Creating a green working environment is one of the chief aims of the modern office and commercial building interior designer. The advantages of such a work place are already well known, with office plants helping to improve air quality and staff morale, but the extent interior landscapers can go to lies beyond desk plants. Amongst the more ambitious items are living walls.

The potential that these walls have is arguably greater than adding some traditional greenery. The green walls of foliage that greet staff and clients alike when they enter the office building also have huge potential as a decorative option.

It is normal for companies to invest in impressive decorations, not just at holidays such as Christmas but at other times of the year too. The benefits of embracing these times of celebration are also related to staff morale, but Christmas does have a special aspect associated with it.

So, we have put together a short list of just three suggestions in which these walls might be used to add to the seasonal decorations in an office or commercial building.

Vertical Floral Display

Although walls are effectively a vertical garden, there is no real limit to the range of designs that can be applied to them. They are used, of course, very effectively to bring the outside indoors, but they can also be used as a form of branding. This often means a company logo, for example, being the basis for the choice and layout of plants.

There are some potential flaws to look out for though, with flowers generally not recommended for the wall. This is because the vast majority of flowers have a short life span and shed their petals very quickly. This leads to debris building at the base of the wall, which then needs to be cleaned up regularly, and the plants themselves replaced almost as often.

However, there are colorful plants that can be used because their color is in their foliage, not petals. A perfect example, with Christmas in mind, is the pionsettia plant, a traditional choice during the holiday season.

Background to Christmas Tree

Of course, if holiday displays are created, they would be temporary and would need to be replaced in January. With that in mind, it may be more suitable to use the wall as a background to a Christmas tree. The tree itself would be the focal point, but the green or light green background could enhance the natural aspects of the tree.

Alternatively, Christmas lights can be hung over the wall, creating a cascading wall of glittering light. These can be highly effective in enhancing the holiday spirit when greeting staff as they come into work, and clients as they arrive for meetings. That feel good factor can be influential in staff productivity and even in business negotiations.

Subtle Choice of Colors

Generally speaking, the choice of color relates to the plants that are chosen for the wall, but the ideas that can be applied go beyond that. For example, it is not unusual for a series of red cloth garlands to be hung along the length of the wall, thereby creating that traditional red and green color combination.

This basic idea can be built on, with gold and silver trinkets, baubles and other forms of seasonal decor, hanging from the garlands. Also, wreaths of pionsettias can be hung strategically. In fact, the range of creative ideas is almost limitless. It simply comes down to the choices that the company wishes to make.

Christmas is not the only time of year that can be celebrated with floral displays. This is where living walls can become more than just a single decorative option.

At Halloween, the wall could be draped in appropriately ghoulish images and masks. The Fourth of July can see the wall display garlands of red, white and blue. Easter might even see some suitably spring time images.

The fact is that green walls have the potential for much more than just the statement of environmental support, or simply an impressive conversation starter for clients. They are also as much living decor as they are breathing plants.

With the importance of putting up creative and impressive holiday decorations so acute in the competitive world of business, it is perhaps the biggest, most creative and potentially most impressive decorative option available.