The importance of improving our living spaces for more comfort and function has never been so front-of-mind.<\/p>\n
Outdoor kitchen additions are one of the projects leading the outdoor living upgrade charge. Why? Because there are so many life-improving outdoor kitchen benefits that it only makes sense to invest in one for your backyard.<\/p>\n
As Outeriors president Daniel Albo told the Toronto Sun<\/a>, \u201cAn outdoor kitchen has become the final frontier of any renovation project<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Dining out once in a while is nice, but it\u2019s equally enjoyable to create your own grilled meals in the backyard and feed the people you enjoy spending time with the most.<\/p>\n The outdoor cooking area has evolved from a few square feet in the backyard occupied by a standalone grill into spacious, luxury outdoor cooking spaces with all the functionality of a traditional kitchen.<\/p>\n There are many good reasons why outdoor kitchens have become so attractive to homeowners \u2013 at least a dozen of them, in fact.<\/p>\n If adding an outdoor kitchen has been on your home improvement wish list, get inspired to start your project with these 12 outdoor kitchen benefits.<\/p>\n A rarely used backyard is wasted space and wasted potential, not unlike a spare room.<\/p>\n Having a little more livable space is appealing to almost everyone and that\u2019s exactly what an outdoor kitchen and entertainment area provide.<\/p>\n Indoor kitchen remodels are consistently one of the most popular home renovation projects. If you\u2019re considering such a project, it makes a lot of sense to rethink that plan and devote your remodeling budget towards adding a second kitchen space outside.<\/p>\n An enhanced outdoor living area with a kitchen, dining, and entertaining area transforms your backyard into a space that is optimized for comfort and added home functionality.<\/strong><\/p>\n It can be custom-designed to fit your lifestyle. For example, more livable outdoor space creates extra room for hosting large get-togethers. Guests can socialize inside or outside.<\/p>\n Eating the same dishes month after month gets a little boring. When the spring arrives and you can fire up the grill on a daily basis if desired, it\u2019s fun to shake up your menu options for the next several months with some new recipes.<\/p>\n Barbecues offer an endless choice of grilling recipes to try out. If you Google \u201cgrilling recipes\u201d<\/a>, almost a billion results come up!<\/p>\n Maybe you\u2019ve heard someone you know boast, \u201cMy indoor kitchen has everything!\u201d. Really? Does it have a grill? Probably not.<\/p>\n Even an indoor kitchen with \u201ceverything\u201d is likely missing the one thing that makes some of our favourite dishes.<\/p>\n Lots of Canadians use their grills year-round, too. You know<\/em> a grill isn\u2019t just any \u2019ol appliance when people are willing to bundle up, brave the frigid weather, and shovel snow off the patio just to grill up some burgers and steaks.<\/p>\n A fully-outfitted outdoor kitchen can inspire you to get adventurous with your summer grilling dishes.<\/p><\/div>\n On a gorgeous early summer evening, why stand over a hot stove indoors preparing dinner if you can do your cooking out in the backyard?<\/p>\n You can have an outdoor kitchen designed to include all the amenities of an indoor kitchen, including:<\/p>\n And let\u2019s not forget the beloved grill<\/a>, which is something that your indoor kitchen can\u2019t provide you with!<\/p>\n Although we\u2019re so conditioned to cooking inside our homes most of the time, cooking outside regularly shouldn\u2019t feel unnatural. After all, our earliest ancestors were doing it ages ago.<\/p>\n If you have a large backyard (along with the budget and desire for it), you have more space and freedom to go even bigger<\/em> and more elaborate with your outdoor kitchen design than your indoor kitchen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Get the cooking space set up with gas, electrical, and water lines. Add a built-in grill with a cooking area large enough to feed a small army. Pamper yourself with spacious countertops for dining and meal prepping. Load up your cooking space with appliances and all the outdoor cabinet<\/a> storage you could possibly need.<\/p>\n We can\u2019t even say you can have everything but the kitchen sink…because a sink can be included in an outdoor kitchen, too!<\/p>\n Without the constraints of an already-constructed and defined space to work within, you can go hog wild with your outdoor kitchen design.<\/p>\n Or not.<\/p>\n Outdoor cooking areas can also be smaller and\/or less elaborate. A modestly-sized patio section that is outfitted with just the essentials like a good grill, a few cabinets, a small countertop, and an appliance or two can still let you get a lot done.