Living Wall Plant Design Pattern: Bridging the Gap Between Vision and Reality

When it comes to designing a living wall, the possibilities are endless. Choosing the right plants while also understanding your client’s taste and vision can be challenging, but ultimately very rewarding.

Sometimes client expectations don’t match the reality of what is possible with a living wall and in those cases, it’s important to be communicative and show them examples of what you can do. Guide them and help them select the right plants, based on location, size, and budget, and use the Living Wall pattern design stage as an opportunity to collaboratively work together to bridge the gap between vision and reality.

There are many different ways to approach living wall design, but no matter what style you or your client prefer, there are always possibilities that can make the vision a reality.

To help get those creative juices flowing, check out these plant pattern ideas to help you get started. We hope these can inspire you and provide a roadmap to your next Living Wall masterpiece.

1. The Classic Natural Look: This approach can create a look that is both sophisticated and stylish.
2. The Modern Look: Use geometric shapes and clean lines for a contemporary look.
3. The Whimsical Look: Use a variety of plants, and curve lines for a playful feel.
4. The Zen Look: Incorporate peaceful, calming plants to create an oasis.
5. High Contrast: Create drama by pairing plants with different leaf shapes and colors.
6. Texture Play: Use plants with different textures to add interest and dimension.
7. Living Art: Arrange your plants in a way that resembles a work of art.
8. Think Outside the Box: Get creative and experiment with different planting patterns and other materials.

The Classic Look

For the classic natural look, try using plants like philodendron, ferns, or pothos. To add a touch of elegance, consider adding some tropical plants such as bromeliads, or anthuriums. These plants will add a touch of color and interest to your Living Wall and provide a lush natural look that can sustain for years to come.

The Modern Look

For the modern look, the first step is to start with the design pattern and next choose plants that have straight lines avoiding those plants that grow on a vine. Try plants like Dracaenas, Snake plants, Peace lily, or Aglaonema. These plants will help create a sleek and modern look for your Living Wall. To achieve a modern Living Wall look arrange them in a way that is pleasing to the eye and most time in an organized linear repeated pattern, like a checkerboard or diagonal lines.

The Whimsical Look

For the whimsical look, use a variety of colorful plants combined with a soft curvy line. Try combining different shades of green with pops of color. Consider adding some traditional plants like philodendron, ferns, or pothos. To add some color and interest, try selecting plants with high contrast color or leaf texture.

The Zen Look

For the Zen look, start by incorporating peaceful, calming plants like succulents. Next, add traditional greener plants that have different textures to create interest and dimension. Finally, choose a plant pattern design that is soft in line yet organized.

High Contrast

For high contrast, try pairing plants with different leaf shapes and colors. For example, pair a Fern with a Dracaena or a Snake plant. Or, try pairing Neon Pothos next to Purple Tongue (Tradescantia) or a dark leaf plant such as Dracaena Compacta.  On High Contrast Living Wall, the pattern can be flexible as the impact is most defined by the colors of the plants than the pattern design of the wall.

Texture Play

Incorporate plants with different textures to create interest and dimension. Try mixing traditional plants like philodendron, and ferns, with tropical plants such as bromeliads, or anthuriums. Ferns can grow very full so consider paring with plants that are more compacted and don’t overgrow.

Living Art

Arrange your plants in a way that resembles a work of art. Try using a mix of materials such as sticks, wood, and moss to create negative space and interest. To add a touch of color and interest, try adding some tropical plants such as bromeliads, or anthuriums.

Think Outside the Box

Get creative and experiment with different planting patterns or combinations of material. Try something unexpected like incorporating a Living Wall with stones, tiles, colored lighting, and other interior design elements. Follow the general guidelines for what plants work best for Living Walls but have fun and be creative. Living Walls are unique so make yours stand out from the rest.

All the projects above, are designed by using our Cortica 32 Cork Living Wall system. The Cortiça 32 is a modular cork vertical paneling system that allows for a variety of planting pattern options to easily achieve different looks. Each Cortiça 32 panel has 32 plant holes making planning for a unique pattern very easy.

Now that you’ve got some Living Wall Pattern Ideas, it’s time to get started on your design. Cortiça Garden manufacture and supplies Cork Living Wall system, and works directly with designers, architects, landscape designers, retailers, contractors and industry professional thru our Dealer and Installer network in the USA and abroad.  If you are interested in using our Cork Living Wall system into your next project, please do not hesitate to contact us. Looking forward to hearing from you!