inspiration
~ 4 min read
Planning an outdoor kitchen blends creativity with practical thinking. Whether you’re starting from scratch or upgrading an existing space, thoughtful preparation ensures your kitchen becomes a long-lasting, functional and beautiful part of your home. Here are some tips from KönigOutdoor on how to approach the planning process with confidence.
If you have the ideal spot for your outdoor kitchen already prepared with a relatively flat surface with minimal falls and any services required ready to go, you’re in a great position. You can move straight into the fun part: designing your kitchen layout, choosing appliances and selecting finishes.
If you’re working from a completely blank canvas, the length of an outdoor kitchen project can be as long as a piece of string — everything from groundwork and landscaper availability to the great British weather will have its say. That’s why the best time to start planning, if you want your kitchen ready and sizzling for summer, is right now. Early planning gives you the freedom to design confidently, book the right teams and bring your alfresco vision to life without a last‑minute rush.
Here are a few important considerations before design begins:
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The position of your outdoor kitchen can define comfort, functionality and the overall outdoor living experience. Consider if it will act as an independent focal point away from the main property or if you’re looking to extend your indoor space, If it’s part of a full property renovation you could go for a Biophilic design, using large glass panels or doors to create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor kitchen spaces, making the whole space feel cohesive.
It is also important to think about how the wind typically moves through the space, the position of the sun and the view when you’re cooking up an outdoor feast. This is not only for the chef’s comfort but can also impact the performance of appliances such as glass-fronted fridges in direct sunlight and rear vent of gas grills directly in prevailing winds.
Shelter
Shelter isn’t mandatory, but it significantly broadens how and when you can use the space. Options such as pergolas, louvred roofs, architectural overhangs or integrated structures provide shade, protection and a more stable environment for outdoor cooking.
Services & Utilities
Before installation, ensure the essential services are planned in: gas, electricity, water supply and waste. Confirming these early guarantees the infrastructure supports your chosen appliances and design layout. It may help to select your preferred cooking fuel; gas, charcoal, wood or electric along with additional features such as refrigeration, sinks, taps, lighting and ice makers. These elements bring both practicality and refinement to the final design.
Once the groundwork is sorted, the design phase begins. This is where your kitchen becomes uniquely yours.
Appliances
There are a wide range of cooking appliances available, each bringing its own flavour and flair such as kamados, gas grills, charcoal grills, asados and pizza ovens. Kamados deliver exceptional heat retention for slow cooking, roasting and smoking. Gas grills offer fast, reliable heat for effortless everyday cooking, while charcoal grills provide rich smoky flavour and a more hands on, traditional feel. Some models of these grills have rotisserie attachments available to ensure perfectly even roasting with minimal effort. Perfect for entertaining, live fire asado adds dramatic open flame theatre and pizza ovens create high heat, restaurant quality results in minutes.
Other useful appliances include outdoor rated refrigerators, freezer drawers, warming drawers and a sink.
Work Surface & Prep Area
More surface area often means a more enjoyable cooking experience but think about how you cook and how far the outdoor kitchen is located from the main kitchen. Do you need generous preparation space or is a compact layout enough? Would you like a worktop overhang to incorporate bar style seating for dining and for guests to watch the culinary action.
Storage and Internal Configuration
Well planned outdoor storage keeps your kitchen running smoothly. The inside of each KönigOutdoor unit can be tailored to your needs such as shelving, drawer inserts for cutlery or a pull-out bin. A well-organized interior makes the kitchen feel seamless and efficient.
Finishes
Choosing high quality materials for the external surfaces of your outdoor kitchen is essential for keeping it looking immaculate with minimal maintenance. Outdoor environments can be tough, from temperature swings and wet weather to UV exposure and wind-blown grit, so durable, weather resistant finishes ensure your kitchen stands strong through every season. Premium materials don’t just protect against fading, staining and warping; they also make cleaning easier, maintain their aesthetic for years and give your space that beautifully refined, effortlessly resilient look that true alfresco living deserves.
KonigOutdoor offers a range sintered stone colours and textures used for the work surfaces, door and draw fronts, back panels and end panels of their outdoor kitchens. This allows you to match your garden style—whether that’s sleek modern, warm natural tones or something bold and architectural. You can also incorporate a variety of different materials into a KönigOutdoor kitchen such as granite worktops, cedar wood panels and brickwork.
Every KonigOutdoor kitchen is made to order. Once a project is ready for a site survey and the design is finalised, the typical lead time is around 6 to 8 weeks.
Installation is efficient and minimally disruptive, usually taking 1 to 2 days. Before you know it, your new outdoor kitchen is ready to enjoy.
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