Looking to set up an outdoor kitchen, but not sure you have the room? Don’t let your big ideas get cramped by a small space! With a little foresight and careful planning, you can squeeze a surprising amount of storage, appliances and prep space into a cozy corner. Take the limitation and turn it into a creative challenge to overcome! Here are some genius outdoor kitchen ideas for small spaces:

Get out your measuring tape and make sure you know exactly how much space you have to work with before buying an appliance or countertop that’s just a quarter-inch too wide. Take detailed measurements of the space and note the potential obstacles or quirks that might get in the way of your master plans.

High-tech help

Tech-savvy perfectionists can use their favorite CAD software to draft a mockup of their plans. If you’re new to digital drafting software and want to give it a try, consider some of the free programs you can download. If you have a newer smartphone and love living on the bleeding edge, there are augmented reality (AR) apps you can download that will let you drag-and-drop different arrangements, like Houzz or YARD. If you’re not interested in a high-tech solution, look no further than a sheet of graph paper and a pencil.

Whether you’re using a lead tip or a mouse, recreate the space with the measurements you collected as closely as you can. With digital or cut-out shapes, experiment with the sizes and arrangements of furniture, appliances and other items you envision going into your space.

As you’re planning, figure out how your indoor and outdoor kitchens will interact. With limited outdoor space, rely on the indoor kitchen for as much prep work as possible. A small outdoor refrigerator can keep beverages cool, but most of the heavy lifting should be done with the larger indoor appliances. Let the appliances that can only work their magic outside, like a grill or smoker, take priority in your plans.

With less surface area to worry about, you can afford to use higher quality materials like granite or flagstone. A smaller kitchen with impressive materials and more reliable appliances is better than a large kitchen that cut corners on quality.