Creating a Co-ordinated Look in an Outdoor Area

The outside space surrounding office buildings or retail parks is just as important to the overall look as what is inside. It's crucial when designing this area that you choose elements that complement each other in order to enhance the style. Whether you're choosing a lamppost guard or a seating area, a co-ordinated design scheme will create a sense of pride in the space for all those who use it.

The Benefits of a Co-ordinated Style

Generally, outdoor furniture is selected because of its practical nature. For instance, benches provide somewhere for people to sit, bins are used to keep the area tidy and a lamppost guard is designed to protect posts from being damaged. However, you need to look at more than the practicalities of a product and see how it will work with other elements of the design. The finished look will be improved by this co-ordinated style and provide a place that people enjoy spending time in.

Create a Recognisable Brand

It's imperative with any space that's related to a business that it's instantly recognisable as being part of that company. This includes the areas outside the main building, such as a company car park. The brand can be used across all elements, including bollards, seating, bins, signposts and even a lamppost guard. This gives the space a recognisable identity and links it into the business. Without this branding, people entering the area might not know where they are or who owns the space.

More Aesthetically Pleasing

Functionality can often outweigh the aesthetic requirements of an area, but this shouldn't necessarily be the case. Both elements need to be working together in order for the design to be a success. If you have a bench that works fine but doesn't fit in with the rest of the style, it will look out of place. Similarly, if you install a bin that has all the correct branding but isn't suitable for your requirements, it won't be a success.

What Type of Design?

When you're planning an outdoor space, you need to be sure of the type of style that you want to achieve. Contemporary styles are particularly popular, as they can provide a simple and clean finish. However, there is still a place for a more classical style, depending on the particular location you are working on. One of the most critical factors will be the quality of the materials used, as this will impact on their durability and suitability. You could choose an item that looks perfect but hasn't been built to stand up to the elements. It then won't last as long as you intended, and you'll end up spending more money on repairs and replacements.

By working on a co-ordinated look, you'll achieve a design that is practical, functional and aesthetically pleasing. In this way the space will meet all your requirements and also be somewhere that appeals to the users, so they can make as much use of it as possible.