With the current economic downturn, homeowners are certainly examining their budgets closely, but that doesn’t mean they’re not spending money. One trend that is emerging is the popularity of outdoor kitchens. A new term has even been added to the American vernacular, “staycation”. Families are opting out of expensive vacations, and are instead aiming their budgets in their own backyards.
Why spend thousands of dollars on a vacation when you can spend that same money on an outdoor kitchen that will provide years of enjoyment? Also, the decline in the housing market has had an impact on the outdoor living market. Surprisingly, it has been a positive impact.
One successful entrepreneur, Linda Trautweiler of Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets and More says “We personally are seeing more and more consumers expanding their lanai area. More people are forgetting about selling their homes and putting their money into expanding or enhancing their lanai space. Outdoor living spaces represent a place where people always congregate. A lot of our consumers build a bar top, because it becomes the heart of their home. That is where they entertain their guests.”
Many homeowners that get the seven year itch to buy a new home simply can’t. Instead, they’re looking for new ways to get more mileage out of their homes. An outdoor kitchen is an obvious choice. You can create a new room outside without the cost of a typical home renovation. Depending on the scale of your project and local building codes, an outdoor kitchen may be added without a permit, which helps control the cost of an outdoor project compared to a true home renovation project.
Remodelers, kitchen and bath companies, and general contractors all have to find new ways to grow their businesses in a tough economy. For many, outdoor kitchens are the answer. And with so many new perspectives on how to create an outdoor kitchen, the rules keep changing. From brick pizza ovens, to wine coolers, water features and bars, the ever growing outdoor living market is a place for innovation as well as new business opportunities. Just visit next home show in your area and you are bound to see a new outdoor living company offering something you have never even seen before. New entrants into the outdoor living industry can showcase their ideas while helping to develop a new market, one that home owners can’t wait to show-off at their next party.
