You already have a dream indoor kitchen, but let’s face it, there’s nothing quite like an elegant backyard sanctuary that’s perfect for alfresco dining and entertaining al fresco all summer long! If you’re looking to create the ultimate outdoor retreat to enjoy entertaining at home, you want a lounge area and kitchen that goes beyond the basic patio barbeque setup - luckily, there are a plethora of ideas to help you conceive a stylish and high performing outdoor living area!
This fire pit seating area is the perfect place to entertain, with a neutral tiled patio floor in wooden beige marble to match the patterned Moroccan inspired accent wall with our Roman Flower waterjet tiles!
Here’s a bit of an incentive to put some work into backyard upgrades this year: any investment you make in upgrading your backyard space will increase the value of your home, inspire easygoing lounging among your family and guests, and create an escape if you’ve been cooped up inside all winter. Summer is meant to be spent outdoors as much as possible — either relaxing or entertaining and enjoying the light, warm nights. These outdoor kitchen ideas will transform the largest backyard or the smallest patio into an indoor-outdoor living area that will turn your home into a resort!
What are the best features for outdoor kitchen plans?
When upgrading your outdoor kitchen or backyard entertaining area, your design approach can take many forms. In some cases, you may want to create an elaborate state-of-the-art culinary masterpiece — think a barbecue grill with a pizza oven, large marble countertops with cabinet storage, and a full-size fridge.
This gorgeous outdoor kitchen and dining area combines a wraparound bar with a gorgeous pergola. Bistro lights overheard allow you to enjoy the outside bar long after dark, and make grilling a delight late into the evening! The black and white marble penny round tiled island facing is a beautiful yet durable outdoor tile option to give your backyard entertaining area your personal style!
If you’re not ready for a full-blown outdoor kitchen design, you can still upgrade your BBQ set up with a grill, mini fridge, a small counter space, and a sink area. Your design choices are virtually endless and will largely boil down to your heart desires and what your budget allows!
When choosing finishes for your outdoor kitchen and entertaining area, you need to be a little more intentional than when you’re choosing to update your indoor kitchen. The benefits of using tile go beyond just aesthetics, they’re the perfect solution to inject quality and practicality.
Even an apartment balcony or condo patio can be transformed into an amazing living area! Create this welcoming outdoor space by bringing the charm of wood decking to your balcony with light-weight Rovere porcelain planks - these wood look tiles are great for renters or small home owners since they’re low maintenance (not to mention fire-resistant, which is a must-have for balcony grilling)!
Benefits of using outdoor tiles to upgrade your backyard include:
- Durability. Tile stands out as a smart option for outdoor spaces thanks to its strong structure and durable surface. If installed properly it will serve as a wonderful material for your deck or patio. With one of the longest life spans of outdoor building materials, it will not stain, rot, or decay — and can be easily repaired if necessary. Unlike wood decking, you won’t need to refinish or stain wood look tile patios, making them a low maintenance option to remodel your yard.
- Appearance. Whether your outdoor living space is big or relatively small, your design vision isn’t constrained by a limited tile range. You have the freedom to create any look that you love with the wide range of colors, patterns, shapes and textures that are available in outdoor tiles.
- Minimal cleaning. Choosing to cover your outside kitchen floors, BBQ backsplash, and pool area with tile is an effective and efficient way to spruce up your indoor-outdoor environment. Sweeping and occasional scrubbing are usually all that’s necessary to keep your exterior tiles clean and pristine. In addition, the scratch resistant nature of tile such as porcelain can stand up to the wear and tear of dragging around patio furniture, children’s toys, BBQs, and other equipment.
So, whether you want to define sections for different outdoor activities, create distinct areas of a surface, or install slip-resistant floors around your pool, tiles are an incredibly versatile material and a notable aesthetic feature that will turn your exterior space from dull to dazzling.
If you need to find the Tile Club crew, first check this gorgeous indoor-outdoor living area with a tiled fireplace surround leading out to the pool area! This stunning covered patio lounge is a chic vacation rental upgrade that creates a seamless flow for entertaining - and looks absolutely gorgeous! The pattern on our wooden beige marble tiled fireplace facing adds a stunning accent to the geometric pendant lighting and minimalist patio furniture set!
The color scheme, tile application, furniture, and appliances you choose all combine to create a perfect summer oasis. We’re sharing creative outdoor kitchen design ideas and backyard entertaining designs that are sure to help you upgrade your dining experience and enjoyment at home in summer 2021!
Update your built-in BBQ
As soon as the weather improves, we’re ready to live outdoors — an outdoor cooking area with a relaxed vibe is always a splendid option in the summertime. Not only do you create a great space to gather and entertain - either for backyard parties or small get togethers - but the minimal clean up of grilling dinner creates a stress-free way to unwind!
Transform any outdoor kitchen into a visually unique space ideal for alfresco dining with a stylish Textured Elongated Carrara Hexagon Marble Mosaic Tile. This built-in grill backsplash creates a stunning area to prep and serve when cooking outside.
Placing your built-in BBQ station against a wall allows you plenty of room for your own creativity to shine through. A tile backsplash, whether crafted from ceramic, porcelain, glass tiles or natural stone including marble, is a visually appealing, functional and long-lasting design choice.
