Maximize Your Patio: Small L-Shaped Outdoor Kitchen Designs

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15 Seconds Summary: This article is going to provide you with fascinating information about the Small L-Shaped outdoor Kitchen Designs, including tips for the correct size choice of the kitchen, the materials used in its construction, designs that can be incorporated, appliances to use with them and also the furniture incorporation as per different design types.

Introduction

An L-shaped kitchen is a kitchen design that is formed on two adjacent walls. This design helps to provide you with extra space to incorporate a dining table or an island if you wish to host or have family meals together.

These designs are very cost-effective, look very beautiful, and are spacious as well. They are a famous kitchen design choice for many, and they can be customized to your taste in kitchen design.

Reasons to Choose a Small L-Shaped Outdoor Kitchen

There can be many personal reasons to choose different kitchen designs. Still, usually the selection of a small L-Shaped outdoor kitchen design is due to its flexibility of customisation, the possibility of using up your corner space, utilising the kitchen platform for dual functionality, and its being cost-effective and more gathering-friendly kitchen countertops.

Benefits of a Small L-Shaped Outdoor Kitchen

L-Shaped kitchens can provide multiple benefits, with major ones being:

• These are space-efficient. If you have a corner space or two adjoining walls, this kitchen design can fit in easily and look effortlessly beautiful and spacious.
• Being in an L-shape, these kitchen countertops can provide dual functionality, allowing two people to work at the same time. One countertop could be used for preparing meals, and the other one could be used for cooking and serving directly.
• If you are someone who loves hosting guests, inviting friends over, or has a small family that dines together daily, then this is a perfect design where you can cook, communicate, and have fun doing cooking chores. You may add chairs to provide seating where guests or family can sit face to face, and chit-chat can happen.
• In places with warm weather, the Small L-Shaped outdoor kitchen is ideal for cooking dinner with a fresh outdoor breeze.

Dimensions for a Small L-Shaped Outdoor Kitchen for a Corner Space

There are so many factors to consider when designing your L-Shaped kitchen, including: The size of the patio area you have available, the appliances you wish to incorporate within your kitchen, cabinets, and furniture requirements, if needed. 

So designing an outdoor kitchen around a corner means careful consideration of layout, materials, and usability. You must first take the measurements, use chalk to design the layout, and then visualize how you would like this space to be occupied by a kitchen space.

Below, we will provide estimated examples for a few different space sizes that will help you determine dimensions for your corner space to build the cooking area.

• For a minimum area of six by six inches, a small L-shaped kitchen with a grill, a small countertop, and below-the-counter storage can be designed.
• For an eight-by-ten-inch space area, go for a built-in sink, grill, mini oven or fridge, and prep surface, which are included for your compact patio designing along with outdoor cooking space.
• A little ample space of ten by twelve inches could provide more options for a corner outdoor cooking space in your compact patio designing, by building an L-Shaped kitchen including a grill, sink area, and a long countertop that can be extended to have bar seating as well.

Based on the dimensions of your patio, you can easily plan a small or slightly bigger or extended L-shaped outdoor kitchen for a corner space. As we mentioned already, take measurements, draw on the patio using chalk, considering which side from a long and small length you want on the corner, as these kitchens usually come with a long and a small side to form the shape of an L. Then look at some designs for inspiration from Pinterest, and you will definitely be able to build your dream Small L-shaped Outdoor Kitchen.

Design Considerations for Small L-Shaped Outdoor Kitchen

Some design considerations for a corner L-shaped kitchen space could include:

• The sink and the mini fridge should be placed on the shorter arm of the L-shaped kitchen. It will be more feasible if they are placed near the wall connected to the house for easy connection of plumbing and electricity.
• Grills should be installed in the longer leg of the kitchen platform, providing a space to grill with a serving or prepping countertop along with it. If you are incorporating a grill, then consider having at least 22 to 24 inches of space on each side of the Grill to make it a functional cooking station.
• If there is a roof structure on your patio over the kitchen, then you must consider a proper ventilation strategy for cooking.
• Use antique chandeliers on the top or built-in LEDs to add beautiful ambiance for evenings.
• You can hang some cute herb pots to use for cooking, adding a touch of greenery to your kitchen station.
• If there is an extended bar, choose compact stools or chairs to add seating that looks attractive and provides you with an opportunity to not miss out on having fun talks with your guests or family while cooking.

