Why You Need an Outdoor Kitchen This Year

If you’re like most Americans, the global pandemic means you’re already spending more time outside than you used to. One study found that we spend about 14 hours outside per week, which is a full three hours more than the previous average!

Along with more time outside, of course, you’ve probably taken some time to invest in some backyard redecorating to make the most of your living space. But is your outdoor oasis all it could be?

Next to a swimming pool, one of the most popular backyard features this year is the outdoor kitchen—and for good reason. Having this versatile area right outside your door offers a wealth of great benefits that are well worth considering. If you’re ready to reinvent your outdoor living space, here are the main advantages these kitchens can offer.

Create a Great Space for Entertaining

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a holiday, or a special event, most of us like to head to the backyard. This is especially true when there’s a large crowd on the guest list! With the right outdoor design, it’s easy to entertain in style.

If you want to take things a step further, however, an outdoor kitchen can be the perfect option. Even outside, nothing brings people together like cooking and food!

One additional benefit of these kitchens, of course, is that you can keep guests from bumping into each other in the limited space of your indoor kitchen and dining area. Instead, an extra outdoor space for cooking allows everyone to spread out more, giving you the opportunity to entertain with ease.

Spend More Time Outdoors

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, more of us than ever crave indoor-outdoor spaces as we reimagine our homes. It’s no wonder why: during the lockdowns, many of us have worked to expand our living areas and create more space to spread out.

But spending more time outside is also associated with a huge spectrum of benefits, including a more positive mood, less stress, and better sleep. It’s even linked with more energy and a healthier immune system!

Creating a dedicated space for al fresco dining in your backyard is a great excuse to head outside more often, allowing you to reap all of those benefits and more. With a reason to spend time outdoors, you’ll have no trouble getting more Vitamin D!

Keep Smells Outside

There’s nothing worse than cooking a meal whose scent lingers around your house for a day or more. This issue can be worse in the hot summer months. While these smells can be unpleasant, they can be especially problematic for anyone in the household with a sensitive nose or stomach.

When you invest in a space for al fresco cooking, you make it much easier to keep smells outside where they belong!

Make Cooking Easier and More Convenient

You’d be surprised at how much an outdoor kitchen can add convenience to your meal prep.

First, because these kitchens aren’t limited by the space within your home, it’s easy to customize the layout to your exact preferences. This versatility makes for more comfortable cooking using a design that incorporates more of the elements you need—and fewer of the ones you don’t. Feel free to add specific features like a smoker or pizza oven, for example, or create a larger prep or bartending area than your indoor kitchen offers.

In addition, outdoor kitchens eliminate the need to run back and forth between your indoor and outdoor cooking areas. With only a grill outdoors, many homeowners find themselves juggling side dishes indoors while cooking outside. An outdoor kitchen can include your refrigerator, storage spaces, and everything you need to get the job done without running in and out.

Next, outdoor cooking makes clean up incredibly easy. Instead of the headache of cleaning messes and spills, you can leave smaller spills to dry naturally or hose down your entire patio in minutes.

Last, don’t forget that a spacious backyard kitchen can be a great way to make room for more helping hands!

Save on Your Utility Bills

During the summer, heating up your kitchen to cook every day can cause a substantial spike in your home energy usage. With your air conditioner working double-time to compensate for the extra warmth, you may find your utility bills getting expensive.

When you start cooking outside, on the other hand, you don’t have to worry about hot air getting trapped inside your home—which translates to money back in your pocket.

Increase Your Home’s Value

If you’re looking for outdoor upgrades that increase your home’s resale appeal, an outdoor kitchen can be a great choice. Most buyers won’t hinge their entire decision on this feature, but it’s a quick way to add some “wow factor” to your listing and help your home stand out from others in the area.

Note, of course, that the increase in your home’s value will depend on a few key factors, like your property’s overall value and your location. It also depends on the design of the space itself, which is why it’s important to invest in a professionally installed and designed kitchen.

Choose State of the Art Landscape for Your Outdoor Kitchen

It’s clear that adding an outdoor kitchen to your home offers a huge range of personal, social, and financial advantages. However, when you’re ready to take the leap and create a flexible, functional living space, you’ll need an experienced team of professionals by your side.

With over 60 years of combined experience, the team at State of the Art Landscape can design, build, and install the perfect outdoor kitchen for your home. We stand by our superior craftsmanship and love to partner with homeowners to create unique custom designs for extraordinary outdoor living. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you