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A simple DIY outdoor kitchen with pallets – how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget
Take advantage of the hot days of summer and build a simple DIY outdoor kitchen in your garden that allows you to take your cooking into the open.
How to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget
An outdoor kitchen is a little piece of everyday luxury that lets you bring meal prep and cooking out into the open on warm summer days. Learning how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget makes it even more rewarding, turning simple materials into a functional and inviting space where cooking becomes a shared experience.
Interior designer Sara Zetterström shows how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget using Euro pallets, creating a simple DIY setup from scratch. She also shares her best tips for styling and decorating your outdoor kitchen on a budget with stylish, practical interior details.
What you need to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget
To get started with how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget, you will need:
- 6 Euro pallets (80x120 cm, consisting of five boards, three wider and two narrower)
- Optional: one extra pallet (does not need to be a Euro pallet), approx. 110x110 cm
- Optional: an old kitchen faucet that can be connected to a water hose
Tools for your DIY outdoor kitchen
- Hammer
- Crowbar
- Nail puller (optional, but helpful)
- Saw (a reciprocating saw with wood and metal blades is ideal)
- Marker pen
- Screwdriver
- Approx. 50 long wood screws (80 mm)
- Mounting strap and two screws for fastening the tap
Tip: Euro pallets can sometimes be difficult to find, as many are part of a return system. Sara sourced hers from a local carpentry company when learning how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget.
Purchase Euro pallets from your nearest carpentry company and build yourself a simple outdoor kitchen this summer.
Tip: Use the lower boards that are left over as shelves for your outdoor kitchen!
How to build your simple DIY outdoor kitchen:
This budget DIY outoor kitchen consists of two identical modules. Each module is built from two ends, a worktop, a back wall, and optional shelves.
Step 1:
Saw one pallet in half along the long side using a tiger saw to create the ends. Turn the pallet so the cut side faces backwards and the top of the pallet faces outwards.
Step 2:
One pallet is used for the back wall and another for the worktop. Use a crowbar to remove the underside boards and blocks. Try not to damage the boards, as they can be reused as shelves. Save the nails as well—they can be reused to attach the worktop to the ends.
Move the horizontal boards at the top closer together and reattach them. The outer edge boards do not need to be moved.
Tip: Reuse the original rusty nails to maintain a rustic look and for added durability, as Sara recommends.
Step 3:
Nail the worktop to the two ends. Add extra nails if needed to increase stability (any protruding nails can be bent underneath to avoid sharp edges).
Use the vertical outer boards of the rear wall to secure it to the base with long wood screws (approximately six screws per board). Saw off any excess from the remaining vertical boards.
Step 4 (optional):
Divide the remaining pallet in half to create shelf brackets. The leftover boards can be used to build practical shelves for utensils in your DIY outdoor kitchen.
Tip: Drill a hole in one module for the regulator and hose for the LPG hob, allowing the gas canister to sit neatly behind or on a lower shelf. Use mounting straps to attach the kitchen faucet to the outside end of the second module.
Finishing touch
If your Euro pallets vary in tone, you can create a simple iron acetate stain for a more rustic and uniform finish.
Stain recipe
- 250 ml 24% vinegar
- 2 pieces of steel wool
How to:
- Place the steel wool in a jar and pour over the vinegar. Seal with a lid and let it sit for at least 24 hours, preferably longer.
- Brush the stain onto lighter surfaces and let it sit. Wipe off any excess after 30–60 minutes.
Now your simple DIY outdoor kitchen is ready to be styled and decorated.
This simple DIY outdoor kitchen has both a food prep / cooking area and a dish washing area as well as good storage underneath where pots, pans and other utensils can be easily accessed.
Interior designer tips for furnishing your simple diy outdoor kitchen
Now that you’ve followed a step-by-step guide on how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget, it’s time to bring it to life with thoughtful styling. Here are Sara’s five best tips for furnishing your simple DIY outdoor kitchen with practical and stylish interior details—helping you master how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget without compromising on design or functionality.
1. Add a magnetic strip for your knives
Install a magnetic knife strip on the side of your stove to keep knives close at hand while cooking. Small, smart details like this are key when learning how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget, making your setup both efficient and practical.
2. Use hooks for everyday utensils
Mount hooks within easy reach to hang the utensils you use most often. It’s an easy and affordable solution when considering how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget, keeping everything organised and accessible.
3. Store utensils in a rustic pot or jar
A pot or sturdy mug works perfectly for storing ladles, tongs, and spatulas. This simple styling trick is ideal when exploring how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget, adding character without extra cost.
4. Include a flexible dish rack and portable sink
A compact dish rack saves counter space and can be stored away when not in use. A portable sink adds convenience and flexibility—both smart choices when planning how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget.
5. Add lighting for a cosy atmosphere
Finish your outdoor kitchen on a budget with a string of lights to create warmth and ambience as evening falls. It’s an effortless way to elevate your space while staying true to the idea of how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget, concludes Sara.
Free up the work surface with a practical magnetic strip for your knives.
Use the back wall of your outdoor kitchen to hang utensils that you often use and need to have to hand easily - Sara used a handy coat rack!
- In an outdoor kitchen, you want things both close at hand and to free up limited workspace, so it is good to use the back wall for hooks and storage - Sara Zetterström
Decorate your outdoor kitchen with a string of lights that raises the cosy factor when darkness begins to fall.
Make a cooling welcome drink from your DIY outdoor kitchen to wow your guests.
A large basket is perfect for storing your fresh veg but also make it much easier to clean up, helping you carry those items inside that should not be left out overnight, Sara says.
Feeling inspired to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget this summer? We hope Sara Zetterström’s guide and designer tips have given you plenty of ideas on how to get started.
A simple DIY outdoor kitchen on a budget is a great way to extend long summer days outdoors, giving you the freedom to cook and gather with loved ones. It creates the perfect setting for relaxed, memorable moments shared under the open sky and it doesn't have to cost the earth either.
Looking for an outdoor kitchen but not keen to build your own? You will find for tips and ideas for outdoor kitchens here: Outdoor kitchen ideas: how to create a fully equipped outdoor kitchen
Photography: Angeliqa Daldorph Stylist and designer: Sara Zetterström
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