Kitchen Cabinets for the Outdoors
Outdoor kitchen are an attractive and luxurious addition to your home, allowing you to enjoy your backyard to its fullest. Undertaking the construction of your outdoor kitchen can be an overwhelming task. With proper planning and smart decision-making you can make the process easier and create an ideal outdoor space.
One of the most important aspects of an outdoor kitchen is storage space. Determining the design, shape, and material for your outdoor cabinets can shape the layout of your kitchen. Listed below are several steps to help you decide on the perfect cabinets for you.
Kitchen Cabinets for the Outdoors
Step 1 - Planning
Measuring your available space will help in determining how much space you want to dedicate to your cabinetry. You should decide on the layout of your outdoor kitchen, planning where you would like to include your cooking space, refrigeration, and any other amenities. This will help in determining the size, shape, and variety of cabinets to choose from.
2) Kitchen Cabinet Options
The first decision in choosing your storage units is whether you would like to use built-in or moveable cabinets. Built-in cabinets are ideal for a smaller space. They help to create a greater amount of room, are more stable, and usually stronger than moveable options.
Freestanding, moveable cabinets are often more feasible for your outdoor kitchen. They can be moved around, adding to the functionality of your kitchen space.
Regardless of your choice, you should consider mixing single drawer, two drawer, and four drawer units with full height cabinets to make your storage options robust. You can add accessories such as pullout tank and garbage drawers for added space and a clean, finished look to your kitchen.
3) Color
There are as many color options for outdoor kitchens as indoor kitchens. Whether you would like to have a subdued scheme or opt for bold flashes of color, the choice is yours. When choosing your cabinets, you should make sure that they match the overall design that you desire.
4) Material
The most important aspect to choosing outdoor cabinets is deciding on the appropriate material. Cabinets receive some of the toughest treatment of any furniture in your indoor kitchen. Add in the rain and fluctuating temperatures of the outdoors and you are looking at an extremely damaging environment.
Outdoor cabinets should be composed of a durable material. The most popular choices have traditionally been masonry or wood. Masonry cabinets are made from concrete or stucco and are hardy and weather resistant. They have a few disadvantages, however, as they can give your kitchen an unfinished look and can attract dirt, mold, and mildew over time if they are not properly maintained. Through settlement issues, masonry cabinets can also be subject to cracking.
Wood cabinets offer an easier solution. They are easier to install and can be customized to taste, however they present disadvantages as well. Wood is not weather resistant to the degree of other materials. They can rot, warp, crack, swell, discolor, and deteriorate without proper maintenance.
Stainless steel is another commonly used material. Stainless steel cabinets give your kitchen a classy look, are easily cleaned, and are hygienic. The biggest drawback of stainless steel is the additional upfront costs that you will incur.
There are many other options out there, including marine grade polymer cabinets. These cabinets are waterproof, stain resistant, and provide a similar look to many other cabinet materials.
You can achieve the ideal outdoor space with proper planning and preparation, regardless of the variety, color, or material of your cabinets. Make sure to have a set plan of what you desire in an outdoor kitchen before making any purchases. With this plan in place, you will be able to create an area of your home that allows you to enjoy every piece of your property, indoors and out.