The plant wall décor trend is alive and thriving and for good reasons. An indoor living wall or vertical garden design is an impressive focal point for any living area and a perfect way to fill your home with plants without taking up floor or counter space.

Aside from the beautiful aesthetics of the greenery, plants produce healthful oxygen inside your home. The popularity of biophilic design has raised awareness of the human need to connect with nature. Benefits include stress reduction and increased productivity.

Did you know that plants absorb sounds? A living wall can improve the echoey acoustics of a large room with hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings. It can also reduce the sounds of neighbors and traffic. It creates a naturally pleasing green space in any room and is perfect for loft apartments in urban settings.

You may have some very practical reasons for decorating walls with plants. Perhaps you’ve been longing to expand your windowsill herb garden to include dozens of plants to add fresh flavor to your meals. You may be surprised to know that you can vertically grow vegetables, such as grape tomatoes and peppers.

Whatever your reason for exploring indoor plant wall ideas, here are a few practical steps to help you get started. 

Step One: Find the perfect place for your indoor living wall.

You need a wall that receives lots of natural light. Plan your indoor living wall adjacent to or opposite a large picture window or in a room with many windows or a skylight. A living wall of herbs will work well in a kitchen that features natural light through a garden window. Plants thrive with natural light. If you simply don’t have natural light in your home, you can supplement with light fixtures or select plants that are known to do well in low-light environments.

Step Two: Design your living wall planter, containers, or display.

There are lots of ways to design a living wall. You’ve probably seen the impressive living walls inside office buildings and hotels. It is possible to create downsized version within a specially built frame. You can even purchase elaborate hydroponic systems that include irrigation.

A simple first step into wall gardening would be to hang wall shelving to hold an assortment of containers and plants. Place the shelving with enough space in between to allow for the growth of the plants and trailing vines. Be sure to find a practical watering container with a long spout that can reach your plants without spilling or dripping. And don’t forget to place something to collect water under your plants. You don’t want to create a muddy mess indoors.

You’ve probably seen the popular ladder-style shelving that leans against a wall. This would be a perfect one-step approach to creating an instant plant wall. Although it requires some use of floor space, each step of the ladder can accommodate different size containers and plants, and everything is easily reached for watering.

A basic pegboard is another versatile surface for creating a living wall. Paint the board any color you choose, hang it, and use brackets to hold individual pots or lightweight plastic containers.

Whether you create your living wall within a frame, use a felt wall hanging piece with pockets for planting, or hang shelves or wall baskets, consider your wall garden to be a work of art. Place plants in an arrangement that gives each kind of plant a chance to be seen and grow.

Step Three: Select your living wall plants.

As you consider plants to feature in your living wall, remember that they need to have similar water, light, and temperature requirements. Spider plants, ivy, and ferns are good choices. Try to arrange colors and textures that add interest to the overall design.

A wall display of indoor succulent plants is a practical and beautiful choice. Succulents only need to be watered once a month and thrive near a southern-facing window. You can make a succulent wall display from a picture frame. Succulents are easy to grow from cuttings and come in so many colors and shapes that are easily combined to make a unique work of art.

If you simply have a brown thumb and every plant at the nursery shivers with fear as you come near, you may want to consider a moss wall display. This is made with preserved moss that has a lush texture and green colors but requires no watering, light, or maintenance. Air plants that require no soil are another option. They can be arranged on a wall and removed periodically for soaking.

Step Four: Maintain your living wall.

As with any garden or houseplant, you need to invest a proper amount of tender loving care to keep it healthy and beautiful. Take time to be sure every plant or section is receiving the correct amount of water and light. You can supplement natural light with ceiling-hung grow lights.

Trim growth as needed, and don’t forget that many cuttings can be easily propagated to create more plants. Keep an eagle eye out for plant pests such as scale, mealybugs, and spider mites. These can be combated with organic insecticidal soap sprays found at your local nursery or hardware store.

Plants aren’t cheap, so your investment in weekly maintenance will pay off in more than the enjoyment of your indoor wall beauty. Now and then, you may have to say goodbye to a goner. But it’s fun to consider the possibilities when it’s time to explore a new addition to your living wall.

Window World has been the expert in exterior home remodeling for more than 25 years. We know a lot about the benefits of bringing natural light into the home for plants and people. From garden windows and patio doors to basement hopper windows, we’ve been letting the sunshine into homes across the nation. Your friends at your local Window World store will be happy to discuss any remodeling ideas with a free consultation and quote.