Too often city planners, homeowners’ associations and even neighboring businesses complain about the location, size, color, traffic, landscaping, customers—you name it—of a self-storage facility. So it’s nice to see a self-storage facility praised for its beauty. EastBayRI.com recently published an article highlighting one facility’s rave reviews.

The East Providence Beautification Commission in Rhode Island awarded an annual Beautiful Landscape Award to Space Station Self Storage. The award, which has been bestowed since 1967, is given to businesses that add to the “aesthetic and environmental beauty” of the city, according to Beautification Commission Chairman Joe Gibson. Space Station Self Storage’s co-recipients included an accountant, dog groomer and a medical imaging company.

As you can see from the picture in the article, Space Station Self Storage does, indeed, have an inviting, verdant landscaping. The picture also shows just how important curb appeal can be, especially in today’s tight economic environment. Most people will drive by a self-storage facility dozens of times and may never even take notice—until they need storage. Then, suddenly, self-storage facilities are everywhere.

To make sure they turn into your parking lot instead of the competitor down the street, take a cue from Space Station Self Storage and beautify your landscaping. Here are a couple of articles from the ISS archives on keeping up curb appeal, including one about a 25-year-old facility that underwent major restoration.

To share your pretty facility pictures, e-mail [email protected]  or post a comment about how you keep up appearances.