Living walls, also commonly known as green walls or vertical gardens, are a great way to upgrade the looks of your home or office. They are famous for their benefits, not only for aesthetics, but also contribute to our health and overall well-being. Living walls can help with indoor air quality, and boost energy and productivity. As we continue losing our green spaces in big cities, many chose to install green walls. 

You should consider improving the looks of your office, in case it has dull grey or white walls and furniture, for example. Adding a green wall to your office would give a more inspirational feel and would make it more aesthetically pleasing. 

Now, let’s have a look at the top 5 benefits of living walls.

Living Walls Improve Air Quality

We all recognize the impact that air pollutants have on our organs- they damage our hearts, brains, and our lungs. The sad truth is that we’ve got to the point where we are constantly inhaling polluted air. According to the World Health Organisation, polluted air is the reason behind seven billion people’s death annually. It’s also stated that nowadays nine out of ten people inhale polluted air. It’s shocking how easy we can expose ourselves to contaminated air. You open your window, thinking you’re letting fresh air in. Well, in case you live in a big city, this is most likely false. Just by opening our windows, we are allowing in air, that exhaust emissions have polluted. Even at home, different chemicals in cleaning products, burning food whilst cooking, and different gas appliances, all pollute the air. All this being said, contaminated air is one of the biggest health risks of our generation. Installing green walls can be a tremendous step towards fighting the issue, as plants are famous for their natural air purification abilities. 

Well-being and Health Benefits

Surely you have noticed that different surroundings affect your mood. In the office, for example, certain factors can sometimes affect your productivity. The biophilia hypothesis was first introduced in the early 80s of the last decade by Edward Wilson. Wilson suggests that people seek some sort of connection with nature at all times. Statistics from a study, conducted by the Washington State University, show that productivity levels significantly increase by 12% among people that work in a greener space. The findings also show that connecting with nature boosts not just productivity, but also overall well-being, physical health, creativity and morale, and reduces stress.

With low stress levels comes low blood pressure. Green walls not only help with our mood and motivation but contribute to our health by increasing the amount of oxygen in the air. A Norwegian study suggests that participants, with no connection to nature, are more likely to experience symptoms, such as dry skin, coughs, and fatigue when compared to those working in greener environments. 

Style and Green Credentials 

Living walls are pretty. Who doesn’t like pretty? Beauty makes people feel happy. 

This being said, green walls are a brilliant marketing tool. Hence why so many high-end venues, hotels, restaurants, bars and designer stores install living walls to improve the interior and to contrast from their competitors. A vertical garden makes spaces stand out. Businesses often use the trend to present themselves as more sustainable and eco-friendly. This then helps them with their green brand image. For example, it’s a common practice among car dealerships to install living walls just before introducing electric cars. This then is extremely appealing to a huge target audience- green consumers. Green walls are also believed to be able to increase the value of a property by 20%.

Green Walls Reduce Temperature and Noise 

As already mentioned, living walls are not just an interior addition. Another benefit is that they reduce the temperature and noise levels of closed spaces by absorbing and reflecting acoustic energy. Based on this, many opt for this approach across the world when building motorways that are crossing residential areas. 

A study, conducted by the University of Sheffield, shows that the temperature of a brick wall on a hot day can reach 40 degrees, whilst a living wall can significantly decrease the temperature by 20 degrees. This is based on the fact that green walls keep temperatures cooler with shade. This then reflects the inside temperature, which can lead to a decrease in using electricity and offers a more ambient work and living environment. 

Urban Farming 

Research shows that since March 2020, eight bee species have joined the endangered list, seven of which live on the Hawaiian Islands. Losing the main pollinator for such a big island, known for having a unique and endangered scenery, is a big deal. Outdoor living walls are crucial for supporting biodiversity, especially in big cities, where living beings already struggle to find natural habitats. Building living walls with the purpose to help pollinators is, without a doubt, beneficial. It’s important to research and choose plants wisely, in order to attract a wide range of birds, bees, and other animals, important to our ecosystem. By doing so, you will provide a continuous source of pollen and nectar for our tiny friends, shelter for many, whilst having a beautiful outdoor vertical garden at the same time. Another way to do so is by creating traditional gardens or green roofs when space is limited. 

Conclusion 

Now you know the importance of having living walls at home or the workplace. It’s not just another design trend. Vertical gardens are a brilliant addition to urban environments, and can significantly contribute to your well-being and health, and is slowly making a mark in big cities. Whilst protecting us, living walls also support the big mission of saving our planet from further damage. Join the fight against climate change and global warming by simply installing a green wall. 

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