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How to Buy Outdoor Kitchen Storage | Buying Guide
Should Outdoor Storage Match Your Grill?
Match Your Storage to Your Grill
If you dream of a perfectly cohesive outdoor kitchen, we’ve got you covered. Many outdoor living brands, such as Lion, and Blaze, and Hestan offer full lines of kitchen island storage that match their grills in style, materials, and details. Some manufacturers even produce multiple lines to be paired with different grill collections.
Or Go with Matching Components
If matching your outdoor kitchen storage to your grill isn’t a priority, you’ll be happier in the long run having all your components at least match each other. Look for outdoor kitchen cabinets with the same style of handle, for instance. If you’re sold on a certain grill but can’t find matching cabinets, our BBQGuys Signature brand island storage will look great in any outdoor kitchen.
Choose Your Kitchen Island Storage Class
Premium Outdoor Kitchen Storage
Most Premium brands match their storage lines to their grills for a harmonized look. They’re packed with helpful, premium features like hidden hinges, recessed handles, and soft-closure mechanisms. Some storage components even have gaskets to protect dry goods from the elements. You’ll also find a few brand-specific features that enhance style, such as collection of various colorways to make your island pop. The luxury look and small details of Premium kitchen island storage are sure to wow guests, not to mention that every component is guaranteed to be durable, 304 stainless steel at minimum.
Standard Outdoor Kitchen Storage
Standard outdoor kitchen storage is best if having your grill match your storage isn’t important to you. They typically have visible hinges and simple handles along with a generic stainless steel style. Storage in this class looks similar between brands but still provides an understated aesthetic that doesn’t stand out too much. Though Standard grill island storage may include various grades of steel, we recommend you choose 304-grade for longevity such as our BBQGuys Signature brand, so you can be confident in its durability even in the harshest elements.
Outdoor Kitchen Storage Necessities
There are a handful of storage components that every outdoor kitchen needs. These must-haves are designed to provide safety and convenience in your outdoor space. While you're making note of grill island storage necessities, we recommend using our outdoor kitchen checklist to keep track of everything you'll need to create your dream backyard.
Outdoor Kitchen Access Doors
- Allows access to your gas and water plumbing connections
- Do not necessarily need to be placed directly beneath your grill, but they should be within 6 feet for easy access
- Any appliance with gas or water plumbing needs a point of access, so these should not be overlooked
Outdoor Kitchen Storage Drawers
- Provide organization and a place for everything from grilling tools to towels to flatware
- Keep everything you need for a cookout at arm’s reach
- The most convenient storage option in your outdoor kitchen
Access Door & Drawer Combos
- Provides the necessities of both access and storage while saving counterspace
- Available in different configurations that pair up to 2 doors with as many as 4 drawers
- Must be installed within 6 feet of your grill, though they’re normally set up underneath it
Propane Tank Enclosures
- Vented to provide safe and secure housing for fuel
- Clears up floor space and removes a potential eyesore from your outdoor kitchen
- Most models feature a sliding roll-out drawer for easy access
Outdoor Kitchen Trash Bins & Chutes
- Stylish, cohesive design to take care of garbage
- Available as slide or tilt out trash bins or built-in island trash chute
- Removes the need for frequent trips into the house or unsightly trash cans
Outdoor BBQ Storage You'll Wish You Included
Enclosed Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
- Perfect for storing dry goods, seasonings, and condiments right by your grill
- Preserves food from moisture and humidity while protecting it from ants or other insects
- Stainless steel outdoor kitchen cabinets that are waterproof, water-resistant, or labeled as dry storage is recommended
Outdoor Kitchen Paper Towel Holders
- Saves counterspace in your outdoor kitchen
- Conveniently keeps your paper towels within easy reach
- Often combined with other grill island storage components in combo units
Ice Bins & Ice Chest Drawers
- Perfect for outdoor entertainers and backyard bartenders
- Ice bins function as built-in, stainless steel ice chests that let you keep refreshments cool
- Ice chest storage drawers hold a standard ice chest and work well with ice makers when placed side by side
Kitchen Island Spice Racks
- Store all your seasonings close by your grill
- Preserves counter and storage space in your outdoor kitchen
- Keeps things neat and organized without having to run inside
Grilling Island Cutting Boards
- Able to be hidden from view with the right outdoor kitchen drawers
- Saves counterspace by avoiding a large, bulky cutting board
- Works best placed directly above a trash bin so you can toss your waste into the bin below
Outdoor Kitchen Warming Drawers
- Keeps food warm after it comes off the grill
- Able to heat up sides and warm breads
- Can be used to keep pool towels warm
Outdoor Kitchen Storage Trends
Whether your goal is to match your storage to your grill, choose a different brand for individual components, select the necessities, or building a fully stocked outdoor kitchen, each design decision you make helps establish a theme in your barbecue island. We’ll share a few starting points for deciding what themes or styles you can create using grill island storage.
Stainless Steel Barbecue Storage
In addition to its durability, stainless steel lends a sleek look that works well with traditional designs. Stainless steel outdoor kitchen cabinets can be paired with stone or red (or painted) brick to create a classic aesthetic in your outdoor space. They also look great with most countertop materials. We recommend using 304, commercial-grade stainless steel for maximum durability.
Colorful Stainless Outdoor Cabinets
Your outdoor kitchen should reflect the design elements that you love, so if bold and beautiful is your style, a maximalist design will suit your space well. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to build with colored steel doors and drawers like those by Hestan. They pair best with ledge and stacked stone, or stucco barbecue islands with black soapstone, marble, and quartz countertops.
Teak Grill Island Storage
If your style favors natural textures and colors, you should strongly consider using Pacific Teak Millworks grill island storage. Neutral finishes with subtle texture and earthy palettes complement teak, as does the modern look of poured concrete countertops. Teak gives off a warm and inviting feeling that you can’t achieve with stainless steel, but regular maintenance is recommended to keep it looking its best. Apply an outdoor furniture oil or sealer at least twice a year to keep your teak outdoor cabinets looking like new.
Final Considerations
The outdoor kitchen storage game is all about maximizing your available space. With the right set of island storage, you’ll also be able to keep everything you need for backyard gatherings outdoors while maintaining a neat and tidy space. That’s why we recommend multi-function components, which save room in outdoor kitchens and come equipped with useful appliances like ice makers, refrigerators, and wine cabinets.
Once you know what you’ll want nearby while grilling, you can decide which kitchen island storage components you need. Just don’t forget to give yourself room to grow—that means planning for storage that holds cooking accessories or tools you may come to need.
The most important thing to keep in mind while planning your outdoor kitchen is to make sure you’re happy with each design choice before you buy your outdoor kitchen cabinets. If you need help bringing your vision to life or just don’t know where to start, visit our Outdoor Living Design Service or call one of our experts at 1-877-743-2269.