Dual-Functionality of Work Surfaces for Prep and Serving

Dual functionality might be the best advantage of having L-shaped outdoor kitchens. Whilst one side can be used for prepping the food items, the other one can be functional for cooking and serving. 

For example, if you have an 8 inches by ten inches L-shaped outdoor kitchen on your patio, you could have a 60 inches granite or slab installed on the more extended arm for preparation of food and then have a 24 inches bar ledge on your other counter side to serve drinks or snacks to your family or guests.

Maximizing the Dual-Functionality of L-Shaped Outdoor Kitchens

• Add a raised counter shelf on either side of your L-shape to extend it and provide a space for serving drinks and coffee.
• You can have pull-up cutting boards and dustbins installed below the counters to save space.
• Use a flip-up extension on the side of both counters to add more functionality if you need extra space to put some stuff.
• Use the long countertop for cooking and serving, and make use of the short countertop for meal prep.
• Open shelves could also be placed on the short side of the counter to allow air flow and place stuff, making it appealing.
• Consider having a movable island in your outdoor L-shaped kitchen. This will not only make it easy to move but also add more space and counter space for you to serve or prep. 

Weatherproofing and Material Selection

Having an outdoor kitchen means it is lying there year-round, facing the changing seasons. In order for your outdoor cooking kitchen to be durable, you need to build it with weather-resistant materials that help your kitchen withstand harsh weather conditions like sun, rain, winds, and snowfall.

Materials For Outdoor Kitchens

Countertops

• For countertops, you can use granite as it is really great for different seasons, or you could also choose to have an aluminium countertop, but it gets hot easily in extreme weather conditions.
• Tile and concrete can also be considered weather-resistant materials. Tiles can be an option, but they crack easily. Concrete could be used, but you should use sealant. It is your choice, but if you ask our expert opinion, going with granite can be great with different patterns and color options available, and for the longevity of your outdoor kitchen countertops.

Cabinets

• Use powder-coated aluminum as it is rust-resistant and ideal for areas with humidity.
  
• Marine-Grade Polymer (HDPE) can also be used to withstand moisture and UV rays without warping.
• Stainless steel cabinets are easy to clean and resistant to rusting, making them ideal as weather-resistant materials.

Flooring

• Concrete can be very affordable and long-lasting. With proper sealing, it can be protected from moisture with the surety of longevity.
  
• Porcelain Tiles are slip-resistant and easy to clean. They are moisture resistant and are very durable, with options for various style customizations.
  
•  Granite is known for its weather resistance and durability. It can withstand various weather conditions, including rain and temperature changes, making it an ideal option for your outdoor kitchen flooring.
  

Tips for Weatherproofing

• Use materials that are UV-resistant. This will help prevent early fading of the colors of the materials used.
• If t you are using stone, woodwork, or concrete, you can use sealants for waterproofing.
• Use a proper drainage system to avoid the collection of water or water pooling.
• If any electric sockets are installed in your kitchen counters, cover them up, and consider using GFCI protection.
• You could add a cantilever umbrella or a plastic sheet rooftop to provide shading for your kitchen. Consider including a sloppy top to prevent snow from accumulating on your counters.

Final Remarks

If you are someone who lives in warm areas, or somebody who loves staying outdoors and prefers cooking at home and having guests over multiple times, considering an outdoor cooking area is a really great option.

A small L-shaped outdoor kitchen accommodates someone on a budget and has a small patio design space that is compatible with the patio. Its design can be customized based on your style, as you have various options to choose from.

This blog post provides you with all the required information around designing a small L-shaped outdoor kitchen, considering its longevity by using weather-resistant material, and tips to weatherproof your outdoor kitchen, along with tips on its design and maximizing the use of its dual functionality. You can use these tips and suggestions to turn your compact patio into the heart of your home and make fun memories while cooking.

Discover more expert tips and inspiration—explore now and start transforming your space with HomeImprovementAdvise!

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