In our previous blog, we discussed open plan living and how room divisions could be created without the need for bricks and mortar. One of our suggestions was that of a living wall. For those who love the idea of bringing the outside in(and are not known for their lack of green fingered prowess), a ‘living wall’ brings that concept to the very heart of your home, or work environment. Plants provide an uplifting and calming effect and studies have shown that simply having a view of greenery increases productivity in the workplace, so maybe it’s time to ditch the painted walls for planted walls!
So how difficult is it to achieve? If you have a structurally sound solid wall, you can have a living wall. With the excitement surrounding this latest trend in home dividers, there are kits available making this a feasible option in home decoration. In principle, decide where you want your living wall, build the frame using treated 2 inch x 1 inch battens and mount it to the wall, attach the plastic planters to the fame working from the bottom of the frame upwards in staggered rows. Finally fill the planters with your chosen plants. Choosing the right plants is important, work out whether you want colour, scent or do you want plants you can use in the kitchen?
Plants that work well are:
Adiantum(maidenhead fern)
Galanthus(snowdrop)
Liriope muscari(lilyturf)
Pelargonium peltatum(ivy-leaved geranium)
Vina minor(lesser periwinkle)
Herbs such as Thyme, Oregano and Basil
Your living wall will need watering every 2-3 days and like any other living plant, will need to be taken care of. If you’ve chosen flowering plants, they’ll need to be deadheaded to encourage new blooms, and any annual plants will benefit from a liquid feed every couple of weeks to stay looking their best.
If you’re looking to truly bring life to your indoor space and are tired of plain walls, we’ve found some fantastic ideas to give you inspiration. Call Gary or Greg today at Lime Interiors to discuss how we can help you create your dream space.