According to a survey by the New Home Trends Institute, at least 65% of U.S. homeowners place a high value on outdoor living spaces.
That means improving your outdoor space is a win for everyone considering home remodeling in Charleston, SC, whether you’re selling your home or planning to stay put.
Keep reading to discover the outdoor home features that will add value to your home, no matter what.
1. Kitchen Counters
Adding built-in kitchen counters to your outdoor living spaces adds immeasurable enjoyment to the time spent in your outdoor kitchen.
Counters form the basis of your kitchen design. They’ll house all the appliances you add to your space, and provide ample room for food preparation and even dining.
You can choose a building style and countertops to suit any look you want, from glamorous marble and stone to rustic butcher blocks and bricks.
Remember to include maintenance costs in your budget for countertops, some surfaces, like wood, will need regular touch-ups to stay at their best.
2. An Ice Maker and Refrigerator
A built-in refrigerator is one of the handiest kitchen features to include in your outdoor entertainment area.
Sure, you have a refrigerator in your kitchen, but having one in your outdoor space will change the way you entertain. When you have an ice maker and refrigerator installed nearby, you don’t need to spend time fetching drinks from inside all day long.
You can also use it to keep food cool before you cook it and stock up on everyone’s favorite beverages without having to make space in your kitchen refrigerator.
Outdoor refrigerator options include full-size or under-counter varieties, and you can choose a stand-alone ice maker, or opt for a refrigerator with a built-in ice maker.
3. Storage Space
Despite limited space, your built-in counters provide abundant opportunities for storage in an outdoor kitchen. Dedicated storage helps maximize the available space by keeping it clutter-free.
It’s also a handy place to keep all your barbecue equipment, fire-making essentials, and pool gear.
Ample storage space cuts down on the time you spend preparing to entertain and adds to the time you get to spend with your guests. It’s the ultimate convenience for a relaxed day spent with friends and family.
It’s easy for your builder to accommodate drawers, kitchen island shelving, and a place for a garbage bin in your counter design. You can buy doors for these units separately, allowing you to select materials and custom sizes to suit your style.
A pantry might be the last thing on your mind when designing an outdoor kitchen, but it’s another convenient tool for adding ease to outdoor entertaining. You can use it to store dry food, snacks, and all the herbs and spices you use when barbecuing food.
4. A Kitchen Sink
Preparing your meals in your outdoor kitchen is the perfect way to make the most of outdoor entertaining. Cooking is a lot easier when you have a sink nearby to rinse vegetables and fruit while preparing your meals.
Cleaning up after your big get-together is a lot easier when you can wash your items on the spot and store them away for next time, too. If you prefer using a dishwasher, your sink is a handy repository for stacking dirty plates and cutlery on their way to the kitchen.
Instead of rushing indoors to rinse a glass or dampen a cloth to clean up spills, you’ll have water on tap whenever you need it if you install a kitchen sink outdoors.
5. A Fire Pit or Fireplace
At least 73% of homeowners love the idea of installing a built-in fire pit or fireplace at home. These fixtures add a cozy ambiance to outdoor entertaining, and you can use them for roasting marshmallows or warming up after a late-season swim.
You can build a fireplace that doubles as a cooking space for outdoor entertaining or add a pizza oven for baking America’s all-time favorite meal.
6. Weather Protection
A covered patio protects you from the sun and rain and thus adds to the time you can enjoy outdoors. It will also shield your outdoor furniture, allowing you to add luxury touches that mirror the interior of your home.
Gazebos and pergolas are a good solution for outdoor spaces located at a distance from your home.
If you want to enjoy your patio during the cooler months, or don’t want rain and wind to spoil your fun, floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors are an ideal solution to enhance your covered space.
These fixtures don’t take up much space, and they’ll keep you comfortable and dry without spoiling the view or disconnecting you from the outdoor experience.
7. Ventilation
Outdoor ceiling fans are an economical and effective choice for cooling undercover outdoor spaces. They don’t use a lot of electricity, and they help keep the air circulating to disperse cooking fumes and smoke from the barbecue.
If you enjoy outdoor entertaining in the evenings, you can opt for a ceiling fan with lights. This way, you needn’t spend extra time and money lighting your space.
A vent hood or vent panel is essential to disperse fumes from an undercover gas grill. If you’re installing a fireplace, you’ll need a chimney to disperse the smoke.
Work With the Experts in Home Remodeling in Charleston, SC
Once you’ve got all your design ideas together, the next step is finding a reputable home remodeling company to make your dreams a reality.
With over 20 years of experience and many awards to our name, CK Contractors, SC is your top choice for upgrading your home in Charleston. We’re here to help, whether you want to refurbish your entire home, add a sought-after addition, or build a house from scratch.
Get in touch for assistance with your next project involving home remodeling in Charleston, SC.
