Do Parking Lot Aesthetics Matter?

Many of us view parking lots as purely functional spaces. But what if aesthetics mattered more than you realize? 

Appearances can certainly impact first impressions. But is it really worth pouring money into making a parking lot look pretty? This post looks at some of the data and what you can do to elevate the appearance of a parking lot.

Does parking lot aesthetics matter?

Consider this: you’ve arrived at a parking lot and it’s nothing but yards of concrete covered in litter. Now compare this to a clean parking lot made from bound resin and lined with trees. Where would you rather park?

Clearly, aesthetics can have an impact on public perception of a business. In fact, there may be some evidence to suggest that appearances can greatly determine how secure a parking lot feels. One study found that vegetation had a significant impact on attractiveness, and that well-maintained vegetation made a parking lot feel more secure.

But can parking lot appearances truly impact reputation? There is more evidence to suggest that parking lot design can affect reviews - with one study finding that outdoor aesthetics such as parking lot design can influence eating and dining establishment ratings. 

As a result, it’s reasonable to suggest that parking lot aesthetics are important for attracting visitors and generating business. 

What are some ways to improve parking lot aesthetics?

Vegetation

Adding vegetation such as trees, grass and hedges is one of the most effective ways to improve aesthetics. Such vegetation also has environmental benefits, helping to combat lair pollution and support local wildlife.

Trees have the added advantage of providing shade. Adding them in planters between bays, can help to keep cars cool in exposed parking lots.

Grass islands can also be added between bays and combined with walkways to improve pedestrian safety. These can be combined with hedges or even flower beds, but there is extra maintenance to consider. 

It’s even possible to consider surface options like permeable grass pavers, which allow grass to grow through open cells while encouraging drainage. It’s a living alternative to concrete and asphalt, however it is more expensive to install.

Architectural elements

It’s possible to add various architectural elements to improve aesthetics. This can make a big impact in large parking garages - solutions like a parking garage screen can make the exterior of the parking lot look more interesting.

Features like columns in parking garages can also be designed to be decorative. Why settle for a blank concrete monolith, when you can paint pillars in your brand colors or even let local artists paint designs on them.

Color coding

Color coding can be a way of visually organizing your parking lot, while also adding to its aesthetics. Large parking lots sometimes use different colored signs and markings to designate different areas for different vehicles or purposes (such as a different color for a staff parking area).

Alternatively, you can add brand colors into parking lots to help improve brand identity. In shared parking lots, you may even be able to mark off specific bays for your premises using unique colors. 

Decorative lighting

Lighting is important for keeping your parking lot secure and helping drivers navigate it after dark. While you can opt for generic designs of lighting, there are many ways to make lighting visually interesting.

LED bollards for example can serve as decorative boundaries to a parking lot. For matching the appearance of a traditional building, you can meanwhile explore vintage street light designs. Ground lights can meanwhile be used to light pathways. 

Alternative surfaces

Concrete and asphalt are the two most popular surface options for parking lots. While both are fairly robust and serve their purpose, there are other surface options you can consider if you really want your parking lot to stand out.

Gravel is a much more affordable option that has the benefit of being available in various different colors and stone styles. It does need to be regularly raked, but can improve aesthetics, and it also provides good drainage to prevent flooding.

Bound resin is similar to gravel, except the stones are fixed in place. This greatly reduces maintenance while providing the same look as gravel, plus vehicles don’t sink into the surface, however it does cost more to install. 

Stone pavers are one of the most luxurious options. You can arrange these paving slabs into various different patterns to further add visual interest. As mentioned earlier, paving can be integrated with grass in the form of permeable grass pavers. The downside is that this is quite an expensive surface option to install. 

Prioritizing practicality

It’s important to not get carried away with aesthetic features and reduce the functionality of a parking lot. For example, while you can get creative with road markings and signs, you can also risk confusing newcomers who aren’t used to these visuals. Adding features like trees and grass islands can also potentially take up space that could be used for bays in smaller parking lots. Then you have to consider the cost and maintenance that needs to go into aesthetic features - gravel will need to be raked to stop it getting lumpy and patchy, while trees and grass islands will need to be trimmed back to prevent them getting scruffy and overgrown. 

Of course, aesthetics can pay off as studies have shown, so there are practical advantages to making a parking lot look good. If you’re designing/redesigning a parking lot and your budget stretches far enough, it’s worth adding features like trees or considering decorative lighting to make your parking lot more welcoming. Consider aesthetic features that will also have other practical functions. For example, for parking lots that regularly collect puddles or get flooded, it might make sense to switch to an option like permeable grass pavers or gravel so that customers aren’t having to wade through water to go into your store. Similarly, think about how trees can provide shade and how colors can be used to provide structure to your parking lot.