phs Greenleaf’s Stephen Dieppe shares his top tips for boosting your curb appeal without breaking the bank
The benefits of using plants in hospitality designs are well known but, with costs soaring, how can hospitality businesses create a luxe look that attracts customers and boosts sales on a budget?
phs Greenleaf has been providing planting and grounds maintenance services to the hospitality sector for over 20 years. Managing Director Stephen Dieppe shares his advice for low-cost biophilic design.
“My best advice for a smaller budget is to go big on plants for the exterior,” says Stephen. “Curb appeal is extremely important in hospitality and a great looking exterior can really help drive footfall.”
“Studies have shown that when we see healthy-looking plants thriving and growing in a space, we subconsciously feel that it is somewhere that we can thrive, be healthy and feel good in too. It’s known as biophilia.
“It’s why everyone wants a hotel room with a view, why people like a table by the window in restaurants and why everyone loves a great beer garden. We like to be close to nature, and tapping into that successfully can increase bookings and sales for hospitality businesses.
“How your business looks from the outside will often be a key deciding factor on whether a customer chooses to visit. An attractive looking restaurant or pub with fresh, vibrant greenery outside is always more appealing, as is a well-kept, luscious-looking hotel front.
“Focus on creating the most impressive exterior you can with the budget you have. Our teams have spent decades making every penny work its hardest for our customers so they can see maximum benefits from their investment.
“Hanging baskets are a very cost-effective way of bringing lots of colour and textures to your building exterior, plus they don’t take up any valuable floor space. The bigger the basket the more impressive and luxurious the establishment will look. It’s a good idea to use seasonal colours and plants, or you can even use your corporate colours to tie in with branding or signage.
“Window boxes are another great way to utilise dead space to add colourful plants and create a more luxurious look to your exterior.
“Potted plants and trees are a must for outdoor spaces too. They give you more flexibility with your design as they can be moved around as needed, and they allow you to add more interesting textures and plants.
“When it comes to pots, my advice is to go big. This always looks more expensive and on trend. Don’t choose pottery pots as they can be easily damaged. Natural, matt finish stone pots or natural-coloured eco-plastic pots are the most suitable. Look for unusual shapes or put two different shapes next to each other for a more high-end look.
“When choosing plants, we always look at the light available. Sun traps give you more options but even if you are in a shady spot, there are plenty of plants that thrive in low light too. Evergreens are always great for pots. Our team can advise on the best plants for your location.
“You also don’t always need to go for real plants either. Artificial plants are ideal for shaded areas. We use replica ivy on trellis to cover walled areas, fencing and partitions very effectively, giving the customer an attractive and durable solution.
“Whatever your budget, there are clever ways of using plants to create a real wow factor for your business, boosting your curb appeal and attracting customers time and time again. It is a small investment that can make all the difference.”
phs Greenleaf provides planting services including indoor and outdoor plants, artificial and live planting, living walls, grounds maintenance and Christmas trees and decorations.
Part of the phs Group, phs Greenleaf supplies over 8,000 customers in a range of sectors with high quality horticultural services. phs Greenleaf holds a Royal Warrant – the mark of recognition for those who have supplied goods and services to the royal household for at least five years. Since 2010, phs Greenleaf has held a Royal Warrant for the installation and maintenance of plant displays in Buckingham Palace.
As well as supplying and installing everything from potted plants to live trees, phs Greenleaf’s experienced and knowledgeable team also conduct regular maintenance visits on site to tend to the plants installed.