In interior design, decorators often use not only natural motifs, but also unusual materials taken from the environment and processed in a special way. One of these is stabilized moss, which is used for landscaping, creating panels and paintings both in offices and private houses and apartments.
About the material
When choosing suitable mosses, you need to understand their differences and placement rules. The three main groups include:
Artificial | It is a non-living plant that is used solely for decoration. Requires careful removal of dust, since any contaminants can accumulate in its structural surface. It is usually made from plastic or derivative raw materials. |
Alive | The plant that needs to be sprayed can be used in sunny and shaded areas. Usually reindeer moss is used to style rooms. This variety has a bright light green color. |
Decorative | This moss is a cross between the species described above. It does not need spraying. Unlike the first type, it is created from a natural plant, and not from plastic or polymer materials. |
Application options
Moss in the interior of an apartment can look completely different, but the main use case was, is and remains a wall made of moss. Large surfaces covered with moss look incredibly stylish, refresh any interior, and create a feeling of closeness to nature.
Phytowalls can be different: they occupy space from corner to corner, and are decorated only with individual vertical or horizontal stripes, protrusions, niches, columns.
Walls usually play an accent role, highlighting certain areas in the room.
The second most popular method of application in the interior is paintings made of moss. Solutions can be wall panels with a textured surface, framed paintings, wooden panels of unusual shapes, complemented with decorative moss.
In addition to the classic shapes: square, rectangle, circle, wall decor can be made in the form of an animal, inscription, star, heart, tree, flower.
Advice! Decorative moss on the wall can also be functional: for example, if you use it to decorate a clock.
The photo shows wooden panels with greenery
A wall made of moss is not the only option for using it in the interior. If you are looking for an unusual mobile decoration, take a closer look at compositions in flowerpots, glass florariums, and vases.
On the table you can place a “lying” flat panel with a scene you like: for example, in the form of a fairy-tale forest or a beautiful clearing.
You can also decorate furniture with stabilized moss: unusual inserts in a shelving unit or a green “river” in the tabletop will turn ordinary home furnishings into original ones. Living moss is also used to make bathroom rugs.
In the photo there are green inserts in the zoning partition
Lettering on the wall made of decorative moss
Stabilized plants are suitable for creating short texts. Decorative volumetric letters have a velvety surface, look original on the walls and attract people's attention. Companies use eco-logos or green signs to stand out from competitors. The cost of jewelry depends on the complexity and volume of work, on average - from $170.
At home, you can make a decorative inscription yourself. Add to blender:
- live moss – 3 handfuls;
- kefir – 1 glass;
- soaked hydrogel – 2 tbsp. spoons;
- sugar –2 tsp.
The composition is mixed for two minutes until smooth. The contours of the inscription are applied to the cleaned surface. The brush is dipped into the resulting paste and gently brushed over the text. Every 3 days the pattern is sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
The lichen grows into the base, becomes established and actively develops. Landscaping grows best in the shade, so it is protected from bright sun.
Features of use in design
Initially, living walls or decor were made from natural forest lichens: but this option was quickly abandoned because moss in apartments required too much care - from maintaining high humidity to constant watering and spraying. To simplify the task, the plants began to stabilize.
Stabilized moss is a natural material that has undergone a “preservation” process, allowing it to retain its original appearance and softness for a long time. To create interior decor from living moss, natural plants of various types are collected. The standard raw material is Cladonia, a lichen widespread in forests, tropics, and deserts. After assembly, stabilization is carried out: moss is soaked in a saline solution, and dye is added if necessary.
Advantages:
What styles are moss decor used in?
With the help of vertical gardening you can create incredibly beautiful living canvases. They are popular also because of their versatility. Such a colorful composition can become the highlight of any interior style. This is an excellent decor for loft, modern, minimalism, eco style, classic, pop art, hi-tech, ethnic. Such a product will become a spectacular and unique art object in the office or home interior.
We recommend: Foundation for a gazebo with your own hands: options, video instructions, photos
Advantages and disadvantages
Since living moss in the interior is quite difficult to care for, designers in their work most often choose a stabilized plant, all of the liquid of which is replaced with a special solution based on glycerin.
The decorative element can be created from moss, sphagnum, oak moss, or one that has stems or fibers.
This natural element is absolutely safe for the health of apartment residents. It is environmentally friendly and does not cause allergies. Correctly carried out preservation also deprives it of its specific smell, and thanks to “freezing” there is no need to worry about the appearance of midges and bugs.
