May/June 2021

GLAMPSITES
“IF CREATIVITY ISN’T YOUR
THING, LOOK FOR LOCAL
CRAFTS PEOPLE TO DESIGN
AND CREATE FURNITURE
AND ACCESSORIES TO FIT
WITHIN YOUR SPACE AND
THEME”
investing in this year. Add small touches to
your bathroom facilities to make them feel
more welcoming, comfortable and, most
importantly, fresh!
Include well designed signage, nice
soaps, fresh paintwork and small touches
to bring the space to life and fit within the
atmosphere and feel of the rest of the site.
While public toilets may be the enemy for
some, it’s especially important this year
to change how these spaces look, feel and
work!
SUSTAINABILITY
We all know by now that we have
a commitment to be kinder to our
planet. And while it’s important for the
environment to play a role in lots of
elements within your business, there are
also really fun, creative and decor inspired
ways to incorporate it too. When we think
of sustainability, many jump to topics such
as plastic bottles, but there are other ways
to give a gentle nod to your eco-friendly
ways without spending huge amounts of
money or time.
With the trend for upcycling, reusing
and reinventing on the rise, use the
opportunity to get creative by sourcing
second hand when it comes to furniture.
With so many amazing products now
readily available on the market, an
afternoon with a decent paint brush and
some chalk paint will have you feeling
creatively fulfilled and getting the look you
want. This also adds personality to the
space as well as more character and sense
of nostalgia, a key word when it comes to
2021 interiors.
If creativity isn’t your thing, look for local
crafts people to design and create furniture
and accessories to fit within your space
and theme. Running a reclaimed furniture
making business ourselves, we have seen a
huge increase in people wanting timeless,
handcrafted and sustainable pieces; the
desire to buy less but more sustainably.
FUR BABIES
In 2020 alone, dog-friendly was the fifth
most popular search requirement when
it came to searching glamping sites in the
UK. With a rising number of people having
extended their family to a furry friend in
2020, this year is sure to see another rise
in breaks tailored to all members of the
family.
Pet products now come in a whole
range of ‘designer’ and while we aren’t
suggesting you spend your entire
decor budget on gourmet treat boxes,
it’s important to consider your guests’
pooches for extra brownie points! Consider
adding in dog treats to your welcome
hampers, addressing them in notes and
having spaces for them to sleep to match
the other decor. Small touches such as
extra poop bags, walk recommendations
or a list of dog friendly pubs makes your
guest feel confident and comfortable to
bring their dog on holiday with them. And
while not everyone is a crazy dog lady, it
will be noticed and appreciated.
LET YOUR CUSTOMERS DO THE TALKING
As well as on trend styling, it’s important
to add character and personality to your
space, to build a brand around your
offering which reflects your morals and
goals as a business. An online presence is
key for any business now and you should
be encouraging your guests to share their
experiences at your site through clever use
of design and decor.
Whether inside or out, while considering
trends, the more thought you put into the
smaller details, the more your customers
are going to do your advertising for
you, for free! Use signage and photo
opportunities to encourage social media
sharing because whether you’re for it or
not, the modern guest will want to show
off their Insta-worthy shot to the world!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Design graduate Nikkita
Palmer runs her own
design company
alongside her partner
Billy. Nikkita is an expert
in the trend of small spaces
and is passionate about
‘slow design’, reconnecting
with nature, the importance of
community, and the trend of experiences
rather than things.
Look out for Nikkita’s book Pallet Style,
which includes 20 creative projects using
recycled wooden pallets, and catch up
with her on Facebook and instagram @
nikkitapdesigns or via
www.nikkitapalmer.com
42 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM