How to Design Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
Imagine the sweet, charred smell of BBQ on a hot summer’s day. Now, picture appreciating that smell while lounging in your outdoor kitchen space. Pretty fantastic, right? Many Tampa, Florida, homeowners actively enjoy the warm seasons by grilling up their favorite dishes, and you can too with an outdoor kitchen that is customized to complement your home’s architectural layout. If you’re ready to jump onboard the outdoor kitchen trend, cabinets and storage are among the first things to consider.
What Are You Hoping to Achieve for Your Backyard?
Grab your mountain of dogeared home improvement magazines and get comfortable because the first thing you’ll want to do when designing your outdoor kitchen is to list out your preferences. As easy as this may sound, the task of actually organizing your favorite outdoor kitchen designs can get pretty complex, especially if you have little to no design experience. This is nothing to feel discouraged about; a lot goes into finding and following design trends that will work for you and your family years down the line. One way that you can simplify this process is to narrow down your preferences to the essential elements of your outdoor kitchen. Enter: custom cabinets.
Start With the Essentials
When you think of the basics of your home’s indoor kitchen, what elements immediately come to mind? For most homeowners, it’s the big appliances—the refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher—and the cabinets. When planning your outdoor kitchen, this is the same thought process that you should follow. Starting with the bones of your outdoor kitchen, aka the cabinets, will help you establish the design of the space and ensure that you have the needed storage for all of your outdoor gear. Custom cabinets are by far the best option for your outdoor kitchen, as they allow you the freedom to create a space that truly answers to your unique needs. Once you’ve found an agreeable cabinet style, you’ll need to focus on finding a cabinet material that can withstand constant outdoor exposure.
Finding the Best Cabinet Materials
When it comes to finding and choosing materials for your outdoor kitchen cabinets, you’ll quickly learn that the options are limitless. If you start to get overwhelmed, don’t fret; just start with the basics! The most important question you’ll want to ask yourself while reviewing materials is this: “What material best stands up to the outdoor elements?” Here are some materials that boast exceptional water-resistant properties, ideal for an outdoor product:
- Polymer – Easy to clean and often features UV resistant components
- Teak – Traditional, classic material that can be sealed with a waterproof finish
- Stainless steel – Durable, weatherproof, and available in contemporary finishes
Stainless steel materials are by far the trendiest cabinet design for outdoor kitchens, as they are incredibly sturdy and wear well in the outdoor environment. However, as you design your cabinets, you’ll also want to consider the space and location. If you’re planning to install your cabinets in direct sunlight, utilize durable materials. Whereas, if you’re installing your cabinets under the roofline, you might be able to get away with other material types.
Partner With a Reliable Cabinetmaker and Designer
Whatever you choose, investing in custom cabinets can significantly help you in creating an outdoor kitchen that perfectly suits your envisioned design and aesthetic preferences. At AlliKristé, we specialize in designing and installing custom cabinetry and are more than happy to help you create the outdoor kitchen cabinets of your dreams.
Contact AlliKristé today to learn more about how our products and services can benefit your Tampa, FL, home.