Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Considering garden upgrades to enhance your home’s appeal this summer? Experts advise rethinking expensive landscaping or outdated pizza ovens and instead focusing on installing an outdoor kitchen. According to housebuilder St Modwen Homes, outdoor kitchens are the anticipated ‘must-have’ trend for 2025, fulfilling buyer desires for expanded living spaces and potentially boosting property value significantly.
The Rising Popularity of Outdoor Kitchens
The increasing demand for outdoor kitchens is transforming the real estate market. Properties featuring these sought-after amenities are being quickly purchased, even amidst a less dynamic housing market. Notably, the added value from an outdoor kitchen can substantially outweigh its installation cost, making it a sound home improvement.
Financial Benefits of Outdoor Kitchens
Tim Simmons, from residential community provider Regency Living, highlights the appeal of outdoor space enhancements to potential buyers. He notes, ‘Any addition that helps us better utilize our outdoor areas resonates with prospective homeowners, and outdoor kitchens have surged in popularity.’
‘They represent a valuable investment, estimated to increase a home’s worth by 5.6 percent. For the current average UK house price, this equates to just over £15,000,’ Simmons adds.
Outdoor kitchens are estimated to add 5.6 per cent to the value of a home, which equates to just over £15,000 on the current average UK house price
This percentage increase means that incorporating an outdoor kitchen into a £400,000 home could elevate its value by approximately £22,400.
Mr. Simmons suggests that only a garden room or office addition surpasses an outdoor kitchen in value enhancement. Furthermore, investing in an outdoor kitchen is likely to yield a greater return compared to conventional garden upgrades like landscaping, patios, or sheds in terms of property price.
Year-Round Appeal of Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens offer advantages over simple barbecues or pizza ovens due to their year-round usability, especially when integrated with a cover like a veranda or pergola. This extended usability is a key factor attracting homebuyers.
Marc Lane, from garden design firm Landscapia, observes, ‘People desire covered cooking spaces to maximize garden enjoyment throughout the year, not just during sunny periods.’
‘This preference is driving the shift from standalone barbecues to comprehensive outdoor kitchens, which often include options for shelter, heating, and lighting,’ Lane explains.
Cost Considerations for Outdoor Kitchens
The pricing of pergolas varies, with options like a sliding roof pergola available for under £200 from B&Q. For more elaborate setups, a 2.4m x 3m graphite grey pergola with adjustable slats from White Store is priced at £899. Side panels for weather protection can be added for £229 each.
One homeowner in Kent, who invested in an outdoor kitchen complete with shelter and heater from AOS Kitchens, discovered it transformed his Christmas and New Year’s Eve festivities, becoming a central hub for celebrations.
Lifestyle and Sales Appeal
Jody Crichton, of AOS Outdoor Kitchens, emphasizes the lifestyle appeal of outdoor kitchens: ‘For prospective homebuyers, seeing an outdoor kitchen on the garden patio immediately conveys a lifestyle. It allows buyers to envision themselves living and entertaining in the space.’
‘It significantly aids the selling process and is a worthwhile investment. Buyers can easily picture themselves, along with friends and family, cooking, dining, and socializing outdoors,’ Crichton asserts.
Types of Outdoor Kitchens: Modular vs. Bespoke
Homeowners can select between modular outdoor kitchens, designed for easy garden integration, or bespoke kitchens constructed on-site to fit specific needs and spaces.
Marc Lane, of garden design company Landscapia, says: ‘People want cooking space undercover as they want to enjoy that garden all year round and not just use it as soon as it’s sunny’
A typical cost for a modular kitchen, with a grill, cupboards, drawers and a fridge will cost about £3,000 to £5,000
Choosing the Right Style and Installation
According to Mr. Crichton, modular outdoor kitchens are generally more suitable for modern homes or properties with glass extensions, while bespoke, brick-built kitchens complement cottages or traditional houses effectively.
‘Price points are often comparable,’ he notes. ‘Modular units may have a higher purchase cost, but their installation is quicker, typically taking a day. Bespoke kitchens utilize cheaper materials like bricks, but labor costs are higher due to the extended installation time, which can be around six days.’
Modular styles might also be more practical for gardens with existing paving. The grill is a central feature of any outdoor kitchen, with options ranging from gas, charcoal, or pellet fuel to traditional open-wire grills or teppanyaki flat-top cooking surfaces. Installation costs for these contemporary kitchens can start from a few thousand pounds and reach up to £100,000 for high-end designs.
Cost Breakdown and Additional Features
Christopher Dobbing, from Woodlark Garden Luxury, estimates that a standard modular outdoor kitchen, including a grill, cabinets, drawers, and a refrigerator, ranges from £3,000 to £5,000 in cost.
Alison Butler of Kitchen in the Garden, a provider of high-end outdoor kitchens, recommends incorporating a sink for handwashing to enhance convenience, although most prefer indoor dishwashing. A 2.4m x 2.4m stainless steel L-shaped unit, equipped with a four-burner gas grill, cabinets, sink, and double drinks fridge, is priced at £4,569.99.
More budget-friendly options are available, such as a four-burner gas barbecue modular kitchen with double cupboard, sink, and fridge for £2,092 from Garden Trends.
Maximizing Space and Appeal with Larger Kitchens
For homeowners seeking to maximize garden space utilization and further boost property value, larger outdoor kitchen configurations are available. A 3m x 3m L-shaped kitchen typically costs around £12,000. U-shaped kitchens, offering extensive space, generally cost about £18,000 and are particularly appealing to buyers seeking properties suited for large-scale entertaining.
Completing the Outdoor Living Space
To finalize the outdoor ambiance, consider adding comfortable garden furniture. An eight-seat dining set from Dunelm is priced at £499, while a five-seat sofa is £449. Importantly, garden furniture is portable and can be taken when you move after selling your property.
Color and Finish Considerations for Outdoor Kitchens
When selecting colors for your outdoor kitchen, Ms. Butler suggests opting for cream or beige tones to maximize buyer appeal. Wood finishes also remain a consistently popular choice for their natural aesthetic.
Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.