The writing’s on the wall, they say. Now the plants are, too. In recent years, green walls, also known as living walls or vertical gardens, have become more popular, especially in cities. They are everywhere, from front yards to corporate offices to art museums. It’s never been easier to learn how to create a living landscape wall for your home.
What is a green wall? How does it work? Could you use one in your home or yard? Why would you want to? We’ll talk about everything you could want to know about green walls, which are all the rage right now because they are eco-friendly. Table of Contents:
Greenery walls have become a staple backdrop at parties, weddings and other events. The organic look and versatility of these plant-based backdrops make them an ideal way to add some beautiful nature to your decor. If you’re looking to incorporate a greenery wall into your next special occasion, this comprehensive DIY guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
Greenery Wall Inspiration
Before diving into the nitty gritty of assembling your own greenery wall it helps to get inspired by the many gorgeous ways they can be incorporated into events
- As the backdrop for a ceremony or reception
- Behind a sweetheart table or head table
- Lining a ballroom or reception space
- Framing a dance floor
- Backing a stage or photo booth
- Alongside signage and decor
A lush green foliage wall makes floral arrangements and other decor pop while creating a romantic, woodsy vibe. Your guests are sure to be wowed when they walk into your event and are immersed in botanical beauty.
How to Choose Greenery Pieces
Greenery walls start with individual pieces of faux foliage that you join together. There are a few considerations when selecting greenery:
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Shape and size Rectangular panels in 12×12 20×20 or larger sizes are common. You can also find freeform leafy garlands.
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Foliage type: Classic boxwood is most popular, but options like eucalyptus and palms add variety.
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Color: Shades of green, but some pieces incorporate flowers or berries.
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Density and fullness: Pieces with more leaves and fuller branches have greater visual impact.
Browse options to find pieces in styles, sizes, and colors to suit your vision and budget. Purchase more than you think you’ll need to cover your wall or space fully.
How Much Greenery Do You Need?
Measure the area you want to cover so you can calculate how many greenery pieces to purchase. Consider the size of each panel and how they’ll fit together. Leave room for embellishments like flowers or vines that can adorn the finished wall.
For most medium to large backdrops, you’ll need:
- 10-20 panels for a small wall or feature
- 25-40 panels for a medium wall
- 50+ panels for a full wall or ballroom backdrop
Having extra pieces allows you to fill gaps, replace any damaged sections, or make a larger statement.
Assembly and Installation Tips
Putting all your greenery pieces together into a seamless backdrop may seem daunting, but these tips make it easy:
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Lay panels on the floor first to visualize layout and connection points.
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Use cable ties, zip ties, or floral wire to attach pieces. This keeps the wall sturdy.
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Hang assembled sections on hooks, command strips, or fishing line attached to a wall or frame. Rent a backdrop stand if needed.
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Weave in vines, leaves or flowers to hide joints and add dimension. Incorporate lighting as desired.
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Add moss or other fillers to cover the base of the wall and make it look fuller.
With proper assembly, your greenery wall will hold together and make a huge visual impact at your event!
Designing Your Greenery Wall Backdrop
When planning your backdrop, consider these design elements:
Shape and Size
Customize the shape and scale to your space. Try a sweeping c-shape or full wall for a ceremony or head table. Do sections along a room or perimeter. Get creative!
Color and Texture
Mix greenery hues and types for depth. Incorporate botanicals like vines, branches, and florals. Add berries or blooms for pops of color.
Focal Points
Highlight the wall with a sign, chandelier, archway, or other focal feature. This gives guests a natural spot for photos.
Lighting
Strategically placed up-lighting or string lights enhance the ambiance. You can also weave fairy lights right into the greenery.
Take the time to design your perfect backdrop and it will have a truly wow-worthy impact at your event.
Alternative Greenery Backdrop Ideas
If assembling a full greenery wall seems too complex or pricey, consider these shortcuts:
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Hang greenery garlands or swags on their own or interspersed with flowers and lighting.
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Line up potted plants like boxwood topiaries or small trees.
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Create a faux hedge with greenery-wrapped foam columns.
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Use vases of branches, leaves, and florals on shelves against a wall.
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Hang wreaths at varying heights and fill in between with loose greenery.
