DIY Outdoor Kitchen

how to build a simple and flexible outdoor kitchen

Now that our Gigantic Deck Build Summer is coming to a close, we needed a place to cook outside as well as some storage and party-hosting gear. A huge part of our rationale for building the deck in the first place was to be able to entertain more often. And grilling makes entertaining in the summer so easy. Lowe’s offered to partner with me on this project, too. Everything we used for this project can be found there.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Lowe’s, but all ideas and opinions are my own.
The links are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. AKN

Here’s a short video illustrating what we created:

In designing our outdoor kitchen, we had a few criteria:

  • It needed to be flexible and mobile.

  • It needed to be self-sufficient — no electricity, water, or gas lines.

  • It needed to stand up to the elements as we don’t have a garage or other storage area.

One of the key points, then, was making sure everything had wheels and was small enough that it could be easily moved about as needed.

So, we started with the drawers. One of the problems with having drawers outside is that if they are made of wood, they swell and warp with the changes in weather. But we found these fabulous stainless steel drawers that were super easy to design around and to install. They were the jumping off point for the entire design.

My husband and I worked together to design the carts specifically to hold the items we need to store: firewood for our firepit, our pizza oven, some pool supplies, the BBQ cover, as well as grilling tools like tongs and spatulas. We also wanted space which could be used for food prep or buffet-style serving.

This is the finished product: two carts, a grill, and a standing cooler:

Rolling Carts

These carts were built with standard lumber to our own design specifications. The drawers, wheels, and pavers, however, are what make these carts so functional. And I’ll probably buy some grill covers to use in inclement weather just to make them last that much longer.

 

Permasteel Retro Cooler

This cooler is soooo cool! It can live outside all the time and function as a little table. It has a drain, a bottle opener, and the lid opens on both sides. We love it! I chose the red, but it comes in a range of colors, too!

 

Outdoor kitchens don’t have to be extravagant to be functional and attractive. We are so pleased with ours, and I hope it inspires you to create an outdoor cooking area for yourself, too.

If you have questions about this project, don’t hesitate to ask!