A stabilized plant is dormant, and therefore it does not rot, decompose or dry out. This means that the decorative element can please the eye for about 10 years. All this time, the moss will retain a bright green hue, without turning yellow or darkening, but if desired, the plant can be painted in any color.
The canned crop does not need to be watered, and, being universal, it is suitable for decorating any room. A relative disadvantage of this material is its high cost, because you will have to pay for conservation.
Living moss, as mentioned above, requires quite complex care and does not last long, but such a decorative element is practically free - just find a suitable hummock in the forest and bring it home.
Benefits of stabilized moss
- The naturalness of this natural material is beyond doubt. It is completely environmentally friendly and safe as a decor and it does not cause allergies.
- Smell. High-quality stabilized moss has no odor at all. That is, when creating this type of moss, all its internal processes slow down, it falls into suspended animation, and decorates your walls already “sleeping.”
But it is worth noting separately that unpleasant odors can appear from other participants in the finishing process, that is, low-quality dyes or specific types of glue. So to the question: “Does stabilized moss have an odor?” It’s not possible to answer directly. Choose trusted suppliers or check the aroma of the structure with moss before installing it in the apartment.
- Many application options . Stabilized moss is absolutely universal, it is suitable for decorating the wall in the living room, and for decorating panels in the corridor, some even cover the headboards of beds with it, and this design solution looks very good.
- It is durable . Due to the conservation of the structure, it is not subject to natural processes of rotting and decomposition and does not dry out. If the decoration with stabilized moss is not taken apart by children and animals, then it will please your eyes for at least five years.
- Color stability . After treatment, moss does not lose its natural color, it does not turn yellow or brown.
- Color options. When processing moss that has not yet been stabilized, you can give it absolutely any color and shade. So the bumps can be made purple, orange, and yellow, and even laid out in the form of a rainbow if desired.
- Care . Stabilized moss differs favorably from its counterparts in that it does not need to be watered.
Interior options with stabilized moss
If it were not for the green panel on the wall, the living room in white would look very boring. The composition is quite large in size, enclosed in a laconic white frame and illuminated by several lamps. The moss itself on the panel is combined with other natural elements.
A snow-white classic sofa, light walls and light gray interior details become the ideal backdrop for an unusual decorative element.
- The modular panel located at the head of the bed looks very advantageous. The composition is made up of 9 green squares in wooden frames, arranged 3 in a row. The panel echoes the bright green carpet and other decorative elements. Wooden panels on the walls in combination with moss create a cozy “forest” atmosphere in the room.
- A simple living room in black and gray tones will sparkle with new colors if you place a coffee table with vegetation under glass. Successfully harmonizing with some of the existing decor, this particular item gives the room liveliness.
- Another interesting option would be to add a moss wall in the bedroom next to the bed. This solution makes it possible to visually delimit the room and create a separate zone. A nearby comfortable yellowish chair, several lamps and a wooden console suggest that this place is intended for reading.
Where to organize a living wall?
A living wall made of moss can be created both in the living room and in the nursery. One special plate with spores is enough and your room will “bloom” with green hairy shoots. The thickness of the panels with moss is 10-50 mm. A moss wall can be made in different sizes and any shape. Decorating a wall yourself will require a lot of patience.
You can create original patterns on a moss wall by trimming the moss and using the colorful shades of the plant. In addition to the excellent aesthetic effect, a moss wall will provide additional sound insulation. It will not cause allergies and will not cause harm. Its surface is soft and velvety, pleasant to touch with your hands. So the construction of a living wall is a prerogative for people who value natural beauty.
Moss looks great in combination with other living plants
Children will only be glad if they have their own “green corner” in their room, formed by moss fillers. When using mosses, you don’t have to worry about excess humidity in the room (the moss will absorb it).
Kitchen
The kitchen is great for styling with stabilized moss. Usually they decorate the sitting or dining area with greenery to make them more comfortable. You can also mount a panel of plants on the kitchen apron, preferably in its upper part. This will reduce the risk of damage to plants and constant exposure to water. Using vertical panels, you can divide the kitchen into separate zones or decorate the furniture around the edges.
Living room
Spacious rooms are ideal for placing voluminous phytopanels. Examples of successful living room design are:
- finishing the wall opposite the soft area, around the TV;
- decorating the wall behind the sofa;
- side wall cladding;
- creation of green partitions;
- installation of moss panels in a checkerboard pattern;
- making green inscriptions.
