We all want to make the most of the sunshine during the summer months, which means spending as much time outside as possible. One great way to enjoy your garden and the warm weather is to create a kitchen garden.

While you may already enjoy the odd meal outside throughout summer, you may not do more than have the odd barbecue when it comes to cooking outside. You can change this by creating a dedicated kitchen garden.

Here are our top tips for creating extending the heart of your home:

Choose a dedicated area

You want to create a space that is specifically for your outdoor kitchen, which will reduce potential damage to any equipment but will also allow you to create the right kind of atmosphere.

Ideally, your outside kitchen and dining area should be near the house, as this makes it easier when it comes to carrying food out and clearing up after a meal. It will also ensure it becomes an extension of your home so you are more likely to use it.

Prepare the space

It is a good idea to get the space ready before you start adding fixtures to it. This means making the ground level and putting some kind of flooring down. The floor you use depends on your personal taste, but hard surfaces are the best option, such as brick or decking.

You should also think about where things are going to go so you have a detailed plan that is likely to make the process of creating your outdoor kitchen easier.

Permanent or temporary?

One of the things you need for your outdoor kitchen is a grill. There are a number of options with this, as you can build a brick grill or buy one that can be wheeled out to a certain place when you want to use.

It depends on how much you'll think you'll use it, storage solutions, the weather and how much shelter the space has. You can combine both temporary and permanent appliances - such as a permanent brick smoker and a gas barbecue grill - if this will suit your needs better.

The right furniture

Similarly, you should consider the type of furniture you want for your outdoor garden. The main pieces are going to be a dining table and chairs, which need to be robust enough to survive all weather if you want them to stay outside.

Wooden options are a good idea - so long as they are treated to withstand rain - as they will last a long time and are comfortable. The same can be said for metal furniture. However, both types can get damaged if they are kept in an uncovered area.

While plastic garden furniture may be the cheaper option, it will not last as long and could get damaged by wind and rain in the winter months.

Extra surfaces

You may also want to consider creating some extra surfaces in your outdoor kitchen area to make food preparation easier. This can be as simple as building low and wide walls that are suitable for putting chopping boards and plates on.

This can help to separate the area from the rest of your kitchen but also serve as a practical aspect that means you don't need to stay indoors to prepare the food you're cooking outside.