The kitchen is the heart of the family home, an energetic space where you can utilise colour to create a vibrant, inspiring atmosphere. During the summer, it’s the perfect chance to extend your kitchen outdoors and create an open-air dining space that’s ideal for entertaining.

Discover a variety of inspiring ways to transform your exterior space into a beautiful outdoor kitchen where you can enjoy al fresco dining.

Outdoor kitchen area

As summer arrives, there’s nothing better than being able to extend your living area into your outside space. Creating an outdoor kitchen will help you make the most of the warm weather and also maximise your living space. Open-air kitchens provide the perfect setting where you can cook, dine and relax in your outdoor surroundings. Explore some of the different ways you can design a functional open-air kitchen, no matter the size of your garden.

Evoke the Mediterranean with terracotta hues

When designing an outdoor kitchen, it’s important to determine how you will use the space, and the atmosphere you want to create. If a relaxed Mediterranean feel is what you are seeking, consider introducing rich and chalky red hues that exude warmth. Paint outdoor walls in earthy shades like Arras or Tuscan Red, then pair with natural quartz or marble finishes, warm woods and terracotta pots. This tranquil scheme works perfectly for a patio area with a barbecue or pizza oven, creating a cosy, sociable ambience on summer evenings.

Create a lively bar area with bright, bold shades

You might prefer to transform your garden space into a vibrant setting where you can enjoy drinks with friends in the sunshine! A palette of playful, energetic hues will provide the ideal accompaniment to an outdoor bar area. Be bold and use bright, contrasting colour combinations like Mazarine with Yellow-Pink on the walls. Or paint the walls in a soft neutral and introduce vibrant pops of colour on furniture to give the scheme an instant mood boost.

Use natural tones that blend into the surroundings

Kitchens are usually full of activity, meaning they are a great place to be more confident with colour. To give your outdoor kitchen scheme a calm and peaceful atmosphere, try using shades with natural undertones. From warm, earthy pinks like Masquerade to classic green tones, natural colours sit comfortably within an exterior environment. Complement your scheme with light stone finishes and abundant greenery for an outdoor kitchen that feels truly at one with its natural surroundings.

Outdoor dining space

Creating an exterior dining space is another great way to extend your kitchen area outdoors. Placing a table and chairs outside your kitchen doors will allow dinner parties and family lunches to spill outdoors whenever the weather permits. Or if space is limited, it could simply be a little bistro table or breakfast stools!

Introduce bold hues on walls for an inspiring backdrop

Our exterior spaces provide the perfect opportunity to embrace stronger colours that you may not feel confident to use inside your home. Rich, bold shades will provide an impactful backdrop to your al fresco dining and create a real sense of welcome. Consider painting outside walls in vibrant hues like Canton to inject a contemporary twist. Or for an element of luxury, opt for a dark and sumptuous shade such as the deep aubergine Córdoba.

Create a fun outdoor breakfast bar outside your kitchen

If your outside space isn’t large enough for a dining table, consider adding a few stools to create a breakfast bar instead. Paint the outside wall in a gentle shade that complements your kitchen colour scheme, effortlessly connecting the two areas. A blue and white pairing can feel traditional and charming or more contemporary, depending on the shades you choose.

Paint furniture for a personality-filled dining area

Our family of exterior paints allow you to bring beautiful, durable colour to outdoor furniture too. Consider painting your dining table and chairs in a combination of bright, joyful shades using our Intelligent Exterior Eggshell, available in all our colours. A palette of playful yellows, greens and blues will enliven the atmosphere and create the ideal space for entertaining.

Outdoor utility space

To make great use of your outdoor space, you could also consider creating an outside utility or laundry area. Adding a small wash basin can bring real functionality to your garden. You could use this as a dedicated space to sort laundry, keep dirty dishes or to clean your paint brushes! Surround yourself with soothing shades like Boringdon Green that will make you feel calm and uplifted as you carry out household tasks. Or create a playful setting where little ones can discover a love of the outdoors, using a combination of bold, engaging hues.

Explore more inspiration for exterior projects in our gallery. Or discover interior kitchen schemes to create a scheme that flows from inside to out.

Browse our full range of hardwearing, weatherproof exterior paints, including finishes for walls, garden furniture, metal railings and more.