Bedroom
In the room for sleeping and relaxing, green panels with lighting at the top and protrusions at the bottom, as well as stylized niches, look beautiful. Fit inserts can be used to decorate the area of the dressing table or to decorate the desktop if it is installed in the bedroom. Also a good option would be to frame the TV with greenery, install small moss paintings, surround the headboard of the bed, exit to the balcony, or window opening.
What does it look like in the interior of the rooms?
Moss is popular in different rooms, but in each it has its own tasks.
Kitchen
Moss in the kitchen interior is a beautiful accent that allows you to highlight the dining area or decorate the work area. If you decide to make a kitchen apron out of lichen, the plant must be protected with glass directly above the sink and in the area of the stove. Or don't use it at all.
Advice! Do not place phytowalls or panels near radiators - high temperatures combined with dry air are detrimental to living greenery.
Living room
Moss in the living room interior decorates one of two surfaces:
- wall behind the sofa;
- TV area opposite the sofa.
The main differences between factory and home sterilization
The differences also depend on the method of embalming the moss, since in production it is either sterilization with saline solution or glycerin. In the first case, the qualities will be as follows:
- Fire safety. If there is contact with an open fire, the moss will smolder, which can delay the ignition of the apartment for some time.
- Relatively long service life - up to 40 years.
- It does not stain anything upon contact and absorbs color very well.
- At low humidity requires spraying.
- A little hard to the touch.
How to give the walls a shape, see the article Wall decor using stencils.
You can decorate your sofa with stylish pillows - read more in the article Making decorative pillows with your own hands.
For many interesting and original ideas for a small room, see the source Small Room Design Ideas (photo).
If a glycerin solution is used, the parameters will differ significantly:
- The service life is much shorter - up to 10 years.
- The natural elasticity of the material is preserved.
- The dye can transfer to nearby objects, including your hands.
- Highly flammable.
We recommend: Top quality rigging products from Euro Sling
After processing at home, the indicators will be as follows:
- Low durability - up to 5 years;
- Relatively low installation and material preparation costs.
- Preservation of natural air purification abilities.
- Possible low quality and unpresentable appearance of moss.
Decorations made from long-lived moss are not always expensive; everyone is free to choose their quality and quantity based on personal beliefs; this area is open to new ideas and will expand rapidly in the coming years. It’s easy to update the interior of your home with moss; regardless of your choice, the result will always look fresh and interesting.
Moss decorations for the home – what will you need?
Decoration options:
- paintings made of moss, painted using spray paints in different colors;
- silhouettes and inscriptions that can be attached to walls as slogans for holidays and memorable dates;
- greenboards - fiberboard slabs specially made with a decorative mossy covering;
- moss rugs and furniture parts;
- accessories (plant pots, trays, vases, flower pots - moss is glued to their walls).
Moss seedlings or ready-made modules can be purchased at a specialized store
After fixing to the base, stabilized moss can be coated with natural dyes, choosing the color to your taste
See alsoCreate room decor with your own hands from scrap materials
Plant lifespan
Decorative moss is the prerogative of eco-style lovers. Landscaping your property or home improves your well-being and improves your mood. With proper care, living decor retains its attractive appearance for up to 10 years. If not properly cared for, moss rarely grows for more than 2-3 years. The main three factors affecting the lifespan of bryophytes are moisture, lack of sunlight and temperatures above +4 degrees. If these conditions are met, moss grows for as long as possible.
Artificial decorative moss
An excellent alternative to natural vegetation in the house or on the site. In cases where it is not possible to use a living plant for decoration, its artificial counterpart is recommended. Artificial moss has no disadvantages and is practically no different in appearance from living moss. Moreover, it does not require watering or any maintenance.
Other benefits:
- hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly decor;
- not susceptible to mold;
- rot does not form on it;
- does not crumble; has a long service life without losing its attractive appearance;
- can be placed in the interior, regardless of sunlight;
- subject to restoration in case of mechanical damage.
You can make artificial moss yourself. There are dozens of video lessons and master classes available on the Internet today. You can also buy a ready-made plant for decoration. Artificial moss is sold in rolls or bags, depending on the purpose of its use.
Live moss can be purchased in online stores at a price of 260 rubles. for a bunch. The artificial one costs an order of magnitude cheaper – from 520 rubles. per package 200-250 g.
