44 Small Outdoor Kitchen Designs and Ideas for Any Space
Designing a small outdoor kitchen, or an outdoor kitchen for a small space can be a challenge. Space or budget limitations can really bring one down. With a bit of knowledge and inspiration though, it is possible to make any space and design an outstanding addition to the backyard.
A small outdoor kitchen is under 10′ long and is usually equipped with a grill, a burner, a sink, cabinets, and countertop space. It can be covered and have a bar counter. The smallest outdoor kitchens are usually in the shape of an island or L.
Creating an amazing outdoor kitchen is possible even though the space or budget is not perfect. Below you’ll find 44 designs and ideas for small outdoor kitchens with bar, sink, covered, near to the pool, and plenty more.
1. Small outdoor kitchen with pergola on the patio
Not everyone needs a massive outdoor kitchen in their backyard. Choosing small saves not only a lot of money but also a lot of space. Just look at the layout above. Outdoor space consists out of two areas – an outdoor living room and an outdoor kitchen and dining.
A patio space was not big enough to fit the outdoor living room and outdoor kitchen at the same time. As grilling produces smoke and stains on elevation, owners decided to move it to the backyard. This way they didn’t have to add a range hood to the design and created an amazing open plan.
I enjoy a lot a color scheme and material choices here. Earthy tones and stone compose beautifully with the greenery of the garden.
2. Small outdoor kitchen on a deck
Adding an outdoor kitchen on a deck can be quite a challenge. Usually there is not much space and also you cannot put to much weight on it. This design takes small amount of the space and is light-weighted.
I think it is worth noticing few elements. First of all: the fridge, which is twice the normal size. Second of all: wooden structure with stone countertop (and grill jacket). The third is an awning above the dining area. Even though this area looks simple you can see it is suiting its owners’ needs.
3. Small outdoor kitchen made out of concrete
This concrete outdoor kitchen form and color composed very well with a plant wall behind it. To some, it may look inexpensive, but it actually costs a lot, as it is a designer kitchen made by wwoo). Even though over $10000 (with Big Green Egg) can not fit in your budget it can be a great inspiration to create a simple open outdoor kitchen in your backyard.
4. Nautical small outdoor kitchen
This L-shaped outdoor kitchen with a concrete countertop is slightly different from any other, because of the grill placement. I believe the owners have to be huge TV fans, as they wanted to be able to watch and cook at the same time. Barn doors are another unusual idea used at this patio.
It is worth knowing if the grill was where the TV is hanged adding a range hood would be a necessity, so they actually saved $1k+ with this unusual setting.
5. Stainless steel small outdoor kitchen with range hood
Stainless steel is the material that usually works excellent outdoors. Not any though – it is crucial to buy 304 stainless steel. Otherwise, it is simply not going to be long-lasting.
This small outdoor kitchen unit is very well organized. They’ve been able to fit both – a refrigerator and the sink in it! If your design is smaller than the one on the picture you’ll have to choose which one you like better. Or get rid of both of them.
6. Small outdoor kitchen at the pool
This outdoor kitchen works as a swimming pool bar and barbecue space. It is simple but has a tone of character too (the stone tiles!). The two-level counter is the main inspiration worth taking from this design. If your outdoor kitchen is going to be set close to the pool it is definitely worth considering.
7.Decor for a small outdoor kitchen
This outdoor kitchen is small but so interesting. It is set on the side of the patio, which is decorated with vintage tiles. I love how the decorator used a plate to resemble the colors and material of these tiles. Such a simple but impressive move!
How is it possible, they’ve been able to fit the refrigerator, sink, and grill on such a small island? Look at the size of the grill – it seems it has a similar width to the refrigerator. This means they used a small grill, that is about 24″ wide. If you cook for two it is definitely worth considering.
8. Small outdoor kitchen with heater
This outdoor kitchen has a lot to offer – a big grill, double-basin sink, full-size refrigerator, and a dining area! How did they do it? Well, they shrank landing spaces and placed zones against the rules. Is it worth copying? No. When I look at the sink based so close to the grill I hear the water drops hissing.
Actually omitting mentioned above design rules is the main reason for remodeling, so I’d rather have fewer appliances and better flow.
What is worth noticing is the heater. It is a device that can make nights outdoors much more pleasant.
9. A simple pool outdoor kitchen
This outdoor kitchen is small, but it has all that is needed to cook a superb meal outside. A wide prepping space, a nice gas grill, and a refrigerator create a solid space to barbeque.
Also, it is based afar from the sitting area, so the grill smoke is not going to be an issue for guests. Such a location is definitely worth considering.
10. Small outdoor kitchen with sink
As this patio is a pretty limited space creating a nice outdoor kitchen on it must have been quite a challenge. They used a small grill, which is an excellent choice for smaller spaces, and a tiny sink. If only space between a grill and a sink was 27″ (and the space between the sink and the wall would be at least 18″), this outdoor kitchen would be much more comfortable to use.
