A living wall, or vertical garden, is a collection of wall-mounted plants- anything from herbs to flowers. Vertical wall gardens are one of the latest trends in contemporary interior design and are the perfect way to not only bring the outdoors inside but improve your quality of life in many ways!
Living walls are great for the air quality thanks to the plants that adorn them. According to NASA, plants filter toxins and improve air quality. Besides turning carbon dioxide into oxygen, live plants also absorb harmful VOCs, formaldehyde and benzene, which are off-gassed by home fragrance products, some wood products, cigarettes, and plastic. 
Health Benefits:
An indoor environment that includes plants reduces carbon dioxide levels and lowers stress levels. Plants are also aesthetically pleasing and bring the outdoors inside. A study in 2010 concluded the following points when plants were placed in space:
- Tension/Anxiety – 37% reduction
- Depression/Dejection – 58% reduction
- Anger/Hostility – 44% reduction
- Fatigue – 38% reduction
Introducing plants to an environment has also been reported to reduce minor illness by 30%. Most people value greenery and find gardening therapeutic.
Increased Focus:
It has been found that fewer mistakes are made, tasks are completed faster and, in the case of computer workers, productivity increased by between 10%-15% whilst systolic blood pressure readings lowered by one to four units. The higher level of concentration can be attributed to the plants ability to reduce excess carbon dioxide in the air.
So what’s there NOT to love about this whole concept?
Living walls not only add a healthy solution, color, and texture to a space, but also allow a room to gain a contemporary, built-in, always-modern looking element. The walls can be designed to any required shape or custom fit. This offers flexibility with the type of plants used based on location, climate, and proximity to light, affording many possibilities. Creating a wall can include a shape, a logo, electronics like a TV or projector screen, or even windows.
There are three types of systems used to create living walls. They are also organized into panel and tray systems or freestanding walls, meaning there is a wall suitable for any contemporary
design ideas you may have.
Panel systems have plants pre-grown into the panels and can be used inside or out, and in any climate.
VersaWall is a tray system, which is popular for indoor displays. Plants are pre-grown off-site and inserted into the wall, which offers a great degree of versatility that can be exploited to cover entire surfaces or designed as living art.
Freestanding walls are most commonly used indoors and are most easily changed, either by changing the location or changing the plants
With the benefits and sheer look of living walls, incorporating them into your design is a win-win! For more great interior design tips, visit our website at www.thecontemporarycurtain.com
