Most of us have seen green walls adorning external spaces, but what about green walls within the home, such as in the living room or foyer? The idea is catching on here, and not simply because green walls are a pleasant visual feature. “Green wall systems can help homeowners maximise their vertical space, while freeing up horizontal space for other uses,” says Veera Sekaran, founder and managing director of urban greenery company Greenology. “A small green wall of 1m by 2m can hold up to 60 plants – a number nigh impossible to have on the floor of a regular-sized balcony.” Over the next few pages, we take a look at how green walls can be incorporated into the various spaces of your home.
A green wall can also help improve the quality of indoor air. Veera, who is trained in botany, says: “plants attract dust particles through their stomata, and particular species break down toxins such as ammonia and formaldehyde – chemicals found in many household cleaning products.”
(Design: David Brenner / Installation: Habitat Horticulture / Photo: Garry BeLinsky)
Unlike its name, green walls don’t just come in that colour. you can inject vibrant pops of yellow, orange and red into your green wall with autumn ferns, begonias and gesneriads.
If your balcony receives long hours of strong sunlight, installing a green wall can help to bring down ambient temperatures and cool the home.
Love the idea of outdoor dining but don’t have a patio or balcony? Create an alfresco atmosphere by adding a green wall next to the dining area.