What I really like about it is the color. It makes this outdoor kitchen look clean and spacious. To get more inspiration take a look at the black hardware. Doesn’t it make these cabinets look more interesting?
11. Floating outdoor kitchen
Your patio is small and you do not want to make it even smaller with cabinets? How about a floating outdoor kitchen? This one is equipped with a small grill, a stylish sink, and enough countertop space to be able to cook. It is not a show stopper (even though the faucet is lovely and the grill is stylish), but not every outdoor kitchen has to be a focal point.
If you’re about to put an outdoor kitchen on your patio adding a range hood is rather not optional. Details are in the grill instruction. A range hood needs to be 12″ wider than the grill.
12. No permit required small outdoor kitchen
A movable solution is an excellent solution for plenty of reasons. You can take it with you while moving. Most often you do not need a permit to put one in your backyard (as it is not permanent). Winterizing it is so much easier, as you can simply move it to the garage when unused. When you have a small backyard that is a huge pro.
It might not fit the style of your backyard as well as a custom built would, but it is definitely worth considering. There are movable outdoor kitchens on the market which do not look like movable at all.
13. A movable grill station
And while we’re in limited spaces this grill station seems like an excellent solution to the problem. It is tiny, has a simple design, and can be placed even on a tiny lot.
With a cart it can actually be a perfect MVP – a way to check if you’re going to use an outdoor kitchen enough to invest in it. Either answer is good if you do not use the space enough to go with an outdoor kitchen you stay where you are. If next year you go with an outdoor kitchen you can easily sell this one.
14. A massive grill movable outdoor kitchen
You use your grill when people come over, and you’re popular? This movable outdoor kitchen with a massive grill can suit your needs well, especially if your lot is too tiny to have a permanent construction on it.
This outdoor kitchen can be moved, so you can have it close to the party location. It will not matter if it is a pool party or a family diner – food is going to be where needed. And if the wind blows you can move an outdoor kitchen far from the sitting area and save your guests from smoke.
15. A built-in small outdoor kitchen
An outdoor kitchen built-in the niche? That is actually an excellent option. Such an outdoor kitchen may not be too big (you can always add a cart for more convenience), but it adds a tone of luxury to grilling. Also, it might be an option that is going to save your house elevation from smoke stains.
A niche above is finished with stone tiles and equipped with a built-in hood. The great advantage of this option is tiling can easily get washed. The siding on the other hand…
What is also worth noticing is the grill is actually on wheels. If you’re a lucky owner of a good quality grill it can be used in an outdoor kitchen. In my opinion, adding the panel to hide wheels is a good idea.
16. A built-in outdoor kitchen with storage
What you need in your outdoor kitchen is a lot of storage? As appliances are going to eat most of the small outdoor kitchen space under the countertop hanging cabinets is a great option to increase storage space.
Can you see a reflection of tiles on the side of the top cabinet in the picture above? The reason is it is covered with stainless steel. Outdoor cabinets can do well with humidity, but they’re not resistant to fire.
17. Small outdoor kitchen on the terrace
What a view! Even if you’re a huge BBQ fan the last thing you want to do to this space is cover it with an outdoor kitchen. So they placed an outdoor kitchen where the view was less spectacular.
I like a lot how they made this outdoor kitchen blend into a small terrace. The doors under the grill copy the style of the flower pot next to it. A concrete countertop is poured under the grill too to increase fire safety. With creamy walls and floors, it doesn’t take too much from the space.
The same color on walls and floors is actually another thing to copy. Not only it resembles the look of an inside of the house (much wanted indoor-outdoor experience) but makes space look bigger.
18. Small outdoor kitchen with a bar counter
Even a small outdoor kitchen can be created with a multilevel countertop. With a refrigerator and a sink, you can easily transform this space into a bar.
Household appliances are needed to prepare drinks, and to use such outlets are needed. In the picture above you can see two outlets above the refrigerator. This is definitely worth copying.
I like a lot how they scaled a grill and a sink to the size of this outdoor kitchen island.
19. A budget-friendly small outdoor kitchen
In the pictures above you can see the same patio and grill. The first one shows the minimal option, so the grill with a cart. The second is the after – not only with a countertop but a multilevel one! Both are inexpensive and easy to copy.
Trying what you like first is actually an excellent way to designing an outdoor space that works for you. If you’re not in a rush you can try multiple locations with a movable grill to choose the best one for a permanent solution (or semi-permanent like in the second picture).
Have you seen the lights in the second picture? That is a great inspiration for bar counter lighting.
