We keep hearing how indoor plants can do wonders for the mood and air quality, but there’s one catch with this notion: not everyone has green thumbs.
The good news is that a living moss wall can give you similar benefits with less hassle.
What are moss walls all about, and how can you make the most out of them? That’s what I set out to find!
5 Must-Know Facts About Living Moss Walls
A live moss wall is usually a framed panel with multiple varieties of moss with ferns, thistles, or driftwood for accents.
But there’s more to these green art pieces than just that. Let’s jump right with some shocking facts about the benefits of living walls!
1. They’re Decent Air Purifiers
A living wall can help improve the air quality in your home, and not only because it releases oxygen and takes in carbon dioxide.
Moss also absorbs particulate matter from the air—so much so that people are considering altering the typical concrete formula to something that plants can stick as an attempt to make cities more climate adaptive!
Others figured out that they can use moss filters outdoors to curb pollution levels.
The same concepts apply to the live wall art panels that you can get for your home but on a smaller scale.
2. They Have Some Sound-Proofing Properties
Recent studies show that green walls, in general, can improve indoor acoustics. They work for absorbing and insulating both high and low frequencies.
While a couple of moss panels might be not as efficient as a professional-grade sound-proofing foam set, they’re still worth a shot!
3. They Don’t Stink
Some people worry that a living wall will eventually get moldy and stink. However, if you follow the brand’s recommended care instructions, that shouldn’t be an issue.
On the contrary, you might get a nice whiff of a grassy aroma when you first unpack the panel. The scent will most likely fade after a while, though.
4. They’re Highly Customizable as Art Pieces
It’s not unheard of for a brand that creates and sells moss wall panels to market its products as art pieces. That makes a ton of sense when you consider the amount of time and effort that goes into planning the piece’s visual balance.
For instance, sheet mosses are used as a flat backdrop, while mood and pole moss can keep the textural interesting with raised clumps here and there. This gives the panel a 3D pop that sets it apart from traditional framed pictures.
Some creators use lichen to add a soft touch to the final piece, too!
5. They’re Mood Boosters
There’s something about the look and feel of greenery that boosts our mood and performance. That explains why biophilic (nature-themed) design is on the rise now!
Although biophilic walls could be as simple as leaf-print wallpaper, you can always take it to the next level with the real deal: live or preserved moss walls.
Living vs. Preserved Moss Walls: 3 Key Differences
So, live moss has a ton of benefits, but there’s one catch: most commercially sold walls aren’t truly alive and actively growing. Instead, they’re just preserved.
That’s not always a bad thing, though. Let’s take a closer look at what that means for you.
1. Preparation Technique
When companies “preserve” moss, they typically use glycerol to replace the moisture inside the plant. Sometimes, they even opt for dyes to keep the colors vibrant.
Overall, most people won’t be able to tell the difference between live and preserved panels at first glance. That’s more than I can say about the artificial moss walls, which look (and feel) fake.
Just keep in mind that preserved moss isn’t the same as dried one. The latter decays.
2. Installation and Care
Living walls need sunlight exposure (although not direct), watering, and even fertilizing in some cases. Some trimming could come in handy, too, since the plant is actively growing.
The preserved alternative, on the other hand, is nearly maintenance-free. You might need to dust it now and then, but that’s it. In most cases, they won’t even attract a ton of bugs.
Interestingly, being low-maintenance adds bonus points to the preserved walls in terms of cost and ease of installation.
For one, it cuts the need for a complex irrigation system. Plus, you won’t have to worry about how much the watering will weigh down the panel and tug at the hook holding the frame up.
3. Lifespan and Durability
If you opt for a living moss wall, you might have to get it replaced in a few months. However, some preserved alternatives can last for more than a year.
It’s also important to note that live panels are susceptible to changes in the growing conditions. So, you could end up with dried or faded spots if you expose it to extremely cold drafts or leave it in direct sunlight.
5 Nifty Ideas for Moss Wall Art
Image source: Google
Moss wall art doesn’t have to be bland—not when there are tons of creative twists to try.
Here are five of my favorite ways to use living or preserved panels.
1. Bathroom Living Moss Wall
Putting a live wall in your bathroom hits two birds with one stone.
This way, you’ll add decorative value to the bathroom all while your moss gets a nice dose of moisture every time you hop in for a steamy shower!
2. Customized Signs
If the random distribution of moss isn’t your cup of tea, opt for something a bit more intentional.
You can get a lettered version rather than a normal rectangular frame. The letters can spell out a brand name if you want to use the panel in a commercial space or your initials if you’ll hang it at home.
It’s even possible to “embed” logos into the moss if you play around with colored varieties for accents. This opens the door to customized fan-art panels with band logos!
3. Outdoor Living Walls for Vertical Gardens
Many brands use cold-hardy moss varieties, which means that they’ll fit like a glove in an outdoor vertical garden. This could be a good idea if you want to cover up a not-so-great view in your backyard.
Just make sure you double-check the sunlight exposure limits before buying the panel.
4. Moss Bed Headboard
To move the air purification, acoustic, and aesthetic benefits to your bedroom, you might want to use the moss wall art as a headboard for your bed. You can get one panel as wide as your bed or hang a set of three separate square panels.
Either way, preserved moss is usually the way to go here since the watering logistics can be a bit tricky in this situation.
5. Shelves With Built-In Moss Panels
Maybe you find a full green wall overwhelming, and that’s okay. You can keep things minimal by incorporating the moss into other wall decorations. This works particularly well with geometric patterns!
Some manufacturers make built-in models, but it’s also possible to customize an existing setup yourself. For instance, if you have honeycomb wooden shelves, try getting small panels fit-to-size and installed inside some of the hive units on the wall.
2 Ways to Get a Moss Wall
Does the idea of a moss wall art sound like a good fit for your home? If so, you might be wondering where to go from here.
Well, there are two common options: store-bought panels and DIY projects.
1. Order a Ready-Made Wall
The hassle-free option here is to order a panel from horticultural design companies. One key factor to remember is that most of the brands out there sell preserved moss walls, not truly living ones.
If you decide to go this way, I’d recommend asking the manufacturer about the panel’s expected lifespan and ideal care routine.
2. DIY a Moss Panel
If you have some time on your hands, you can DIY the whole thing from scratch. It can be either living or preserved, depending on your preference.
All you need is some mood and fern sheet moss, a frame, a corkboard, plant-safe glue, box cutters, and a colored pencil. Using hardscaping elements (twigs, pebbles, etc.) is optional.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Get some moss from your local plant shop. (Preserved is fine, too.)
- Sketch the layout on a corkboard fit to size for your frame.
- Fix down the moss and glue any hardscaping elements needed.
- Tack the board to the frame and hang it somewhere with indirect sunlight.
- Mist the panel every few days. (Living panels only!)
Final Thoughts
If you pick the right plant variety and layout, a living moss wall can be quite an eye-catching art piece that doubles as a booster for air quality and room acoustics.
However, if you’d rather not waste time and effort on plant maintenance, preserved moss panels are the way to go. Odds are, no one will even be able to tell that it’s not alive!
Featured image source: Google
