas and beneficial functionally to get your creative wheels turning:
- Build your outdoor kitchen under a covered porch so you can enjoy it rain or shine.
- Center your kitchen around a large grill or cooking center for endless family dinners.
- Design your outdoor kitchen in an L-shape for maximum space and storage.
- Add an island or bar for serving, dining and entertaining.
- For pizza lovers, a wood-fired grill could be the perfect addition to your outdoor kitchen.
- If choosing not to completely cover your kitchen, incorporate a pergola or umbrellas for those extra hot days.
- Incorporate stone for added durability and aesthetics.
- Don’t forget appliances! Dishwashers, ovens and even refrigerators can be incorporated into your outdoor kitchen.
Start Your Outdoor Kitchen Project with Lynch Design | Build Today
The value you can get out of a fully built-out kitchen in your backyard are truly limitless. At Lynch Design | Build, we’re passionate about working with Maryland homeowners to bring out their home and yard potential. To talk to us about building the outdoor kitchen of your dreams, or to learn more about our outdoor living services, contact us today by calling 410-879-5510.
