If you’re a business owner looking to level up the exterior of your storefront or restaurant, investing in some renovations or cosmetic upgrades can go a long way.
It doesn’t have to mean throwing out established brand authenticity just for the sake of being perceived as trendy. There are plenty of ways that you can update and modernize while remaining true to your business’s current style and improve your business’s curb appeal.
Stay Consistent with Design Elements
Whether you own a stand-alone business or a franchise, you have to stay consistent with your branding. Maybe you have a historical vibe and want your establishment to look like it’s from another time period. Or, perhaps you stand out in more modern ways with clean lines and a bright color palette. Whatever your style, consulting with a designer to keep everything unified will help you make a good first impression on your customers.
When you work with a professional renovation business, such as Burbach Companies, you can see all your design elements with visualizer tools before any work is done. This makes it easier for you to choose the perfect materials, whether it’s new vinyl siding, stucco, or stone.
Why Curb Appeal Matters for Business
If you’re not planning to sell your business, why should it matter what it looks like on the outside? Most of us know of a “hole-in-the-wall” diner that has the best food around, and sometimes we love it even more because of its nondescript exterior.
Well, the fact is that a business’s curb appeal matters even when you’re not going to sell your business, and you offer amazing goods or services that should speak for themselves. The condition of your business front matters for a variety of reasons:
Navigation
Can customers easily spot your store or restaurant when searching for it by car or on foot? Many of us have experienced following our GPS to an address only to be unable to locate the business once we arrive. Having distinct signage, street numbers, and recognizable features makes it easier for newer customers to find you.
Brand Recognition
Is it clear what you offer to customers simply due to how your storefront looks? What about your window displays or access to your menu? If you happen to live in a walkable area, making it clear at a glance what you sell can more readily convert passersby into paying customers.
Marry Pleasing Aesthetics with Functionality
When considering exterior renovations to improve your business’s curb appeal, it’s important to strike a balance between aesthetics and function. Although the primary motivation behind these upgrades might be to improve the overall functionality of the space, creating a visually appealing exterior can significantly enhance the value and curb appeal of a property.
By incorporating design elements such as striking color palettes, unique architectural features, and attractive landscaping from K and R Landscaping in Hamilton, business owners can elevate the appearance of their establishment while still addressing practical concerns such as weather resistance, energy efficiency, and structural integrity. This harmony of form and function ultimately leads to an exterior that is not only pleasant to look at but also serves its purpose effectively, truly showcasing the art of renovation.
Choose the Right Color Palette
Selecting the right paint colors is a crucial aspect when building your brand’s identity and crafting an authentic atmosphere. As you embark on this creative journey, it’s important to consider your brand’s tone and personality, as these factors heavily influence the emotions and impressions evoked by the chosen colors.
Have you ever noticed that many convenience restaurants have similar colors in their branding? Red and yellow appear in countless logos because of what they potentially stimulate in customers: hunger and happiness. The colors you use in your branding should evoke the emotional response you want your customers to have.
- Red – Associated with movement, excitement, and passion
- Orange – Increases cheerfulness and optimism
- Yellow – Stimulates the logic center of the brain and promotes enthusiasm
- Green – Associated with health, wealth, and relaxation
- Blue – Associated with peace, security, and trust
- Purple – Associated with wisdom, and represents creativity
- Black – Associated with stability, intelligence, and authority
- White – Can promote feelings of safety, neutrality, and creativity
- Grey Symbolizes practicality and timelessness
Lake Effect gastropub in Salt Lake City, Utah, markets itself as an elegant space for 21+ guests; as such, its color scheme reflects the jazz-bar, historical vibe they want patrons to experience. Their color palette will differ drastically from a family-themed restaurant that’s more about convenience than craft cocktails and private events. Take the purpose of your business into consideration before putting a fresh coat of paint on the exterior.
Use Landscaping to Draw People In
An aesthetically pleasing landscape showcases a well-maintained and inviting environment, evoking an immediate sense of pride and satisfaction in your brand. In addition, skillfully designed outdoor spaces provide functional benefits. For instance, strategically placed trees and shrubs can lower energy costs by providing shade and windbreaks. This can be helpful for outdoor dining, sidewalk sales, or hosting events at your space that spill into the outdoors.
If you’re renting your space and the outdoor care is handled by a property manager, be sure to understand what types of improvements you’re allowed to make according to your lease. You may be able to hang planters from your awnings, install potted plants by the doors, or add other temporary touches that personalize your business.
Maintain or Improve the Hardscaping as Well
Not only is a good path important for literally bringing people to your front door, but it shows that you respect patrons who may have mobility differences. You can increase your curb appeal and accessibility by ensuring your sidewalks are free from cracks and uneven seams, as well as adding ramps if you have an elevated entry.
Want more shade but can’t plant a giant tree? Look into pergolas, sunshades, or awnings. Not only will these hardscape elements benefit your customers, but they can protect the paint or siding on your exterior from the elements.
Use Lighting for Security and Ambiance
A well-illuminated storefront captures the attention of potential customers, helps increase security, and can set the tone for outdoor dining. When renovating your business’ exterior, consider adding not just pathway lights, but window display lights and patio lighting that can be customized for the time of day. Whether you go for solar-powered, hardwired, or motion-sensor outdoor lighting, get the mood you want with the right placement and hues.
Upgrade the Parking
Last, but not least, think about the parking situation. If you have your own lot, keep it well-maintained and well-lit to add to overall curb appeal. If you only have a few spots available curbside, it’s worth investing in signage to show which stalls are designated for your business. Customers hate looking in vain for a place to park, so you can relieve some of their burdens by using signs to direct them to additional parking nearby if it’s available.
Investing in exterior remodeling can have a dramatic positive impact on your business. With the right elements in place, your business can set itself apart from the competition and draw the right kind of attention to your brand.