When elevating a commercial interior, botanical elements are an excellent way to introduce warmth, texture, and visual interest. Whether used as a focal point or subtle accent, greenery brings a polished, finished look to a space. Fortunately, achieving this aesthetic doesn't always require live plants.
Moss art and moss walls are an overlooked option for commercial décor that more businesses here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area could use. Because they are made of perfectly preserved moss, they are low-maintenance and long-lasting, providing an economical option without sacrificing style.
As experts in commercial indoor plant designs including moss walls, here are some ideas about how and why to elevate your space with moss.
Moss Walls and Moss Art: A Beautiful, Functional Upgrade to Your Commercial Space
Moss walls are often large-scale plant installations that are designed to integrate seamlessly into the existing architecture of a space. They are statement pieces that pack a visual punch. Moss art is a smaller, more flexible application of moss that can be hung or installed across just part of a wall.
Both options add dimension, texture and character to your space, but not every design with moss is created equal. Here’s how we use them in different commercial places as plant designers.
Retail
Moss art is a great addition to retail spaces when strategically placed. We love putting moss underneath shelves to emphasize display merchandise and draw people’s eyes up and across a room. Moss art can also be a great addition to waiting areas, including any seating, dressing rooms, or behind registers.
One reason we recommend moss in retail spaces is it can shift the mood and experience of shoppers. Moss can add a sense of calm and relaxation to your space, which can increase shoppers’ willingness to spend. And projecting an image of a well-designed, thoughtful and upscale retail space may also influence how customers perceive your goods.
Offices
While we have designed many office spaces with a variety of plant installations, including office plants, executive and conference room arrangements, container designs and more, moss art is a great choice here.
Because preserved moss needs no sun, it can be an easy addition to interior corridors or conference rooms with little natural light. These spaces often benefit the most from extra greenery. Moss’s texture and material absorbs noise so this has the double benefit of making a space quieter.
In addition, moss installations add a sense of gravitas to your office, or bring out the fun ethos of your company. Because we create custom pieces, we can reflect your corporate values through our designs.
Reception
If you are a property manager or otherwise responsible for the reception space, larger moss walls give a stunning first impression in a lobby. They are perfectly suited to withstand changes in temperature and humidity that may affect living plants, and are a focal point that’s something different from a standard abstract painting.
Bringing in natural materials can provide contrast to sleek modern receptions, or perfectly complement buildings already outfitted with woods and natural materials. Whatever your style, they add a sense of warmth and welcome, and a little bit of awe, when done as a custom piece.
Hotels
From stunning pieces in quiet alcoves, moody greens that provide drama to a lobby, or a feature wall in a grand staircase, moss wall décor is a fresh twist on art for hotels.
Because moss absorbs sound, using moss art can help create a luxurious quiet, and playing with scale, texture and proportion can bring an upscale feel to any space. By completing the interior décor of your hotel with moss as a botanical touch, you may be increasing your guests' positive experience there, and could influence willingness to recommend and return to your hotel.
But only if executed correctly.
“Simply putting a potted plant or a simple patch of moss on the wall is not enough to provide the lifting experience that many are seeking from this [biophilic] design philosophy,” said Larry Traxler, senior vice president for Hilton Global Design.
Instead, pieces need to fit the ethos of your hotel and blend in other natural materials for a cohesive experience – exactly what Urban Spikes works to provide in our moss designs and custom installations.
Wellness
With natural materials adding a sense of calm, moss art and moss installations create an amazing atmosphere in wellness spaces. Using a custom plant design, you can suggest anything from valuing holistic approaches to your cutting-edge methods.
We have worked in spas, receptions for cosmetic or boutique wellness clinics, medical practices, yoga studios, and more. In our work with moss, we can tailor each piece to match your existing décor and to the impression you want to give to your guests.
Want more than a moss wall for your commercial space? Explore our suite of commercial plant design services.
Moss walls vs living walls
Living walls are live plants that are arranged vertically, whereas moss walls are preserved moss that is used artistically to create a piece of art or wall covering.
“Moss walls” might be a bit of an oversimplification, though. We incorporate more than moss into our work, and can include preserved wood, crystals, high-quality faux succulents, and more including a range of framing options. We can also use a spectrum of colors and textures of moss for varied designs.
Moss installations are low-maintenance and can last for many years. Living walls require pruning, rotation, watering, soil checks, pest control, and more. They are heavier and can only be placed where living plants will thrive. But they are alive, and bring their own biophilic benefits.
Benefits of moss walls vs live plants:
- Very little upkeep with no plant maintenance costs: No watering, pruning or plant rotation
- No need for particular light or temperature conditions, except to be out of direct sun and away from air vents
- Resilient to changes in weather and the seasons, great for our Texas climate
- Although delicate, smaller moss art can be moved with careful packing and transportation
- Easier on your building:
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- No risk of water damage with moss walls or worrying about irrigation
- No permanent changes to walls for moss art
- No need for additional light installations
- No above average structural requirements for smaller moss art
There is no right answer to moss walls vs living walls for your space. They are each beautiful features that can create a showstopping feature or pop of life to a commercial space. The best way to understand what will work for you is to speak with an interior plant design specialist, who can understand your needs and make a professional recommendation.
Why you need a professional plant designer for moss wall design and installation
While it may seem easy enough to take inspiration from professional moss work and do things yourself, there are many reasons to work with a professional.
You are giving your business, employees and customers the respect they deserve by hiring a professional. You will get better quality, better design and a genuine improvement in your space.
You are meeting an expectation of excellence, especially if the rest of your office, hotel, or retail store is finished to a high standard. Art and biophilic installations can be masterpieces, but if they look DIY’ed and are poorly designed, they will cheapen your space.
You will avoid surprises costs, while getting access to professional-grade materials. We work with the best moss available, from our professional suppliers. The moss you can find at craft stores or even premade moss pieces you may stumble across at homeware stores is mass-produced and not designed to last. Poor quality means you will have to replace sooner, wasting your budget.
You are investing in design, not a one-off accent piece. Working with a professional like Urban Spikes means you are adding plants in an intentional way. We have improved all kinds of commercial spaces and have ideas and expertise that will add depth, dimension and function to your space in the long run.
If you are a business owner, building or office manager interested in working with Urban Spikes for moss installations, we would love to hear from you. We offer personalized consultations and custom moss designs that will perfectly compliment your existing architecture and décor.
If you are an architect or designer, we can work with you to add moss features to your projects so you can incorporate moss into your work without having to execute and install pieces yourself. Read more about our collaborative process here and let us know you are interested in adding biophilic design touches to your next space by contacting us today.
