• Outdoor grills can be a smoky nuisance unless properly placed.sausages on grill image by .shock from Fotolia.com
  
  Outdoor kitchens are a popular addition to many homes, since they increase the value and make entertaining outside easier. They can be as simple as a few chairs and an outdoor grill, or as elaborate as an entire outdoor room, complete with fireplace. The key to putting together an outdoor kitchen that works is analyzing the needs of the people who will use it. Homeowners should take the time to think about what they'll get out of an outdoor kitchen, and what plans appeal to them the most.
  
  

Appliances

• Any outdoor kitchen needs some food preparation space and a place to cook--usually a counter and grill. However, there are some other elements that can help make these kitchens a lot more valuable. A sink and refrigerator aren't essential for an outdoor kitchen, but they can add a lot of value--both to the home in general and on a daily basis. According to This Old House, these two elements also allow the outdoor kitchen to officially qualify as a second kitchen in the home. Homeowners should follow the same rules for sink, counter and refrigerator placement that they would indoors. Arranging them in a triangle prevents work flow interruptions.
  
  

Materials

• Some materials are better-suited to outdoor kitchens than others. Since any surface in an outdoor kitchen will be subject to rain, heat, cold and other weather, it's important to choose durable options like concrete, stainless steel and stone. Wood, plastics which are easily damaged by weather, copper and similar materials may be visually appealing, but they won't last. Homeowners should take the local climate into account when planning their outdoor kitchens. The materials that work well in a dry area, such as the Arizona desert, may not be appropriate somewhere wetter, like the Pacific Northwest.
  
  

Location

• According to Kitchens.com, many homeowners are tempted to locate their outdoor kitchens right outside their indoor kitchens, but this may not be the best choice. Instead, it's usually best to plan based on grill or fireplace location. Homeowners should identify how the wind normally blows, then place the grill so that smoke won't blow into the house. It's also important to consider how the kitchen will relate to other outdoor recreation areas, such as play sets, swimming pools and gardens.
  
  

Lighting

• An outdoor kitchen is much more useful if it can be used after dark, or on cloudy days. Unfortunately, many people leave lighting as an afterthought, using portable lanterns or party lights to provide illumination in their outdoor kitchens. This can make food and drink preparation frustrating and difficult. Instead of leaving the lighting until last, homeowners should plan where they'll need light and when. Installing task lighting when the kitchen is built is relatively simple and can greatly improve the quality of the finished kitchen.