Outdoor kitchens are an outdoor living trend in and of themselves. We all remember as kids when Dad would light up the charcoal grill. Then gas grills took over. Then, someone, somewhere, said, “Why shouldn’t I have a full outdoor kitchen?” and outdoor kitchens blew up in popularity. If 2020 is the year you build the outdoor kitchen of your dreams, we have some outdoor kitchen trends for 2020 you may want to take a look at.
Patios used to be little square concrete pads. As our patios have gotten larger, so have outdoor kitchens. Before 2019, the average outdoor kitchen island was 8 ft. and the average grill size was 36”. Now, outdoor kitchen islands are more like 12’ or an L shape, and the average grill is 42” wide.
All that extra space means more components, which brings us to outdoor kitchen bars. This trend is really taking off. By incorporating an icemaker, drawer refrigerator, kegerator, and wine refrigerator, you become a master bartender. Add a seating area at the bar and your guests will keep you company while you cook.
A big trend for 2020 is multiple ways to cook. Sure, you have your now standard gas grill. But more and more homeowners are adding larger power burners. These are bigger than a grill side burner (which most people never use). Some power burners use a dual-ring burner, so you actually have 2 burners working together to produce up to 65,000 BTUs for your own crab boil.
Another popular addition is the smoker. From the Big Green Egg to the Kamado smoker, these smokers are great for cooking low and slow. You’ll have the whole neighborhood drooling over the BBQ smell.
Outdoor pizza ovens are still very popular. With quick cook times and versatility, it’s like having your own pizzeria.
Comfort is important if you want to enjoy your outdoor living space for 3 seasons (4 if you bundle up). Fire pits and outdoor heating lamps help you do that. Gas fire pits are becoming more and more popular because you don’t have to keep feeding them wood to keep the area warm. Firelogs and lava rocks are where it’s at. Gas also allows for remote start and shut off.
OK, so this one has to do with comfort, too, but also with aesthetics. Whether you want a roof over your head with a custom pavilion or shade from a vine-covered pergola, your options for this are nearly endless. If you opt for the pavilion, you can add a ceiling fan to keep you cool while you’re perfecting your latest culinary creation.
Get the outdoor kitchen you want and deserve by hiring a reputable outdoor living contractor. You can do this by asking friends, family, and coworkers for suggestions of who to use and who to avoid. Then thoroughly review the company websites. How long have they been in business? Do they build upscale outdoor kitchens like the one you want? Do they offer a seamless design/build process? Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to 2 or 3, set up your consultations.
Then choose the outdoor kitchen contractors you want to work with. And enjoy the process! You’ll be cooking up some wonderful memories in no time.
And be sure to check back next week when we take a look at the top Patio Trends for 2020.
