Owning a home with outdoor space is great, but what is even better is converting some of that space into your own outdoor kitchen. While not very common, outdoor kitchens are a great way to get your family outside during summer. They are also the perfect spaces to throw parties, as you can mingle easily while hosting. If you’re considering putting in an outdoor kitchen, here are a few things you should think about adding.

Grill

This one is an easy sell for most people, as people across the country love grilling during the summer. As the days are longer in the summer, it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the weather while still eating a great dinner. It’s also popular for people to grill during a party, as it requires little attention and can feed a lot of people quickly.

Pizza Oven

It’s easy to write off a pizza oven as an unnecessary addition, especially if you rarely eat pizza. However, they can be used to cook a variety of delicious food. You can bake different meats, from chicken to steaks, and accompany them with baked potatoes. Vegetables cooked in a pizza oven will have a unique flavor that sets them apart from their grilled counterparts. You can even bake your own bread! So, even if you don’t eat pizza frequently, you can still get a lot out of an outdoor pizza oven.

Bar

Whether you drink or not, a bar can be a nice feature for your outdoor kitchen. People who do enjoy drinking can have an organized area to keep their liquor, mixers, and glasses. You can even put a wine fridge in if you prefer it. A counter with some cabinets underneath is simple enough to put in, and you’ll love being able to pull up a stool and enjoy a drink in the evening heat.

If you don’t like to drink, you might first think that an outdoor bar is unnecessary. Yet, you can take the idea of an outdoor bar and utilize it for other things. You can keep a mini-fridge (or even a full-sized fridge) with your favorite non-alcoholic drinks, and having nice storage for cups is still a big plus. You could also utilize the bar and stool setup to have your own outdoor breakfast bar.

Fireplace or Fire Pit

People usually reserve a fireplace for the family room or den, but outdoor fireplaces can add a flair to any seating space. You’ll feel like you have your own VIP lounge in your backyard with the addition of this feature. On the other hand, you may prefer an open-air fire pit that allows you to make s’mores with the family. Either way, try to situate this feature in an area with plenty of open air or ventilation, but where you also would enjoy sitting most evenings.

Building an outdoor kitchen is fun, but people often don’t know where to start. These features can be a great starting point, as you can design the rest of your space around them. When you’re ready to take the leap and add an outdoor kitchen to your home, make sure to consider whether you could use one or more of these features.