Installing an outdoor kitchen is the key to spicing up any barbeque or get-together. An outdoor kitchen brings important supplies within easy reach, and you don't have to keep rushing in and out of the house. Your guests will also find it easier to grab a cold drink or an extra glass.

To further spice up your outdoor kitchen, consider adding plumbing features. These features include a sink, water supply and drainage mechanism. Plumbing features will make it easier for you to wash dishes, clean the kitchen area and even have guests wash their hands before grabbing a piece of steak.

Wondering how you can get started? Read on to find out.

1. Decide where the kitchen should be The first step is to correctly position your kitchen. The best place to install an outdoor kitchen is near the edges of your home. This creates a compromise between accessibility from the outside and the inside.

A kitchen located on the outer edges of your home is also easier to supply with water. This is because you can simply tap into your indoor supply or your outdoor irrigation system.

2. Which features do you prefer? Think about what your water demands will be. Do you need one or two sinks? How much drainage capacity will be necessary? What about appliances? Because a sink and drainage will be the most important features, plan for an easily accessible location.

Make sure indoor or outdoor piping can be easily routed to the kitchen site. In addition, consider having enough space so people can easily walk into the kitchenette to wash their hands or grab a drink.

3. Identify the water source The next step is to determine where you'll get your water supply. Your best choice is to have a plumber route an outdoor supply pipe from the indoor plumbing. They can also install a drainage pipe that leads back into your home. This is one of the reasons why having the outdoor kitchen near your home is a good idea.

Another useful technique is to tap into your irrigation system. If you have an outdoor tap that you use for watering your garden, you can run a pipe from this tap and into your sink. Place a tank underneath the sink to serve as your temporary drainage system. Another drainage option is to dig up a dry well for harbouring wastewater from your outdoor sink.