How to make an outdoor kitchen look expensive: designer knowhow
To complement both your interiors and your outdoor landscaping beautifully, it pays to know how to make an outdoor kitchen look luxurious. Thoughtful design can introduce the luxury touches that elevate this hard-working preparation, cooking and dining space.
Whatever the size of your yard, outdoor kitchens ensure you can spend more time out there. The best-equipped outdoor kitchen allows you to do everything you might when preparing meals inside your home, and creates a hub for socializing, too.
And if you want the space to look high-end as well as prove functional, these are the designer-recommended ways to achieve it.
1. Create areas of both sun and shade
(Image credit: Paul Whicheloe/Future)
Making your outdoor kitchen look and feel more expensive isn’t just about the materials you choose or the decor you add, it starts right in the beginning with the positioning. Where you locate an outdoor kitchen is crucial. Nothing says expensive like perfect pools of sunlight over your seating area at just the right time of day or the shade coming over just as it gets too hot to be eating at the outdoor dining table.
‘Luxury is about planning and response to the environment, so study the sun and where it sets, where the shady parts of your space exist, and if they don’t,’ says interior designer Summer Jensen of Hawk & Co. ‘No matter how much sun you like, others will want shade,’ she advises.
Think about the outlook, too. ‘Thoughtfulness as you plan for the space allows you to situate your outdoor experience with the best view, so planning and placement are key,’ she says. Patio shade ideas will help you create further comfortable seating areas.
2. Don’t skimp on features
(Image credit: Willow Gates Home and Landscape)
Again, this is something to think about in the planning stages. Luxury comes from opting for features that make an outdoor kitchen convenient. An easy to use space that’s totally self-sufficient will always give a more expensive feel. Need ice? It’s in the ice maker just steps away. Want to refill the water jug? Just use the outdoor sink. Not having to go back and forth from the house is the ultimate luxury.
‘By incorporating items such as beverage coolers, a pizza oven, high-end hardware, and more, you can replicate a refined, resort-like feel right in your own backyard,’ says Aaron Brundage, director of operations at System Pavers.
And do opt for a sink as part of the design. ‘A sink is always a welcome addition; when you’re working with raw meat, how often do you need to run into the house to wash your hands?’ asks Jeremy Martin, the landscape designer, project manager, and owner at Willow Gates Home and Landscape. ‘Even a small sink makes working in your outdoor kitchen so much easier,’ he says.
3. Bring in color
(Image credit: Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture)
Stainless-steel outdoor kitchen cabinets are a durable choice, but you might want to give the material a twist with an unexpected outdoor kitchen color to elevate the finish and make the space more luxurious.
‘For higher-end outdoor kitchens, we’ve been specifying stainless steel cabinetry that has been powder-coated to a color,’ explains Joseph Richardson of Washington, DC-based Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture. ‘This is a custom element that really takes a traditional outdoor kitchen to the level of an interior kitchen,’ he says.
4. Add a backsplash
(Image credit: Helen Bergin Interiors)
Repeat an element from the kitchen inside your home for a more expensive look outside – a beautiful backsplash.
‘An outdoor kitchen is a fantastic opportunity to incorporate eye-catching backsplashes, especially since the available space is often more compact,’ says Helen Bergin of Helen Bergin Interiors.
It’s also a great focal point. ‘A striking backsplash or a built-in bar gives your eye something to land on,’ says landscape designer Andrew D’Allienne at Lifescape Colorado.
5. Focus on the countertop
(Image credit: Living Gardens Landscape Design/Shay Studios)
You can boost the luxe of your alfresco cooking area with the outdoor kitchen countertop you select.
‘A soapstone or honed concrete countertop adds a timeless, sophisticated touch,’ says Sacha McCrae of Living Gardens Landscape Design. ‘Steer clear of tile countertops, as they can appear busy and are difficult to maintain due to grout lines. Aim for a clean, simple, and elegant design.’
Check your choice is suitable for the situation, too. ‘A big mistake I see a lot of people make is sourcing the wrong countertop material,’ says Summer Jensen. ‘Believe it or not, not all manmade counters can be used in direct UV sunlight, so please check your specifications and look for “Outdoor OK”.’
Don’t leave yourself with too little countertop either. ‘Be sure to include ample counter space – not only for prep work, but also to accommodate a buffet setup when entertaining,’ says Sacha. A cramped layout can make the kitchen feel like an afterthought.’
6. Zone an outdoor kitchen
(Image credit: System Pavers)
An outdoor kitchen with an expensive style replicates the usability of a kitchen indoors. And think about how you use your indoor kitchen, you’ll likely find you have zones within the space you use for certain tasks – take this approach outside to ensure your outdoor kitchen flows well.
‘We like to create distinct zones for prep, serving, and lounging to make sure your outdoor kitchen functions as well as it looks,’ says Aaron Brundage.
7. Plan in plenty of lighting
(Image credit: Photography by Andrew Olson, courtesy of Lifescape Colorado)
Expensive outdoor kitchens have kitchen lighting ideas to rival those indoors. Take a very similar approach and layer your lighting so there’s the right light for every occasion. You’ll want some task lighting in the cooking and prep areas, and then softer accent lighting where the mood is more relaxed.
‘Lighting makes or breaks an outdoor space,’ points out Andrew D’Allienne. ‘From string lights to built-in fixtures, great lighting makes the space usable and beautiful at all hours. Task lighting for grills, ambient glows for dining – it all matters.’
8. Introduce natural materials
(Image credit: Future / Paul Raeside)
Balance the manmade materials of an outdoor kitchen with those with a natural origin for an expensive look.
‘I encourage the incorporation of natural materials for outdoor kitchen and dining spaces,’ says Laurin White, founder and designer at Cambridge Row. ‘You may still choose ones that are durable, of course, but they don’t have to be bland. Layering honest materials makes an outdoor kitchen space feel more inviting, charming, and perfectly imperfect,’ she adds.
9. Don’t neglect details
(Image credit: West Elm)
The smaller elements of an outdoor kitchen can contribute to making it look expensive. Think vases, platters, jugs, vases of flowers, a bar cart, and of course, soft furnishings like outdoor rugs and throw pillows.
‘Try adding some luxe decorative additions like upscale cheese boards, carafes, dinnerware, and vases of flowers,’ says interior designer Kathy Kuo. ‘Just take some time to add personal touches and you’ll instantly see an elevation in the level of luxury.’
Lovett Indoor/Outdoor Rug by Sarah Sherman Samuel
An outdoor rug is key to giving your outdoor rooms that same welcoming feeling as your indoor spaces. Position one under your outdoor dining table to soften the space and zone it from the rest of the kitchen. This design from the Sarah Sherman Samuel collection with Lulu & Georgia is perfect for adding some warm, earthy tones to your outdoor space.
The Mediterranean Dish Glazed Terracotta Mezze Plates
Designed by the founder of The Mediterranean Dish, Suzy Karadsheh, for her collection with Anthro, these hand-painted plates will add a playful pop of color to your outdoor kitchen. Display them on shelves or on the countertop as part of a vignette, just as you would do in your main kitchen.
Ellie Bar Cart with Metal Outer Material
A bar cart is the perfect addition to an outdoor kitchen to make it feel more luxurious. You might already have a built-in bar, but this makes your hosting portable and far more relaxed.
You don’t need a large yard to create an expensive-looking cooking and dining space, and small outdoor kitchens can have luxe touches, too. But if, on the other hand, yours is generous in its size, maximize its practicality and give it a high-end finish with an outdoor kitchen island.
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