These days, natural and artificial decorative moss is a popular material. It creates an imitation of living nature without leaving home and fits perfectly into any interior, both classic and modern, allowing you to get as close as possible to eco-style.
How to make stabilized moss with your own hands
Making stabilized spore plants at home is not difficult. But the quality of greenery preservation may be low. This will lead to their rapid loss of attractive appearance. To work, you will need to choose any type of greenery and clean it well from the soil. Next, you need to stabilize the mosses with your own hands according to the following scheme:
- Mix water and glycerin (sold in pharmacies) in a 1 to 1 ratio. Add food coloring if desired. Some elements may darken or turn light brown during processing. Adding a couple of drops of green gel dye will help eliminate this.
- Pour the prepared mixture into a deep container and immerse the greens in it.
- Leave the soaked greens for 2-3 weeks. During the stabilization process, the mixture may evaporate, so adding new portions of the solution is allowed. After treatment, the plants need to be dried naturally.
DIY stabilized moss
Many people will now ask how to make stabilized moss at home? The technology for producing stabilized moss is simple.
To begin production, take clean, slightly dried natural moss.
It is then placed in a liquid consisting of half water and half glycerin for two weeks. If you want, you can add safe dyes, such as food dyes.
Within two weeks, glycerin fills all the vessels of the moss from the inside, and it stabilizes. The entire moss should not be covered with the solution, but only the lower, root part.
Then the moss is removed from the container with liquid and dried with a towel.
Is it possible to grow stabilized moss?
Some people wonder: How to grow stabilized moss? I will answer you that this is unrealistic.
The point of stabilized moss is that it no longer grows. If you want to propagate several tufts of moss yourself at home, select these tufts from the forest, take them home along with the soil, add a nutrient mixture, soil and maintain high humidity conditions.
These green spaces must be sprayed at least twice a day. Let's face it, the process is not easy and is not for everyone. There are works on this topic, but all authors agree that growing live moss is a long and complex process.
DIY moss paintings, master class
So, you have acquired moss blanks or a whole stabilized moss plate.
- First, think about the composition, whether it will be horizontal or vertical, entirely made of moss or with individual bright elements.
- Choose the theme of the painting; fairytale forests with elves and fairies, valleys with dragons, ancient castles and knights will look good. You can also make a picture in the form of a still life, that is, place on it, in addition to moss, objects that you especially like. Stabilized moss is ideal as a background for a picnic in the forest, with high-quality replicas of fruits and berries.
- Choose how to attach the moss. If the materials are light, then ordinary double-sided tape will do. If the structure is planned to be heavy, it is better to attach the parts using a glue gun to liquid plastic. Don’t be afraid to use it, the smell will go away immediately after drying, which is literally a couple of minutes. For the bottom of the picture, it is better to take a slab of thick cardboard or cork.
- Create! Glue pieces of moss and selected materials according to your design or in a chaotic manner. You can make layers of moss, you can use multi-colored moss, you can take already unnecessary toys according to the size of the picture and fit them into the composition.
- You can buy a ready-made frame, but we think it’s much more interesting to leave the work without it. This creates the effect of being drawn into a picture that is not limited by anything. You can attach the moss in such a way that it covers the edges of the picture; this will not affect its stability.
You can make inscriptions on the wall from decorative moss
First, draw the letters with a pencil on paper, this will be a sketch. Pieces of stabilized moss are cut to the size of the letters and glued to the wall using double-sided tape.
There is a second method, more complex, but also more interesting to implement.
Take:
- 2 handfuls of moss
- 2 cups kefir
- 2 glasses of water
- 1/2 tsp. Sahara
- Corn syrup
Rinse the moss and grind in a blender along with the rest of the ingredients. Add corn syrup to create a consistency similar to sour cream or oil paint.
How to paint with moss on walls
Take the resulting mixture and apply it with a brush to any dry, rough surface. Such an inscription will require care in the form of spraying at least once a week.
You can come up with an inscription or figure yourself; there are also stencils in garden stores.
Operation and care
Ready-made panels, walls, and paintings are unlikely to last longer than the specified service life (4-10 years). To really preserve them, you don’t need to water the plants or treat them against insects. Decorative moss does not like frost or exposure to sunlight.
The ideal humidity level for it is 40-70%. Often in winter this figure decreases and the plants may begin to dry out. In such a situation, it is worth installing a humidifier in the room or placing a container of water near the moss. If dust appears on the phytowall, you can simply brush it off with a soft brush.