As you begin to think about what your dream outdoor kitchen may look like… once the initial shape and appliances are decided, you’ll have to contend with the type of finish you want. And of course, it has to complement your backyard space well!
Unfortunately, there isn’t much helpful information online about picking the best outdoor kitchen finish for your space. There are plenty of pictures and examples… but not much in the way of actual tips and recommendations.
As an outdoor kitchen manufacturer that has designed thousands upon thousands of outdoor kitchens, we’ve learned some things about what outdoor kitchen finishes and backyard styles pair well with one another.
In this article, you’ll learn about how your existing backyard features will factor into your choice of an outdoor kitchen finish, and discuss what finishes are best for the 3 most popular backyard styles we see. By the end, you’ll get a good feel for what finish styles may pair well with your backyard design.
How Will Backyard Features Affect My Outdoor Kitchen Finish?
It may seem overly obvious to point out… but your outdoor kitchen isn’t being placed into an inherently neutral space. Your existing backyard has various elements (patio/decks/walls) throughout that will impact how your outdoor kitchen looks in the space. If you choose an outdoor kitchen finish that clashes with your existing backyard, it’ll stick out like a sore thumb. Below are a few points to consider when pairing an outdoor kitchen finish with your backyard space.
How Does A Deck / Patio Impact Outdoor Kitchen Finishes?
The deck or patio your outdoor kitchen sits on might be the most consequential factor in deciding which outdoor kitchen finish is best for your space. It’s going to be right next to your outdoor kitchen, so making sure these elements pair well is particularly important.
Here are some outdoor kitchen finish pairings to consider:
Tile or Travertine Patio
This patio style is classic, and tends to run “busy” in terms of the textures and patterns.
- We recommend: To keep the space from looking too busy, simple outdoor kitchen finishes like modern concrete or plank pair well with this patio style.
Concrete Patio
Oftentimes, a concrete patio is much like a blank canvas. Due to a lack of bold color and texture, this is a great opportunity to lean into more textured finishes or match your finish to other elements that may be in your backyard. Columns, window trim, and walkway textures are all good elements to consider anchoring your outdoor kitchen finish to.
- We recommend: Choosing an element in your backyard to match your outdoor kitchen finish to. For example, if you have black window trim, a charcoal plank finish will tie the space together.
Elevated Composite or Wood Deck
Similar to concrete patios, composite or wood decks can work well with most outdoor kitchen finishes. That said, sometimes we will steer away from stacked stone finishes that provide a masonry look. This is because traditionally, real masonry-built stone outdoor kitchens are always built on ground level because an elevated deck isn’t strong enough to support the weight. So if you put a stacked stone finish on a deck, the final effect can lack realism. That said, if you’re strongly tied to getting a stone-style finish on your deck, modern stone is a great compromise.
- We recommend: Modern concrete, plank, or weathered wood finishes
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How Masonry Walls Should Influence Your Outdoor Kitchen Finish
While not a required element of outdoor kitchen construction, many backyards will have an existing masonry wall or retaining wall of some kind. Most of the time, these walls are made from stacked stone or brick, lending a highly textured look to the space.
In this case, it’s typically best to focus on a more muted texture for your outdoor kitchen finish to keep the harmony between them. It’s also a good idea to avoid stone outdoor kitchen finishes, as the mismatch with your existing stone wall can be glaring.
Good finishes to consider with these walls are modern concrete or plank options.
How Overhead Structures (Pergola, Gazebo, etc.) Will Impact Outdoor Kitchen Finish Selection
Overhead structures like pergolas or gazebos will throw in yet another element to consider. Overhead structures built out of aluminum or another metal are increasingly common… and these structures tend to be more forgiving with outdoor kitchen finishes. In fact, you could pair just about anything with them!
If you have a wooden overhead structure, we typically recommend steering away from a weathered wood finish. Similar to stone-on-stone clashing, wood-on-wood clashing can happen as well.
What Outdoor Kitchen Finish is Best for My Backyard Style?
Over the years, we have picked up on style trends in our customers’ backyards. While not an exhaustive list by any means… below are a few specific considerations for the 3 most popular backyard styles we see with homeowners.
What Outdoor Kitchen Finishes are Best for the Mediterranean Style?
The Mediterranean backyard style is most abundantly found in states like California, Arizona, Florida, and Texas. These areas tend to pull a lot from Spanish influence, and homes will often have stucco exteriors with a tile roof. Many homes feature accents of red brick as well.
With the abundance of bright whites and beiges, your best bet is actually to remain neutral with your outdoor kitchen finish. A bright modern concrete or plank finish will add to the beautiful, light aesthetic that the Mediterranean look provides.
What Outdoor Kitchen Finishes are Best for the East Coast/New England Style?
If your home embraces the look of an East Coast or New England style, you likely have elements of a slate roof, cobblestone walkways, field stone retaining walls, and/or white brick. East Coast homes tend to have muted textures that can pair well with a few different outdoor kitchen finishes.
We often recommend reclaimed brick, stacked stone, and sometimes weathered wood finishes for the East Coast style.
What Outdoor Kitchen Finishes are Best for the Mountain West Style?
Moving towards the Mountain West, it’s all about timber!
As long as it’s a good match, weathered wood outdoor kitchen finishes can pair well with the abundance of wood elements in a Mountain West backyard.
How Can I Know For Sure Which Outdoor Kitchen Finish is Best for My Space?
At this stage, you should have a good grouping of considerations to keep in mind when choosing an outdoor kitchen finish for your backyard. Now that you have some suggestions for specific backyard features and styles… you likely still have a bit of doubt.
“How can I know for sure which outdoor kitchen finish is best for my space?”
To help remove all doubt, you really need to see different outdoor kitchen finishes in your backyard. And yes, it’s possible without already having your outdoor kitchen in place! Our free online design tool has an augmented reality (AR) feature that allows you to “try on” different outdoor kitchen finishes. You’ll create a design, select a finish, and see your newly created design through your smartphone’s camera. Simply bring the camera outside, point it to where your future outdoor kitchen is going to be… and there you go. You can visualize your future outdoor kitchen right there.
Now that you know what you need to do next… what are you waiting for? Create your outdoor kitchen design, and try out some finishes!