(Not sure what to use for an outdoor kitchen backsplash tile? Check the Area of Use for Exterior Wall Application to make sure you can use it in the right spot!)
Tiles present you with options to keep your outdoor backsplash simple and casual, or as bold as you desire thanks to the endless variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures! For instance, if you opt for an exterior-use subway tile, you can choose one solid color to achieve a clean, monochromatic look, or create a mosaic-style backsplash with several different colors for a more eclectic design statement!
Furthermore, the outdoor flooring under the grill or a stucco pizza oven can also be covered with gorgeous exterior tiles to give your outdoor entertaining spot visual appeal. Using larger tiles can result in a look that’s dynamic and dramatic — and further reduce the number of grout lines, making your BBQ patio easier to clean!
If your heart is set on marble tiles for outdoor use, we recommend regularly applying a tile sealant to keep porous natural stone in the best shape regardless of placement or weather
You’ll also want to make sure your grout is sealed in order to keep it in pristine condition and prevent the buildup of dirt and stains from being outside.
Add a Tiled Outdoor Kitchen Island
From casual dining to extra storage to comfy seating, there are so many obvious reasons why the kitchen island is the real MVP of any entertaining space, both indoors and outdoors. What’s more, this multifunctional architectural element can set the tone for your design scheme, or tie your overall aesthetic together.
The latest trend for both indoor and outdoor dining? A tiled kitchen island!
Make a statement in black and white with our favorite black and white hexagon tile as a kitchen island facing - the tile is just as stunning outdoors as it is indoors, bringing a modern geometric detail to this patio bar set up that is perfect for sipping cocktails all summer long!
An outdoor kitchen island can be custom-made to complement your backyard space, just like it adds to the flow and workspace indoors. Whether you have a waterfall or multi-level island, it’s easy to add a bold dose of color, texture or pattern with tile design on the sides or the outside facing of the island!
Bring the drama to the front of your outdoor kitchen island with patterned tiles like hexagon, chevron, mosaic and subway tile. Opting for facing tiles in trendy neutral shades can infuse class and sophistication into your design, and is a perfect way to highlight an especially stunning countertop material.
When you truly want to simplify the design process and add an awesome flow to your outdoor entertaining space, consider the same colors and patterns on the sides of the island and your BBQ backsplash. For instance, run your glass mosaic tile throughout the space to create an understated, yet irresistible look that reflects soft lighting beautifully.
Low Maintenance Decking and Patio Floor Upgrades
If you're shooting high for a backyard kitchen and outdoor entertaining transformation, then it’s time to redo your flooring. Any stylish, long-lasting, comfortable spot must have a floor finish that is resistant to water and direct sunlight, heavy use and allows easy cleaning. This is the reason why outdoor spaces benefit from the use of tile applications such as ceramic and porcelain.
Give your patio a patterned upgrade! This gorgeous covered patio floor is made of our square weave marble tiles to create a gorgeous place to gather for al fresco dining and relaxing!
The slip-resistant texture of tile is just as impactful in outdoor applications as it is indoors. Tiles, especially honed marble or porcelain exterior tiles, are a popular alternative for wood and concrete due to their strength and density. They’re manufactured to withstand not only the typical concerns of etching, scratching or staining, but can stand up to direct sunlight, too. Even better, they offer limitless possibilities to create any style you fancy in your outdoor living area!
Not only is this space a sight for sore eyes, the Tribeca Aqua porcelain tile resembles wood and lends a natural and cozy atmosphere that works effortlessly with a range of exterior aesthetics. Even better, it's sturdy enough to hold up to foot traffic and heavy furniture.
What’s more, porcelain patio tiles can give you a gorgeous look that resembles hardwood decking. Wood is a timeless material loved by many homeowners, so opting for wood-like tile provides the best of both worlds: a durable floor that will last for many years to come and a design that won’t go out of style!
Aside from its tactile beauty and variety, natural stone is another fantastic material that can be used to section off your outdoor space from the rest of the yard. In addition, it can handle weather, high traffic, and heavy furniture with no problem.
Numerous tile choices can allow a seamless blend between the overall look of your landscape, swimming pool border, outdoor kitchen, and your house. This cohesive finish can be achieved by selecting material in colors and textures consistent with the overall look of your property.
Dazzling pool tiles create a resort in your backyard
Among the most attractive ways to bring an intricate detail to the pool area is surrounding the exterior perimeter with a rejuvenation new tile design. If you have a flexible budget, a new pool waterline tile will immediately add an eye-catching impact to your pool’s appearance.
For example, glistening iridescent glass tile in hues inspired by the ocean such as green and blue can lend a touch of fun and personalization that is perfect for the summertime.
Spending as much of your free time poolside just got stylish! Here, Pool Blue Glossy and Frosted Square Mosaic Tile offer a calming and soothing touch perfect for easy summertime living.
Non-slip outdoor porcelain tiles can effortlessly create a contemporary style that fits attractively into the surroundings. The many styles available on the market today, including a kaleidoscope of colors, patterns, and sizes, can add some glitz to your pool decking and surround.
We hope you’ve found the perfect inspiration for a stylish backyard makeover to give yourself an outdoor kitchen, fire pit entertaining area, or stunning new patio! Check out our Outdoor + Pool inspiration for even more ideas to transform your outside space into a liveable paradise, just steps from your own back door!
