Creating Inviting Entryways: Landscaping Tips for Commercial Properties
Creating Inviting Entryways: Landscaping Tips for Commercial Properties
The entrance to any commercial property serves as the initial point of contact, setting the tone for visitors, clients, and employees alike.
A well-designed entryway not only enhances the property's aesthetics but also communicates a welcoming atmosphere. This has benefits for employee productivity and retention, brand loyalty, first impressions for potential clients or customers, and more.
This makes it hard to ignore for any business that has outdoor space as part of its premises.
As the leading provider of landscaping and gardening services for commercial properties, we’ve transformed entryways for indoor and outdoor spaces with a wide variety of plants, plant displays, living walls, plant baskets and other exciting additions for thousands of clients.
Luckily for you, we’ve broken down some of the things we’ve learnt over the years in this guide to how to craft inviting entryways through strategic landscaping.
Let’s start with the why:
Understanding the Importance
The entrance is the first impression a commercial property makes. It's where visual appeal, functionality, and brand identity converge. It will often stick in a visitor’s mind long after their visit, and come to mind when they think of your company. Whether this is a negative, or positive association, is mostly up to you.
A thoughtfully landscaped entryway can elevate the property's kerb appeal and create a positive experience for anyone arriving, while also making them more likely to come back.
There are some basic but reliable ways to achieve this, for example:
Design Elements for Inviting Entryways
Focal Points and Features
Incorporating focal points like sculptures, water features, arches or striking plant arrangements can draw attention and create a memorable entryway.
These elements act as visual anchors, guiding the eyes and creating interest. They also become memorable parts of employees' day to day routine, for example becoming a communal meeting point at lunch.
Greenery and Plant Selection
The choice of plants is pivotal. Selecting greenery that thrives in the local climate and complements the property's architecture is crucial.
Outdoor plant displays are an easy way to revive your business premises and utilise the benefits of the natural connection between humans and nature.
Evergreen shrubs for year-round appeal, colourful blooms for seasonal variety, and foliage for texture contribute to a dynamic landscape.
Pathways and Hardscaping
Well-defined pathways, whether through walkways or paved areas, guide visitors seamlessly where you want them to go, focusing attention and keeping otherwise wild spaces more structured.
Materials like stone, brick, or concrete not only define paths but also add elegance and structure to the landscape, while also preventing issues with wet ground, dirty shoes, slip risks etc.
Lighting for Ambience
Lighting fixtures play a crucial role at commercial premises—they enhance the entryway's appeal during the day and create a welcoming ambience at night.
Of course, this is without going into the safety benefits which also become crucial in the darker winter evenings.
Subtle, well-placed lighting can highlight architectural features and guide visitors after sunset. Darkened areas without adequate lighting are not only more dangerous, but can appear very unwelcoming and potentially even turn potential clients away.
Of course, how your outdoor area should best be landscaped depends on its actual use.
For example:
Tailoring Design to Specific Spaces
Corporate Offices
Professional settings such as office buildings often benefit from a balance between formal and inviting elements.
Clean lines, well-manicured lawns, and subtle yet striking plant arrangements create an atmosphere of sophistication and a touch of nature without going overboard and appearing too wild.
Retail and Hospitality Spaces
Creating an inviting atmosphere is paramount in industries like retail and hospitality, since your business relies on being a welcoming place for customers to sit and stay.
Bold colours, creative signage, seasonal décor, and strategically placed seating can attract foot traffic and encourage longer stays while also being more memorable and easy to recommend.
Educational Institutions
These spaces often benefit from open, green areas with interactive elements, opening up possibilities for exploration, sports and creative play.
Playful sculptures, sports pitches, seating areas for social interaction, and educational garden spaces can enhance the learning environment.
While we have established that different businesses and organisations clearly benefit from landscaping in different ways, there is one aspect that is relevant to most premises:
The Role of Branding
Reflecting Brand Identity
The entryway should align with the brand's values and identity, with the brand name or logo being the most visible or standout aspect.
Colours, signage, and design elements should reflect the brand's ethos, creating a cohesive experience that leads potential visitors to know exactly where they are, and want to see more.
Consistency Across Properties
For franchises or chains, maintaining a consistent entryway design across multiple locations reinforces brand recognition and fosters a sense of familiarity and communal open-ness.
Maintenance and Long-Term Care
Of course, the most beautiful landscaped garden in the world, or the most impressive indoor plant displays in the world, are all worthless if not maintained properly.
Some plants will die, others will quickly become overgrown, and what was previously impressive and welcoming becomes unprofessional and embarrassing.
Luckily, this is easily avoided with some basic steps that will keep attracting customers and employees, and give a great impression for years and decades to come.
Regular Maintenance
Scheduled upkeep, trimming, and seasonal adjustments ensure the entryway maintains its inviting appeal. An unkempt entrance can deter visitors and diminish the property's overall attractiveness. phs Greenleaf offers grounds maintenance services that handle this for you.
Sustainability Practices
Incorporating sustainable landscaping practices, like native plant choices and water-efficient irrigation systems, benefits both the environment and long-term costs. It showcases the property's commitment to eco-consciousness.
Crafting inviting entryways through landscaping for commercial properties involves a delicate balance of design, functionality, and brand representation.
A carefully orchestrated entryway not only captivates visitors but also communicates the essence of the property and its occupants.
It's an investment in creating a lasting positive impression that resonates with anyone who passes through the threshold.
By focusing on the nuanced details and strategic landscaping elements, a commercial property can turn its entrance into a powerful statement of welcome and professionalism.
Need Help With This?
It shouldn’t be for you and your employees to handle all this. After all, your focus is on growing your business and serving your clients.
phs Greenleaf has been providing planting and landscaping services to businesses for over 25 years, including indoor and outdoor plants, artificial and live planting, living walls, grounds maintenance and Christmas trees and decorations.
With around 8,000 customers across the UK, we are the countries’ #1 supplier of such services. Phs Greenleaf ensures each customer is assigned an account manager to coordinate every part of the process from the initial design to the installation.
To learn more, get in touch now to see what our commercial gardening and landscaping services could do to transform your workspace!