No place is too small for a barbecue party. Whether you have a small patio or an apartment balcony, build the perfect outdoor kitchen with our guide.
Nothing beats the smell of barbecue in a breeze of fresh air. No wonder, then, that outdoor kitchens have become a current trend in home construction.
Do you have a small garden or apartment balcony? If so, you’ve probably discovered that it takes creativity to lead a great gardening lifestyle. Would you like to have your own outdoor cooking area? Rest assured, no outdoor space is too small for an al fresco dining experience.
In this article, I explain how to set up an outdoor cooking area in six steps.
Create an outdoor cooking space too
Step 1: Consider a few options
The first thing to do IS look at your outdoor space and imagine what you could do with it.
For farms:
Look around your garden for features you can use. If You Already Have A Flat Surface Like A Patio Or Deck, What Could Be More Convenient? An alternative magazine is shade under a tree or pergola.
Don’t forget that no cooking area is complete without a dining area. Find a seat with enough space for both of you.
Also, consider alternatives to a grill station. Two popular options are a fire pit and a brick oven.
Which cooking method you choose will affect the configuration of your space. For example, a grilling station is usually located next to a dining area, while a fire pit is usually surrounded by seating .
for balcony:
In the interests of safety, legality, and being a good neighbor, you’ll need to dig a little more for this step.
The vast majority of apartment complexes do not allow open fire cooking on balconies. If you’re lucky, you can use a charcoal or propane grill. If not, you can probably have an outdoor electric grill .
Your other challenge is to make the most of your balcony space. As a patio owner, you can also take advantage of benefits like railings and corners. If you need inspiration, consider some space-saving furniture options:
- Corner furniture like this Small Table
- Bar Seating
- Furniture that attaches to countries, like this Folding Table
- Multipurpose furniture like a Storage Bench
- Collapsible Furniture
Do not select any furniture at this point. Imagine ways to conveniently integrate a kitchen and dining area into your balcony.
Like human plants
For this step, don’t worry about specific appliance models or the final layout of your oven cavity. You just need a basic idea of what you want to achieve.
For farms:
Decide what type of cooking space you want. Do you have a grill, fire pit, oven or a combination of these? So select a location.
Decide what type of equipment you will be purchasing(e.g. outdoor refrigerator, propane grill, etc.). If you’re looking to set up your appliances on a kitchen island, it’s especially important that you first decide what it’s going to be.
For balcony:
If you are allowed to have different types of grills on your balcony(eg, charcoal, propane, or electric), choose one type.
The best devices
What is an outdoor cooking area without the right equipment? Now it’s time to choose the right ones for your project.
If you have a balcony OR want a simple place to cook in the garden:
Your idea of an outdoor cooking area might just be a cooking method and some dining furniture. If so, now is the time to start looking for a specific grill, fire pit, or oven.
Whether you have a small patio or an apartment balcony, each of the best small grills can help you make the most of your space. If you’d rather put your grill away when you’re not using it, try a portable charcoal grill.
If you want a full-fledged outdoor kitchen:
If you want a real kitchen, you can choose from three simple configuration options:
- Build Kits – There are prefabricated outdoor kitchen islands with space for appliances and storage. Although YOU must connect to your tools, they are otherwise fairly easy to install.
These kits usually come with appliances and accessories like grills, outdoor refrigerators, and sinks. You can just pick one with the features you want.
- Modular – These are the featured kits with more customization options. You can choose everything from your countertop materials to your designs.
- Built -Ins – These are completely custom outdoor kitchens. You usually need a craftsman for the installation. For a built-in kitchen, you must first select certain appliances and then design your DIY grill island to match.
If you’re looking to fully customize your outdoor kitchen, this extremely helpful video by BBQGuys has everything you need to know to get started.
The best furniture
Get dining room furniture that looks nice and doesn’t take up too much space.
In Step 1 I mentioned some good furniture options for apartment dwellers. These work just as well if you have a very small garden.
If your terrace or balcony is big enough, just choose the furniture that suits you.
One important thing to consider is that your trash can might be near the future dining room. If that’s the case, you might want to consider getting a garbage storage shed or similar container. Not only does it protect guests from unpleasant odors, but it also makes the area look more comfortable. If you can get one with a flat surface, you can use it as a counter as well.
Check out this article from ANestWithAGard.com for options that might work for somewhat small or very small spaces .
Draft level
With your appliances and furniture selected, you can now decide how to organize. This step can be very simple or very complex depending on your plans.
For simple garden projects OR balconies:
If you just want to lay out a few things on an already flat surface, this step is a breeze. Just decide how to place your appliances and furniture.
For more complicated garden projects:
If your project calls for landscaping, now is the time to decide on materials and design. Again, don’t forget to plan the dining room.
If you’ve chosen an outdoor or modular kitchen set, you don’t have to worry about whether your appliances will fit in your kitchen island. However, you can decide which direction you want the island to face and where YOU want to place the furniture.
If you’ve decided to build an outdoor kitchen from scratch, you probably need help with this step.
You must choose materials that will stand up to the elements. Good options for your countertop include concrete, stone, and stainless steel.
There are many small but important details that make an outdoor kitchen safe and functional. This is why from now on you should look for a licensed contractor to help you.
The finishing touch
Now you can do anything to complete your project.
For simple garden projects OR balconies:
If you don’t build or install anything, just lay out your furniture and appliances as planned.
For more complicated garden projects:
If your project calls for landscaping, do it.
If you have purchased an outdoor or modular kitchen set, let the professionals connect you with the necessary services.
If you’re building your kitchen from scratch, make sure you’re getting the results you want by consulting with your contractor.
The last word
With an outdoor cooking space, you can enjoy the lifestyle of a large patio for years to come.
Did you enjoy reading this article? If ha, please share!
Writer & content creator. BBQ fanatic!