<\/p>\n Creating an outdoor kitchen gives you more freedom to go big with its design more than most indoor kitchen designs can.<\/p><\/div>\n Benjamin Franklin famously said, \u201cNothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.\u201d We can add to that, “And grilled food always<\/em> tastes better.\u201d<\/p>\n Cooking over a hot flame brings out delicious flavours that simply aren\u2019t achievable in an oven or with other indoor cooking appliances. And not just in meats, either.<\/p>\n Cooking seafood, vegetables, and even fruit on the grill can produce surprising results that add some welcome variety to your summer menu.<\/p>\n Spending more time in the great outdoors is good for your health. Don\u2019t just take our word for it \u2013 science shows that spending more time outside has many health benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here are a few examples of how more outside living can benefit you:<\/p>\n The pandemic eliminated the ability for us to socialize much \u2013 if at all \u2013 with our friends for far too long. FaceTime and Zoom calls simply aren\u2019t the same as spending quality face-to-face time with those we\u2019re closest to. A lack of social interaction took a toll on the mental health of many of us.<\/p>\n As normalcy returns, socializing more with friends and family in places like backyards, on pub patios, or at a ball game (if the Blue Jays ever make it back home) will be good for the well-being of everybody.<\/p>\n Spending more time outside during the summer is good for your health. (Photo by Allan Mas from Pexels)<\/p><\/div>\n A high-end outdoor cooking and entertaining area will become a go-to summer destination for your friends, neighbours, and family.<\/p>\n A fully outfitted backyard kitchen that can satisfy everyone\u2019s appetites is only part of the appeal. With an outdoor entertainment area that includes an outdoor bar, TV, fire pit<\/a>, and comfy furniture, your guests will never want to leave.<\/p>\n Not only will everyone want to soak up the cozy, inviting atmosphere and good food, they know they\u2019ll be well taken care of by their hosts.<\/p>\n We\u2019d bet that no other country in the world enjoys their summers more than Canadians. Summers here are all-too-short, but the amount of time we spend outside enjoying the warm weather shouldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n Make it your favourite part of the house from early spring through to late fall (and even beyond that if you\u2019re particularly resilient!) with the right design and supplying the space with heating.<\/p>\n All sorts of practical backyard heating solutions are available to help extend your enjoyment of the outdoors. This includes:<\/p>\n What better place is there to share good times with your friends and family than a nicely designed backyard? (Photo by Kampus Production from Pexels)<\/p><\/div>\n Grilling your food on a barbecue instead of frying or broiling it is considered more healthy for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n Fried foods absorb lots of fat. If too much of it is consumed, the higher cholesterol levels they contain can raise your blood pressure and increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.<\/p>\n If you grill your food more often, a lot of the fat on the meat drips off. That lowers your calorie intake and results in a healthier diet and potentially fewer health issues.<\/p>\n Another health-related benefit of grilling that most people aren\u2019t aware of is a piece of food that is grilled has more nutritional value than if you fried the same type of food. Grilled meats and veggies cook faster, which lets them retain more of their nutrients.<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever undergone a major renovation on an interior space like the kitchen or bathroom, you know how inconvenient and disruptive it can be.<\/p>\n Because all of the work with an outdoor kitchen project occurs, well, outdoors, there is less disruption to your family\u2019s daily routine.<\/p>\n To ensure the project is done right and in a timely manner, hire an outdoor kitchen design company like Outeriors. Did you know that 8 in 10 homeowners used professional installers for their outdoor kitchen additions<\/strong><\/a>?<\/p>\n Here are some interesting statistics about home improvement trends in Canada, courtesy of the RE\/MAX 2021 Renovation Investment Report:<\/p>\n Infographic from RE\/MAX<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Next on our list of outdoor kitchen benefits is the energy conservation it contributes to.<\/p>\n Being outside more to cook during the summer keeps your home a little cooler because the indoor oven will be used less. Your air conditioner won\u2019t have to work as hard to cool your living space if the largest source of indoor heat during the summer (that isn\u2019t weather-related) is on vacation.