20. Small outdoor kitchen at pool gazebo
Covering an outdoor kitchen with a gazebo makes your barbecue parties independent from the weather. Also increases outdoor kitchen longevity. Even though 304 stainless steel is an amazing material for the outdoors it needs care as well.
I like a lot how they created a sitting space at the counter of a small outdoor kitchen in the picture above. It is far enough from the grill and big enough to fit at least 3 people.
21. Stone patio outdoor kitchen
Even though covering is an excellent addition to an outdoor kitchen it is not always the best option. Imagine how covering the patio would affect an inside of the house in the picture. There simply are spaces where it is not worth it.
Dining in a scorcher is not the most appealing idea. They made this space so much more inviting with the umbrella above the table.
It’s worth noticing structures in the picture above. Siding on the house is smooth, but stone stairs and outdoor kitchen’s stone has a lot of texture.
22. DIY patio small outdoor kitchen
Small outdoor kitchens are excellent for DIY projects. The one in the picture above is going to fit not only a grill but a refrigerator too. What I like about it is plenty of working space and setting – it is not taking a lot of space from the backyard, and leaves plenty of room for outdoor furniture.
23. Pool outdoor kitchen
If you spend a lot of time at the pool adding an outdoor kitchen close to is an excellent idea. The one in the picture has a large grill and a burner.
Choosing a location for an outdoor kitchen is a multi-step process. It is worth taking the wind direction into consideration, as poor location choice may result in smoking your guests. The main advice is: always put your outdoor kitchen downwind.
24. Small patio outdoor kitchen
White is a great color for a small patio. It gives an illusion of a bigger space. In the picture above you can see an outdoor living room, with sitting, dining, and outdoor kitchen, areas. Decor plays a major role in this space.
What I like about it is shining elements in every section. They build a perspective.
25. Small outdoor kitchen on a deck
An outdoor kitchen in the picture is pretty simple but well designed. The flow is amazing. First is the hot zone with a burner and a grill, second the dry zone with countertop space, and the last is the wet zone with a sink. This is a space that is super-convenient to work in. To be taken an example from. You can see how much owners are into the design by noticing a hanger for tools, right where it is most needed.
They were able to put it on such a small deck because they sized appliances properly.
26. Small outside kitchen
Placing an outdoor kitchen at the end of your patio is a really nice idea. It doesn’t affect the design of the patio, is pretty safe fire-wise, and enables barbecuing while viewing a garden.
I actually like how owners decided not to add appliances to this island. there is plenty of prepping space, that can easily transform into a serving zone.
27. A very small outdoor kitchen next to the fireplace
Sometimes you may want to have both – a fireplace and an outdoor kitchen in the same spot (as there is no other corner to use). This can be an inspiration for a very small lot.
It is going to do well if you like to BBQ from time to time. For an outdoor chef, it is simply not going to be enough.
28. Small outdoor kitchen & fireplace on the patio
This is an excellent design of great design for an outdoor kitchen & fireplace combination. An outdoor kitchen is equipped with a large grill and has plenty of countertop space. Above it, you can see a pergola roof, that gives a shadow.
A double-sided fireplace takes some light from the kitchen, but there is still enough to comfortably cook with lights on. This is a sacrifice that has to be done to utilize such space well.
29. An outdoor room with a small outdoor kitchen and a fireplace
The focal point of this outdoor room is a grand fireplace. An outdoor kitchen is a small addition, that is not used daily. For such needs this design is going to work great.
But if you like to grill frequently, and have a lot like one in the picture, it is worth viewing it while cooking. So lovely!
30. Rustic outdoor kitchen & fireplace
An outdoor kitchen style can be done entirely with decor. The one in the picture can be decorated in so many ways. Baskets and furniture made it rustic.
Even though this space is pretty the lack of proper landing spaces between appliances makes it less convenient than it could have been. Also the gap between the wall and an outdoor kitchen is looking strange.
31. Small outdoor kitchen island
A small patio needs a small outdoor kitchen. This one is covered with stone and equipped with marinating drawers. They make grilling so much more convenient.
The cover in the grill is a solution that makes stainless steel appliances last longer. It can be bought for a specific model, or buy one crafted for the whole structure.
32. Small outdoor kitchen on a large patio
For the size of the patio in the picture, an outdoor kitchen is a small addition. One can see it is not a space made for daily cooking. As the area is pretty elegant this outdoor kitchen is designed to be out of eyeshot.
How they managed this goal? First of all, they finished it with siding and white lines, that resemble windows. Second of all, the color of the countertop is only slightly different from the finishes. Chairs and armchairs’ color is brighter, therefore they’re more visible.
33. Narrow patio outdoor kitchen with sink
The deck in the picture is very narrow. It fits the medium grill, but it wasn’t possible to create an L-shape or an island on it. If you have to divide your outdoor kitchen to be able to fit it on your deck they did an excellent job to be inspired by.
