Satya
People escape to the countryside to unwind, breathe in the stunning fresh air, and take in the beautiful landscapes. Countryside hotels provide a happy balance between nature, and, of course, luxury. They are the go-to choice for wedding venues, for romantic escapes, or even just for those who need a bit of a break from the city.
What these hotels don’t have, however, is much demand in general. You aren’t a hotel in the middle of a big city where people naturally go for work or leisure. That means you need to be the draw yourself. People need to come to you, for you. Sure, there may be events in the area that they’re interested in, or they might want to go hiking or just enjoy the small town life for a while, but ultimately your hotel and grounds are going to be what sells them, not the area around you.
That’s why you need to do more than just work on building up a pretty interior. You also need to take your efforts outside. This guide will give you top ideas on just where to begin, and how to make maintaining such a landscape easier than ever:
Start By Designing Focal Points
Focal points are where the eye naturally turns to rest. Any spot in your hotel with large windows has a natural outdoor focal point. You don’t need to put something of interest outside of every window, but do choose a few. For example, If a window or even set of doors leads out to the outside from a foyer or drawing room, that’s a good place to put a focal point.
Here are a few others:
Entryway
The entryway is an obvious focal point that works to sell the experience of your hotel from the first step. Work on creating not just a great-looking walk-up, but everything from the road to the drive to your door. This can be done with bushes, flowers, and lights. Lighting, in particular, will need to be considered, so that the entryway seems safe and inviting at all times of the day.
Outdoor Dining
Outdoor dining is an easy way to draw in customers during the summer months, particularly if you have a great view or a beautiful garden surrounding it. This focal point should be easy to access from the main interior dining room, and also be partially protected. For example, if you add a lean-to roof overhead made of glass, you can continue your outdoor dining service even during rainy days. Umbrellas or awnings can then be used to help protect guests from the hot sun.
Intimate Gardens
Intimate-feeling gardens can easily be accomplished by adding in brick walls or barrier bushes around each garden. Think of these barriers as frames for your garden. They can remove unsightly views (like a regular looking house that’s next door), can create a “secret garden” experience, or just frame your garden design in a beautiful way. Consider adding these gardens so they’re in full, or in partial view, of main areas of the hotel.
Ensure Privacy for Guest Rooms
One area where you will want to help ensure privacy is the guest rooms. If there are any rooms on the ground floor try to use flora like bushes, ivy, or flora to help shield the room from view. You can then pair those efforts with sheer curtains, one-way window foil or tinting, or by frosting the glass.
Use Hardy Plants
When it comes to which plants to choose for your design try to stick with the local options. For example, if it rains often in your area, you’ll need plants used to heavy watering. Other areas will need plants that are drought-resistant, or ones that can handle frost and cold.
Create a Sensory Environment
When designing where and what plants to choose don’t just consider how they look in bloom. You’ll also want to consider when the flowers bloom and what they smell like. Done right, you can have blooms almost all through the year, creating a visually and olfactory experience for your guests.
Make Maintenance Easier (and Faster)
One thing that can turn a great garden and landscape into a mess is simple overgrowth. That’s why it’s so important that you invest in electronic tools that make maintenance faster, and easier than ever. For example, if you have a large hillside, the last thing you’ll want is for heavy overgrowth to start making your vistas look messy and forgotten.
Cutting that large lawn with a traditional lawn mower would take hours, so instead, consider zero turn lawn mowers. These riding lawn mowers let you cover between 2 to 12 acres of space at once, and tackle up to 20° slopes.
This is just one example. Electric trimmers, automatic sprinklers, and other systems are going to make maintaining your custom garden design a breeze, so invest in them.
Source Unique Décor
Gardens can and should absolutely be decorated. The more interesting the décor, the more unique your hotel will be. That’s why you should take your time and try to source the décor from online marketplaces, antique stores, and auctions. This can also be a very budget-friendly approach, depending on where you’re located.
Consult with a Professional
Before you invest in your design, it’s a good idea to bring your plans to an expert. Doing most of the legwork yourself can help get the ball rolling and also means you have the general layout nailed down.
By then going to an expert, they can help provide you insights you might not be aware of. Some plants work better together than others, for example. Have them tweak the design first so that it is hardy, beautiful, and lasting.
Then, you can get started on the project. Start with privacy-adding features and curb appeal, and then work outwards. Take your time, and you’ll give your customers a new reason to return every year.