<\/p>\n The dishwasher, which also generates a lot of heat, can take a break, too. Consider air-drying your dishes to save energy or you could add an outdoor dishwasher to your exterior living space for even more convenience.<\/p>\n Another way an outdoor kitchen saves energy is that with everything you need in your food prep area, trips in and out of the home are all but eliminated. That prevents the escape of cold air from your house\u2019s interior and keeps the warm air outside where it belongs.<\/p>\n Your outdoor kitchen appliances will still be using electricity, naturally, but the heat from things like a pizza oven and side burners will dissipate quicker outside.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re adding an outdoor cooking space to your home, you\u2019re obviously not planning to move anytime soon. One day, however, you might find yourself being a seller.<\/p>\n The 12 outdoor kitchen benefits we have listed here certainly make your house more attractive to potential buyers. The added functionality an outdoor kitchen and living space offers adds value to your home<\/strong> and is a great selling point. And until that happens, you\u2019ll get years of enjoyment from your investment.<\/p>\n Buying products made with premium materials and finishes that last longer will make your outdoor kitchen retain its long-term value even more.<\/p>\n If you do an online search for the estimated return on investment (ROI) of an outdoor kitchen addition, the numbers vary quite widely.<\/p>\n Some real estate professionals believe an outdoor kitchen project has a 70% ROI, which is considered very good. Others believe it\u2019s much higher and in the 90-100% range. Some even believe adding an outdoor kitchen recoups well over 100% of your building costs in the long run.<\/p>\n Whichever ROI estimate you trust, even at the lowest end, outdoor kitchens are a smart investment that provides a return on investment that exceeds the 68.6% average for the most popular home remodel projects<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Have these outdoor kitchen benefits convinced you that it\u2019s time to add a second kitchen to your home?<\/p>\n Prioritize outdoor living and reimagine your backyard space. Our design pros will work with you to choose the best products, materials, colours, and styles to make your outdoor living space concept above and beyond what you dreamed it could be.<\/strong><\/p>\n Kick-start your outdoor kitchen and living space project by booking a free design consultation<\/a> with an Outeriors design consultant.<\/p>\n Please share this post if you found it useful.<\/em><\/p>\n If adding an outdoor kitchen is on your home improvement wish list, get inspired to start your project with these 12 outdoor kitchen benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1421,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1103","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-outdoor-kitchen-design","category-outdoor-kitchens-101"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"outdoor](\"https:\/\/www.outeriors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/outdoor-kitchen-with-food.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n12 outdoor kitchen benefits worth knowing<\/h2>\n
1. Increase your home\u2019s livable space<\/h2>\n
2. Expand your summer menu options<\/h2>\n
![\"assorted](\"https:\/\/www.outeriors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/assorted-meat-and-veggies-on-grill.jpg\")
3. Take a break from your indoor kitchen<\/h2>\n
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4. Go all-out with your kitchen design<\/h2>\n
![\"luxury](\"https:\/\/www.outeriors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/xoutdoor_kitchen_ideas_brownjordan-04.jpg.pagespeed.ic_.uaZBS0cKF8.jpg\")
5. Grilled food just tastes better<\/h2>\n
6. More time spent outdoors is good for your health<\/h2>\n
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![\"2](\"https:\/\/www.outeriors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/2-kids-in-backyard.jpg\")
7. A beautiful outdoor kitchen impresses everyone<\/h2>\n
8. Maximize the enjoyment of your spring and summer<\/h2>\n
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![\"friends](\"https:\/\/www.outeriors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/friends-toasting-in-backyard.jpg\")
9. Grilling is healthier for you<\/h2>\n
10. Outdoor kitchen building projects are less disruptive<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.outeriors.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/remax-renovation-investment-report.jpg\")
11. Outdoor summer cooking saves energy<\/h2>\n
12. Add value to your home<\/h2>\n
Outdoor kitchens have a high return on investment<\/h3>\n
Reap the benefits of an outdoor kitchen<\/h2>\n
See also:<\/h4>\n
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