5 Ways a Commercial Landscape Company in Oakland County, MI, Creates Welcoming Outdoor Spaces for Customers
A well-designed outdoor space plays a crucial role in creating a positive first impression for customers. A commercial landscape company in Oakland County, MI, enhances your property by crafting spaces that feel inviting and functional. From walkways to seating areas, thoughtful landscaping ensures your outdoor environment encourages customers to linger and engage.
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1. Define Clear Entry Points With Walkways
Walkways guide customers through your property and set the tone for their experience. Concrete pavers provide a durable and visually appealing option for defining these paths, creating smooth and accessible entry points. With clean lines and various design options, pavers help establish a professional look that complements the overall style of your business.
The layout of the walkways should direct traffic naturally while ensuring a pleasant experience for customers. Straight paths can provide a sense of efficiency, while curved designs add a touch of elegance. Pavers also allow for creative patterns and textures, giving your property a unique and tailored look.
Strategically placed lighting along walkways enhances visibility during evening hours, adding to the welcoming feel. Incorporating natural stone accents or planters along the edges creates visual interest, blending hardscapes with surrounding greenery. A well-defined entryway ensures customers feel confident and comfortable navigating your property.
2. Incorporate Comfortable Seating Areas
Seating areas encourage customers to relax and spend time in your outdoor space. Whether you choose freestanding benches or built-in seating, these areas create opportunities for connection and enjoyment. Natural stone features, such as retaining walls with integrated seating, offer durability and a polished look that enhances the aesthetic appeal.
These seating areas can be placed in shaded spots or near focal points, like water features or large trees, to make them more appealing. Adding amenities such as tables or built-in surfaces for resting drinks or devices increases their functionality, making these areas versatile and accommodating for a variety of needs.
Surrounding seating areas with carefully selected plantings softens the design and creates a sense of intimacy. Ornamental grasses, flowering shrubs, or low trees provide a natural backdrop that complements the hardscape elements. By balancing these elements, you create an outdoor space that encourages customers to linger and enjoy their time.
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3. Enhance the Atmosphere With Plantings
Plantings bring life and color to outdoor spaces, contributing to an inviting atmosphere. A mix of trees, shrubs, and seasonal flowers adds depth and texture, creating layers of interest throughout the property. Low plantings around walkways or seating areas keep sightlines clear while adding softness to the design.
Strategically placed plantings can also serve functional purposes, such as directing foot traffic or defining the boundaries of specific areas. Tall shrubs or trees create privacy and separation, while colorful flowers draw attention to key focal points. The combination of height, texture, and color allows you to design an engaging and visually appealing environment.
Using native or regionally appropriate plants ensures the landscape remains vibrant throughout the year. Drought-tolerant options or low-maintenance varieties minimize disruptions while maintaining a polished appearance. These plantings, when thoughtfully arranged, provide a welcoming and serene setting for customers.
4. Use Lighting to Extend Usability
Lighting transforms outdoor spaces into welcoming environments that remain functional after the sun sets. Uplights can highlight architectural elements or natural stone features, while string lights or path lights create a warm glow that encourages customers to enjoy the space longer.
Layered lighting techniques ensure that different areas of the property are illuminated appropriately. For example, brighter task lighting near entrances or signage ensures key areas remain visible, while softer accent lighting in seating zones creates a relaxing ambiance. Walkway lights provide safe navigation and tie the design together by connecting one space to another seamlessly.
Highlighting landscape features with lighting enhances their impact and adds to the overall aesthetic. For instance, uplighting on large trees or sculptural elements draws attention to their form and texture, creating visual interest and enhancing the design even after dark. These lighting techniques make the property feel dynamic and engaging, encouraging customers to stay and enjoy the space.
Integrating lighting into the design also allows for seasonal flexibility. Holiday-themed lighting or fixtures that emphasize seasonal plantings add charm and excitement to the property. This adaptability ensures your outdoor space remains inviting and relevant year-round.
5. Create Multi-Purpose Spaces
Outdoor spaces designed with multiple purposes in mind maximize their usability and appeal. Open plazas or patios made with concrete pavers can accommodate a variety of activities, from outdoor dining to small events. Including flexible seating arrangements allows customers to enjoy the space individually or in groups.
Multi-purpose areas that blend hardscapes and plantings add functionality and visual interest. For example, a patio with integrated planters offers both seating and greenery, creating a harmonious design. These spaces encourage customers to interact with the environment and feel more connected to your business.
Water features, sculptures, or shaded pergolas enhance these spaces further, providing focal points that make the area memorable. Designing these spaces to adapt to different needs ensures they remain a valuable asset to your property, enhancing both form and function.
A commercial landscape company brings expertise and creativity to the process, ensuring every outdoor feature serves a purpose and contributes to a welcoming atmosphere for customers. Thoughtful integration of walkways, seating, plantings, and lighting transforms your property into a functional and inviting environment.
About the Author
Troy Clogg Landscape Associates was born in the early ’80s by Troy and his friend Greg Counsell. Today, Troy Clogg Landscape Associates is one of the largest and most successful landscape and snow removal companies, offering residential and commercial clients landscape design and construction, as well as snow and ice removal for businesses throughout Southeast Michigan. Our teams bring passion to every project, along with professional service, a large fleet of equipment, cutting-edge products, and out-of-the-box thinking to meet all of your needs.