BLOG: Bringing Nature Indoors: The Rise of Decorative Plant Walls in Modern Design

In the heart of sterile looking concrete, and fluorescent lit jungles across the globe, a verdant revolution is taking root. Decorative, preserved plant walls are transforming bland spaces into breathtaking green sanctuaries, merging the great outdoors with indoor comfort and bringing a slice of nature into commercial spaces, workplaces, healthcare institutions and hospitality environments helping occupants psychologically, behaviorally and neurologically.

The allure of decorative plant walls in contemporary interiors

The mesmerizing appeal of decorative preserved plant walls lies not just in their aesthetic beauty but in their ability to transform spaces both visually and atmospherically. These verdant installations serve as (non)living art pieces, bringing a dynamic aspect to modern design that static decorations cannot. They breathe life into minimalist and industrial designs, breaking the monotony of sharp lines and cold surfaces with their lush, vibrant greenery.

Incorporating this preserved greenery in the shape of moss walls, or preserved gardens, or planter inserts into living spaces also subtly blurs the boundaries between the indoors and the natural world outside. As architects and interior designers seek innovative ways to integrate nature into urban environments, plant walls have emerged as a popular and effective solution. By fostering a closer connection to nature, they enhance the well-being of inhabitants, creating serene and inviting spaces that appeal to our inherent biophilic tendencies. Especially when these gardens are furnished by experienced, transparent supplier with 3rd party tests (like Garden on the Wall), they ensure the Material Health and Occupant Health of the designed space is satisfied.

How decorative preserved plant walls are revolutionizing modern design

Decorative preserved plant walls are revolutionizing modern design by offering a multifunctional approach to integrating greenery in urban settings. Beyond their ornamental purpose, these non-living (thus no maintenance) walls serve as natural installations and thermal insulators. They contribute to sustainable building practices by enhancing energy efficiency, reducing reliance on artificial cooling systems, and improving the overall air quality by not adding any VOC or cleaning chemicals to the environment.

Urban spaces, often characterized by their limited access to natural landscapes, are being reimagined with vertical gardens that offer a touch of the wilderness in densely populated areas. They represent a bold statement in the fight against the urban heat island effect, mitigating rising temperatures in cities through the natural cooling properties of plants. This innovative merging of functionality and design is pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in modern architecture and interior design.

Furthermore, the implementation of decorative preserved plant walls in corporate environments has seen a positive impact on employee productivity and mental health. Offices adorned with green walls have reported increased creativity, reduced stress levels, and improved air quality, underscoring the importance of nature in creating healthier workspaces.

The benefits of incorporating living greenery into living spaces & challenges of living greenery

The benefits of incorporating greenery into living spaces are manifold and known for ages. Physiologically, plants help purify the air, reducing levels of certain pollutants and airborne dust. They are capable of converting CO2 into oxygen, thereby improving indoor air quality and promoting better respiratory health.

However, living plants, and green walls require significant amount of energy (for watering, and growing lights) and resources (water and electricity), as they also contribute to carbon footprint since a gardener has to trim and prune these plants and walls every week or at least every two weeks, generally driving to location over 30 miles each time. With watering comes the increased humidity to environment, which needs to be compensated with added effort by AC systems to reduce the humidity. Grow Lights, which also include certain amount of UV, has a potential to leach to the environment, with potential damage to occupants. Furthermore, with the irrigation, collection and insulation systems being prone to failing, there are so many drawbacks of the living plants, and greenery.

The technological developments and the improved systems crafted to preserve moss, greenery and foliage gave the designers a wonderful solution: Using Natural Plants, with no maintenance issues, and more sustainable alternative to living plants and living wall gardens.

Psychologically, being surrounded by plants has been proven to lower stress, enhance mood, and increase focus. This connection with nature can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, fostering a sense of peace and well-being. Decorative preserved plant walls offer a unique opportunity to harness these benefits, creating environments that are not only beautiful but also conduits for health and happiness without the need of maintenance, or waste of resources.

Aesthetically, plant walls add texture, color, and life to spaces that might otherwise appear sterile or impersonal. They can serve as focal points or subtly complement the surrounding design elements. For businesses, these green installations can reinforce brand identity by embodying values of sustainability and ecological awareness.

How to create your own decorative preserved plant wall

Creating your own decorative plant wall might seem daunting, but it can be a rewarding DIY project. Start by checking local suppliers that you can buy preserved moss and preserved plants. The DIY Art locations offer variety of the ready to hang frames, that you can easily apply moss and plant species using glue gun to your liking per a certain design that would please you.

However, these preserved moss and preserved plant applications that are crafted with glue gun generally offers an old world antique look where the moss and plant species do not look as verdant as they should in nature, which is partly due to the high heat the glue gun releases, and directly affects the moss and plant vibrancy.

Although there are slew of preserved garden and moss wall providers in the market – which you can easily find them at Instagram by checking #mosswalls – use the glue gun to fabricate these gardens, all these gardens look like patchy applications of moss that you can easily figure each moss sheet from another, and even each panel from another due to the seams are not addressed.

The best way to go about for having a decorative preserved plant wall garden is to connect with a supplier with a proven track record for their thousand plus installations (like Garden on the Wall) which craft their gardens not with glue gun but special adhesive, as they “weave” their moss sheets to each other, creating a carpet-like canvas to build upon their gardens. A 5 minute website checking of the installed preserved plant wall pictures would help designers understand the visual quality they should expect from these gardens.

Cultivating Wellness and Beauty

As we close the leaf on this discourse, it’s clear that decorative preserved plant walls are far more than just a trend; they are a lifestyle shift towards embracing more sustainable, healthful, and harmonious living environments. Whether for aesthetic appeal, mood boosting characteristics, or mental wellness, these verdant installations are redefining modern design philosophies, encouraging us to rethink our spaces and how we interact with nature on a daily basis.