If you’re looking for a green feature to add your indoor space and want to get beyond container plants and cut flowers, living walls and moss walls are both great options.
But each has slightly different pros, cons, and requirements. What works best for your business and what will look best in your space depends on a number of factors.
Let’s dive into living walls vs moss walls to see what is right for you.
Indoor living walls: pros, considerations, costs and more
Indoor living walls are installations with live plants arranged vertically. They can incorporate a variety of plants, creating varied textures and shades. Sometimes living walls are large feature walls with irrigation elements, or even architectural planning. But they can also be smaller pieces that can fit on almost any interior wall in an office, conference room, reception, restaurant, or other commercial space.
Pros of indoor living walls:
Plants have huge benefits for your business, including:
In addition to what the research shows, all it takes is one experience in front of a living green wall to see that it can totally transform an indoor space. Live plants are always a point of interest and can bring new energy to your room.
The custom options available for living walls means that you can ensure a living wall is a dynamic piece which adds to the design and aesthetics of your space.
Considerations of indoor living walls:
Living green walls require regular upkeep. This means watering or irrigation checks, pest control, dusting and pruning. Plants may also need to be rotated or replaced to ensure your wall looks right and stays the right size for your space.
Living walls may also take time to install, especially for larger pieces. They can be more complicated than container arrangements and may need to be custom-built for your space, meaning that having a longer lead time is preferable.
Lighting is a consideration for green walls, as plants will need it to grow. They will work best in a space with ample natural light, although direct sun may not benefit every plant. If you are working with lower lighting, you may need to consider installing artificial lights to ensure your plants will thrive.
Costs of a living green wall:
The costs of a living wall will include:
- Design and consultation
- Plants and materials
- Lighting (if needed)
- Installation and irrigation
- Ongoing maintenance
Because living walls vary so much in size and design, you will need to have a consultation with a plantscape company in order to determine what the total costs of your project might be. Larger designs may require a sufficient budget, but small pieces can be more affordable. Any reputable company will be able to provide a quote for your project, and our team is always happy to talk clients through options that will bring their vision to life within their budget.
Moss walls and moss art: pros, considerations, costs and more
Moss walls and moss wall art are installations that use moss to create a design feature. Unlike living walls, the moss is not alive. Usually it is real moss which has been carefully preserved or, in some cases, faux moss.
These are artistic pieces that can be as small as a framed painting or as big as a whole wall. They can offer a variety of color and texture variation, but tend to be very green.
Pros of moss walls and moss art:
Moss pieces require very little maintenance outside of routine inspection for physical damage or fading as the moss is preserved and doesn’t grow.
They can be lighter and easier to install than living walls, depending on the size. That said, some moss features are large or integrated into the architecture of a space and can take time to properly load in.
Moss walls and moss art can both give biophilic benefits, including:
Considerations of preserved moss art and moss walls:
Moss art and moss walls should be positioned out of direct sunlight and high traffic areas, as they are delicate. Accidental bumps and too much sun can cause damage, bleaching and breakdown of the moss.
Proper humidity can be a concern for moss walls, and they are best if not positioned in direct proximity to hot air heating or cooling systems.
Finally, moss walls are great design elements with many benefits, but they are not alive. This may be the best fit for your needs or not, but it is something that does separate moss art and living walls.
Costs of a preserved moss wall:
The costs of a moss wall or moss art will include:
- Design and consultation
- Preserved moss and materials
- Installation
Keep in mind that interiorscaping companies will be using high-quality, commercial-grade materials and that handling moss requires great skill. These are truly pieces on the border of art, design and horticulture.
Because moss walls are not one-size-fits-all, there is no single price range for this feature. Large, custom pieces may require some investment, but smaller pieces of moss art are typically a more affordable option with minimal ongoing expense.
Living walls vs moss walls: which custom feature is right for you?
If you want to bring the benefits of plants to your space, have a showstopping design feature, or refresh your space with a small botanic touch, either a moss wall or a living wall is a great choice.
So, what are the final factors that help you determine what is right for you?
Your space: What lighting (natural and artificial) and how much traffic do you have? What size is the wall you are interested in re-designing, and what are the other décor elements and colors in that room? A professional can walk you through what features of your space might make it best suited to moss or living walls.
Your aesthetic preferences: Moss walls can feel more like a piece of art, whereas a living wall will always be more plant-forward. There’s no “right” answer to which you like better!
Your desire for live plants: Some people want a living wall because they truly show what is possible with live plants. This could reflect your corporate culture and showcase your commitment to community and the environment. Others opt for a moss wall because something that’s more sculptural or unique which isn’t always possible with live plants better suits their needs.
Your plant maintenance plans: Living walls will require more maintenance, because plants grow and change. They also need routine pest control and upkeep like dusting. Moss walls and moss art takes less expertise to maintain which can make it a lower long-term investment.
How Leafscape approaches moss and living walls
If you’re a business or owner of a commercial space in Northwest or Central Arkansas wondering what will be the best solution for your commercial space, Leafscape can help.
We take a personal approach to every project, and make recommendations to you based on your space, needs and preferences.
First, we always offer a free quote. Especially as the costs of moss walls and living walls can be variable, this is a great way to get started on understanding what your options are.
Then, we have a one-on-one consultation to get to know you and your project. We bring our design and horticultural expertise into your space so we can assess in-person to help you figure out your options.
When it comes to creation and installation, we are proud to offer the highest-quality plants, installation and maintenance services available in Arkansas. We can create pieces that will look amazing for many years to come.
If you are interested in learning more about moss or living walls, contact us today.