Lush garlands, potted plants, or creative alternatives use less greenery while still delivering a gorgeous botanical backdrop!
Setting the Scene with Greenery Walls
The right greenery wall complements your event beautifully:
Weddings
Greenery adds organic romance to wedding celebrations. Use it to frame the sweetheart table or ceremony space.
Parties
Birthdays, showers, and gatherings get a fun nature-inspired backdrop. Incorporate into photo stations.
Corporate Events
Foliage backdrops give company parties, picnics, and meetings an upscale yet approachable vibe.
Photo Shoots
Models stand out against lush green. Use removable greenery to create editorial scenes.
There are so many ways to utilize these versatile plant walls for unforgettable events!
Maintaining Your Greenery Wall
With proper care, a greenery wall can be reused repeatedly:
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Gently brush leaves clean after use. Avoid excess moisture.
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Carefully pack panels to avoid crushing or tangling pieces.
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Store flat in a clean, dry area away from pests, heat, or humidity.
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Refill gaps or replace damaged sections as needed before reusing.
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Consider offering greenery wall rental services to maximize value.
Proper maintenance keeps your foliage looking fresh so your greenery backdrop is ready to impress again and again!
Bring the Outdoors In with Greenery Walls
Creating a stunning greenery wall is easier than you think and adds incredible visual impact to any event. With the right foliage pieces, thoughtful design, careful assembly, and ongoing care, you can immerse guests in organic botanical beauty. So go ahead and bring the vibrant colors and textures of nature indoors with a show-stopping greenery wall as your next event’s focal point!
Benefits of Green Walls
People don’t just like living walls because they look pretty. They can also make a building more energy-efficient and have positive impacts on people’s health and well-being.
These are a few of the benefits of having a green wall in a home or commercial space:
- Outside: A green wall outside of a building or home adds extra insulation. So it needs less power to keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In cities, outdoor living walls also make the air better and lessen the effects of heat islands.
- Interior: A living wall inside a building or home brings fresh, oxygen-rich air inside. They also filter out indoor air pollutants like VOCs.
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are natural chemicals that people make, like paints, cleaners, pesticides, and building materials. They can have negative short-term or long-term effects on health. VOC levels are up to 10 times higher for indoor air than outdoor.
- Just like a privacy hedge, indoor and outdoor green walls can block out too much noise and make a space less noisy.
- Green walls are also nice to look at, just like any other garden. A vertical garden can easily bring life to any room or space if the plants are chosen well.
If plants aren’t your thing and low-maintenance is, a moss wall might be more up your alley. Like regular green walls, moss walls are vertical living garden structures that use moss rather than traditional plants.
Many of these walls use preserved moss and folia (preserved plants). Moss walls:
- Require no sunlight and need very minimal maintenance
- Have a long life span
- Like green walls, block out excessive noise
How to Make a Green Wall for Your Home or Landscape
DIY green wall construction can get a little complicated, and it involves power tools. Perhaps you should hire a professional landscaper to build your green garden wall if you aren’t very good at building things.
If you’re good at DIY and want to make your own green wall, watch this Home Depot video that shows you how to do it step by step:
Portable Boxwood Wall Backdrop
Can you use a DIY faux greenery wall?
You can use a DIY faux greenery wall to create an indoor oasis that can provide a sense of relaxation to an otherwise stressful environment. Faux greenery wall decor isn’t just for the indoors! A DIY fake plant wall makes a statement as it greets your guests when installed next to your front door or on a covered porch.
How do you make a greenery flower wall?
To take your greenery walls up a notch, here’s how to make a greenery flower wall: 1. Use faux flowers for the design. 2. Trim the stems to about two to three inches in length. 3. Stick them into the boxwood, moss, or grass wall. 4. Staple the stems to secure them.
How do you add greenery to a fake plant wall?
An artificial plant mat is a quick and easy way to add greenery to your DIY fake plant wall. Once the faux living wall is completely covered, add your silk flowers and other decor using floral pins and your hot glue gun. 6. Make Sure Your DIY Faux Greenery Wall Is Secure
What can I put on a greenery wall?
Succulents: These trendy greenery options give a backdrop wall unique texture. Succulents come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and shades of green to add a modern touch to greenery walls. You can arrange faux succulents as you would flowers in a greenery wall.