As you can see this outdoor kitchen comes in two parts. The first is a hot zone (a grill) with a little bit of prep space, the second is a wet (a sink) and cold zone (a fridge) combination. Why is it that good? It’s most important for the convenience to have a grill close to free countertop space for cooking. The refrigerator should be close to the sink, but far from the grill. They really did best out of the space they had.
It’s also worth noticing decor on this deck. The carpet, picture over the grill, BBQ tool hook. Impressive, isn’t it?
34. Outdoor grill station
Not everybody needs a fully equipped outdoor kitchen. Sometimes a grill station is simply enough. What I like about this one is the amount of countertop space for preparation.
I deeply understand the choice of location. Can you imagine cooking with such a view? The thing I would reconsider about this design is adding a multilevel countertop and bar chairs.
35. Outdoor kitchen with grill
The patio in the picture is pretty spacious. Owners decided though to have not only an outdoor kitchen on it but also a fireplace and dining area with an umbrella. That was an excellent choice.
An outdoor kitchen needs access to power and gas lines, so it is located close to the house. I like a lot that they did not cover the window. And take a look at these countertops. So stylish!
36. Small outdoor kitchen with pergola
This is a pretty simple design but has so many elements to notice. First of all – the pergola. It is simple but adds a shadow. Second of all, the fan. It has so many purposes, but the main is cleaning the air from smoke and getting rid of flying insects. The outdoor kitchen island design is very simple, but it has a lot of preparation space, which makes it super useful.
37. DIY small outdoor kitchen with pergola
If you’re looking for a super-simple solution this one can actually be a pretty good inspiration. As it consists out of a countertop and grill on wheels it is not a permanent structure, therefore in most locations permit is not going to be needed. It is super-easy to winterize such a grill, as it can simply spend winter in the garage, or shed. Pergola above this outdoor kitchen is narrow but gives enough shadow so cooking is enjoyable.
38. A stylish patio with a small outdoor kitchen
This outdoor kitchen is equipped with a massive grill, burners, and drawers are not only luxurious but also stylish as hell. It perfectly fits the patio with both, the style and size. It simply looks like it was there from the beginning.
39. The outdoor bar at the pool
A patio like this is a dream of many people. A swimming pool, with a lovely sitting area and an outdoor bar that can be easily transformed into a small outdoor kitchen with a grill on wheels. It’s stylish and inviting.
If what you need is an outdoor bar remember to add a refrigerator or a kegerator and a sink.
40. Small rooftop outdoor kitchen with pizza oven
Creating an outdoor living room on the rooftop is a dreamy idea. Adding a pizza oven brings it even more fanciful. I like a lot the combination of materials used. Clay, shiny stone, and wood are all-natural and compose very well.
A glass on the table resembles the countertop’s shine. Such a simple move and such an amazing effect!
41. A small outdoor kitchen & potting bench
Even a small outdoor kitchen can have a lot of purposes. The one above sure has more than one. As an outdoor kitchen is usually equipped with a sink and a lot of countertop space, it is an amazing space to utilize as a potting bench. Even a small outdoor kitchen can have this function. Imagine not feeling back pain after planting. This is something an outdoor kitchen with countertops at a proper height can offer.
If you want to create outdoor kitchen/ potting bench choose a decent sized sink with a single basin.
42. Small rooftop outdoor kitchen with traditional grill
This is a super simple design of a small outdoor kitchen, but it really has all it needs for a holiday home: a grill, a countertop space, and a sink. It composes well with a dining furniture set. I can only imagine long nights on this rooftop.
43. Small outdoor kitchen with a double-drawer refrigerator
This outdoor kitchen design is interesting. Some things work well in there, and some do not at all.
First of all, they used a regular grill, not a built-in one. This is a risky decision, but I can understand this move, as grills are pricey. The distance between the sink and the burner though is something that I cannot justify. It seems a bit too close.
What I like about this kitchen is a double-drawer refrigerator. I love drawers under the counter. They’re so much more convenient to use.
44. Texan small outdoor kitchen
The Texan home in the picture has a very nice backyard, with an excellent spot for an outdoor kitchen. It has more than enough of countertop space, and I love it. For an outdoor space, the number of cabinets and drawers is very impressive. The space is neat and well organized.
The wall sign is actually a very easy way to customize an outdoor kitchen. You can choose the text and the symbol, and order the customized sign for your space.
Now it’s your turn
I hope you enjoyed my small outdoor kitchen designs and ideas collection.
Now I’d like to hear from you: which design or idea did you like most and you want to use it in you backyard?
Are you going to divide your outdoor kitchen to 2 parts?
Or maybe you want to add a decor that resembles your patio look to it?
Either way, let me know by leaving a quick comment below.
