The Impact of Living Walls on Indoor Air Quality

Living walls make a wonderful addition to your space. Adding colour and detail, they are the ideal way to bring life to your office, make a reception area more welcoming or add some styling to your business. As a creative way to bring the outside in, living walls make the perfect addition to your space. But did you know they can impact your health too? 

Learn more about the impact of living walls on indoor air quality and how you can use them to boost your business. 

 

What is a living wall? 

Living walls, also known as green walls, are vertical structures containing plants and flowers. They are ideal for areas with little floor space and can be an excellent way to add some detail to an otherwise unused area.  

Made with natural materials, they can have several benefits for different spaces including: 

• Helping to reduce stress 
• Reduce the temperatures in buildings 
• Increase productivity and creativity  
• Adds a sustainable, natural element to interiors 

With an aesthetic appeal as well as various benefits, living walls are becoming an increasingly popular sight for businesses, creating modern, relaxing, and productive environments. 

 

Types of living walls 

There are different types of living walls, allowing businesses to choose solutions that are best suited to their needs and available space. Moss walls are a popular type of indoor living wall, providing a simple solution that is easy to maintain, while also providing an attractive feature for spaces. 

Some living walls may solely feature greenery, incorporating leafy green plants and shrubs, while others contain floral arrangements that can be used to brighten up a space while creating a stylish feature wall. 

In addition to indoor living walls, there are also outdoor living walls that are suitable for a range of spaces and can make a dramatic impact, while also promoting environmental benefits. 

 

How does a living wall impact indoor air quality? 

One of the biggest benefits of a living wall is its impact on air quality. Working as natural air purifiers, they can help improve the quality of the air we breathe. This is due to several factors: 

Air purification 

Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide, converting it into oxygen which can help circulate fresh air into spaces. This process can also help to filter out various chemicals that are present in indoor air that can come from furnishings, building materials as well as outside pollutants. 

Reduction of airborne pollutants 

Due to their surface area, plants can help capture dust particles as well as other airborne pollutants, helping to improve air quality and even helping those who suffer from dust allergies. They can also absorb toxins and break them down to help reduce the number of toxins in the indoor environment. 

Humidity and moisture control 

Office environments can be dry, especially if there is a lot of air conditioning and heating. However, living walls are an effective way of helping to release some moisture in the air through a process called transpiration. This can make a space more pleasant to work in and alleviate some of the issues caused by dry air such as headaches, sinus issues and dry skin. 

 

What does the research say about living walls?  

There have been several studies examining the benefits of plants on air quality.  A 1989 study by NASA, showed that plants and their associated soil microorganisms could be used to reduce indoor pollution levels, with research being applied to environments such as schools, with positive results.  

More recently, there have been studies on the role of indoor plants in purifying air in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Indoor living walls for your space 

Indoor living walls provide businesses and organisations with an incredible opportunity to transform their space and improve air quality at the same time. They’re a way of bringing nature in and can be incorporated into your space in a number of beautiful and creative ways. 

The good news is that it’s easy to install an indoor living wall in your space. phs Greenleaf can help you design and install a living wall that is unique to your location and is easy to maintain. Our horticultural experts can help advise on the plants and flowers that will be the most suitable for your needs and provide the installation too. We can also provide maintenance services to help ensure your living wall always makes the right impression.  

No matter the size of your space, we can help bring it to life with a living wall. 

 

Create a beautiful living wall for your workplace and improve air quality with phs Greenleaf 

If you want to experience the benefits of green walls for your space, take a closer look at our interior living walls. Providing services across the UK, we’re a leading choice for all your plant design and maintenance needs. Contact us today for more information. 

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