Container Gardening: Breathe New Life Into Hotel Balconies

Many people would pay a premium rate for a hotel room that boasts a private balcony. But many hotel room balconies are ultimately nothing more than an enclosed, sun-bleached space with little aesthetic panache or personality to speak of.

This is a missed opportunity — for stronger customer satisfaction and profit. Balconies without thoughtfulness in their design might ultimately be the difference between securing good reviews over bad ones.

Balcony Beauty: Elevating the Hotel Experience Through Container Gardening

When people walk around Paris, they look up and admire the gorgeous tangle of ivies, shrubs and begonias wrapping around elaborate ironwork. A balcony with clever styling, decorative planters and an interesting mix of fauna will make a world of difference to your guests. The color green has a calming effect on people, don’t forget, with plants bringing comfort, and making guests feel at home. 

Here are a few container gardening ideas to elevate your hotel’s in-room experience:

Create a Private Oasis Using Trough Planters

Many gardeners swear by the trough for its practical and aesthetic benefits. This type of planter has a long, narrow body that’s deep enough for climbers, ornamental trees and other plants to grow, and also tall enough to provide shade and privacy. A little nook on the balcony built out with these planters is a plus for guests who like to read, dine or just relax al fresco. An enjoyable dining area with gorgeous patio furniture, pillows and string lights will also make room service a more attractive option than dining at an offsite restaurant, which translates into more profit for the hotel.

Hang Plants for Subtle Screening

For balconies overlooking a beautiful courtyard, go lighter on plants and decorations. Allow the space to be comfortable and private without obstructing the view. To enhance balconies enclosed by railings, place hanging planters or baskets along the top rail and fill them with trailing plants, such as common ivy, pelargonium, bougainvillea, morning glory or Virginia creeper. They grow quickly and provide enough privacy, while the guest continues to feel as though they’re enjoying the outdoors. Hanging planters also work well on small balconies. Install them to generate height and interest, instead of simply crowding the floor with a series of flower pots.

Grow Dwarf Trees in Large Planters

A large balcony is perfect for container gardening. However, big spaces still warrant careful planning, design know-how and lots of creativity. Instead of filling the area with small pots, make a statement worthy of the space by planting dwarf trees in large containers. Dragon, palm, citrus, Japanese Maple and Laurel trees are not only aromatic and attractive, they also grow well in planters. Trees can do double duty by providing a relaxing and low-maintenance privacy screen for your guests as well.

Adding pops of fauna can energize an otherwise bare hotel balcony. You’re doing your guests — and your business — a favor by making their stay more comfortable and unique, with a place to unwind on a warm, sunny day, away from worries at home.

At PolyMade™ we create lightweight, high-performance planters designed to keep their integrity in different climates and environments. Browse the rest of our gallery for additional inspiration, and get in touch with us for more details on how we can elevate your space.