If you own a brick-and-mortar business in a stand-alone building, you most likely have some type of landscaping on your property. And, if you’re a conscientious business owner, you want your property to look good.
Landscaping can be a significant part of that effort.
Landscape Design That Does More Than Just Look Good
Surprisingly to many people, the design, layout, and content of your landscaping can serve more than one purpose. In fact, the overall visual and spatial impact of your landscaping can attract or repel visitors (and staff!)
Just as having no landscaping whatsoever – the lifeless “pavement-and-concrete” treatment – can be visually and aesthetically uninviting, so can a poorly designed landscape.
But what, exactly, makes for an inviting, visually welcoming, and alluring commercial landscape?
One that draws in more customers, of course, and one that utilizes the space and resources you already have. No need to completely excavate and overhaul everything in front of your building! Just incorporating some key changes and additions can transform your pedestrian commercial landscape into a vista that people want to step into.
Top Tips for Landscaping That Draws In Customers
Think About Your Plants
Numerous studies have shown that many customers prefer to come back to businesses that have trees, flowers and shrubbery in front of and near the building. This is largely a subtle and unconscious preference, but one that is powerful nonetheless.
It always helps to add different types of plants and color to your landscaping space. You can choose bright-colored plants that are eye-catching, but these need to be plants that mesh well with your landscaping and style of your building. Also, avoid hiding your building with large trees. You want your building to be visible in all directions.
It’s been shown that bright and colorful plants and flowers attract the eye and can help bring new customers to your doors. When choosing your combination of plants you should always consider the architecture of your building. Whenever possible, try to stay with flowers, shrubs and trees that match or complement the style and feel of your building.
Think About Your Customers
An inviting landscape lends itself to being enjoyed in person. Installing outdoor furniture creates an inviting and welcoming atmosphere for customers. This can help draw people to your business and, just as importantly, having comfortable and functional outdoor furniture can encourage people to come and stay for a while.
Naturally, this also increases the likelihood that they will also come in and start shopping. Consider structures that provide shade or protection from wind and rain. Again, furnishings and structures should be both functional and comfortable, not just decorative.
Think About Your Decorations
Okay, so there is a place for decorative features, as well. This can be in the form of fountains and statues, for example. Opt for sculptures that are attractive, unobtrusive, and reflect the “personality” or feel of your business and your building. Other features such as reflecting ponds or fish ponds can add a calming and “natural” feel to a commercial landscape.
Hardscapes such as walls can provide a degree of security for your premises as well as adding a striking contrast to the greenery. Creating stone or brick pathways lined with colorful flowering plants can offer an inducement to explore your grounds as well provide a pleasant entrance into your store or offices.
Think About Your Lighting
Dusk and evening lend themselves to a dramatic visual transformation of your business with the right lighting. A common mistake that some businesses make is to limit their outdoor lighting to their signage. While it’s important for people to know who you are, don’t neglect the visual appeal of landscape lighting.
Creative use of different lighting and a combination of colors can enhance the look of both your building and key aspects of your landscaping. Outdoor lighting can not only magically transform your landscaping, but provides a level of security for the building. Additionally, ample lighting attracts people to come because it makes your premises feel more inviting and safe.
Think About Your Entrance
Last, but certainly not least, the most important space for a commercial building is an inviting entryway. Your landscaping should be planned around your building’s main entrance and designed to create a clear and accessible path for it. In fact, one of the main functions of your landscaping is to make it readily apparent where the main entrance is. This is even more important if your building has other entry and exit doors that are readily visible.
Consider using plants and hardscape materials with different textures and colors and create a unique and highly visible pathway to attract and guide your customers. Marketing studies have shown that businesses with entryways that are easily identifiable by carefully designed landscaping enable more customers to find the business.
Inviting Landscaping Is A Multi-Purpose Investment
Well-designed landscaping is a significant investment that can have real ROI. But it is also an ongoing investment that must be maintained and occasionally updated. Along with landscape design, investing in a landscape maintenance service is important. This is especially true as the season’s change and it’s important to maintain your commercial landscaping.
An added benefit for the fiscal-minded is improved property value. According to BrightView,
“Good tree cover increased property prices by about 7 percent in residential areas and 18 percent for building lots. Quality landscapes with healthy trees can increase retail spending from 9 to 12 percent. Tree-filled office properties can expect 7 percent higher rents than those without trees or quality landscaping.”
And studies have shown that green walls can increase a commercial building’s property values by up to 20 percent while helping clean the air and absorb pollutants from the environment.
Next Steps for Your Commercial Landscaping Design
Don’t hesitate to contact us for your small space garden and landscape needs. We know that creating the best use of your available space is important to you and we’re here to answer any questions you might have about getting started on your garden design.
Get ready to spend more time enjoying your outdoor space with family and friends!
If you have questions, or you’d like to schedule a consultation about your garden or landscaping project, contact the professional landscape designers and plant installers at Northview Landscaping today.