Decorative lichens - Benefits and versatility

Decorative lichens are 100% natural plants that grow in the northern part of Europe, from the Reindeer moss species.
They go through a stabilization process by extracting the sap and replacing it with an ecological product based on vegetable glycerin, salts, water and food coloring. This is how the name of stabilized lichens appears. In their natural environment they are found in light shades of gray or brown and after stabilization they can be available in over 20 colors with the help of dyes.
Being natural plants, their color or texture is not always uniform.

Similarly, flat or convex muscles are manually harvested and go through a stabilization process. They are most often used in combination with lichens, due to their compact texture and intense shades of green.

* The lichens used in our decorations come from sustainable sources.

Lichens and mosses can transform an ordinary interior into a splendid one, combining the permanence and beauty of nature with interior design techniques.

But did you know that besides the visual appeal, decorative walls with moss or lichen have some incredible benefits, scientifically proven? From psychological benefits such as stress reduction, concentration or high productivity to financial aspects: reducing energy consumption through the natural thermal insulation effect. Also, the environmental benefits are impressive, lichens can improve air quality and stabilize indoor humidity at normal values ​​for the human body.

1. They improve air quality

Mosses and lichens are very good at fighting air pollution. The polluting factors from the air are absorbed on the surface of the lichens and the natural bacteria from these plants transform them into biomass. So, your lungs will be considerably happier with a wall of lichen and moss nearby.

2. Increased productivity

Researchers from Texas A&M University (USA) examined the correlation between plants and workplace productivity. They created three scenarios in an office space: one with plants and flowers, one with sculptures and the last without any decorations. After testing participants in the 3 work environment settings, they discovered that employees demonstrated more innovative thinking and solved more problems while working in the space decorated with plants and flowers.

3. Is it possible to have less stress? Yes!

Another study conducted by Dr. Virgina Lohr from the University of Washington measured the stress level of employees in different work environments. She found that participants who worked in environments with plants were 12% less stressed, compared to participants in work environments without plants. Of course, it is not the only study that presents such results, but on the contrary, numerous researchers have shown that the presence of plants and biophilic design reduces the general stress of people who work or live in rooms decorated with many plants.

4. Reduction of dust in the air

Moss and lichens are colonized by a bacterium that subsists by decomposing organic substances, including dust. Dust in the air can contain a variety of potentially dangerous contaminants, such as aerosols from cleaning substances, smoke particles, chemical ash, mold spores, etc.

By introducing lichens and mosses into the interior decorations in a room, you can have more control over the dust in the air. The inorganic components are absorbed and metabolized, effectively removing them from the air.

5. Acoustic insulation and sound diffusion

Each of us needs a quiet place, at the office or at home, for relaxation, concentration or meetings. Mosses and lichens have excellent acoustic properties by absorbing sound waves.

Their vegetation naturally blocks mid- and high-frequency sounds (human voice, telephone rings, equipment noise), while their structure and texture reduce low-frequency noise. Some studies have shown that plants of this kind have a remarkable acoustic effect and can reduce noise pollution in rooms by up to 10 decibels, depending on the surface covered.

For example, installing a wall with lichens or moss in an open office space, with a sound level between 60-80db, can reduce noise and provide employees with a sustainable work environment.

6. Reduced energy costs

The process called "evapotranspiration" makes it possible for the areas around the panels or walls with decorative lichens to be cooler during the summer. Through evapotranspiration, water is absorbed in lichens and then evaporated in the surrounding interior environment. Practically, we thus bring the natural water cycle indoors, where it can offer multiple health benefits to those who enjoy decorative lichens.

In winter, on the other hand, mosses or lichens provide an additional layer of thermal insulation for the decorated walls, thus reducing heating costs.

7. It naturally regulates the level of humidity in the rooms

Mosses and lichens contribute to adjusting the humidity level in a room and maintaining it at stable, normal values, between 40-60%. One of the most beneficial and interesting advantages of lichens is that they can absorb humidity from the air when it is too high and release it back into the air when the humidity in the room has decreased.

How is this beneficial to us humans? Viruses such as influenza, flu, colds are more likely to be transmitted when the humidity is below 10gr/cubic meter. That's why, especially in periods of low humidity (ie during the winter, due to the heating), walls with decorative lichens can help your space to maintain the appropriate level of humidity to prevent the spread of viruses.

More than that, mosses and lichens help in prevention, by the fact that they can clean the organic virus particles floating in the air, metabolizing them.

8. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions

We inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, and plants can absorb the dioxide and release oxygen in return. Decorative paintings with lichens help to preserve this natural partnership even indoors or in an urban environment.

9. Up to 70% higher concentration

The Royal College of Agriculture in England discovered, following a study on the degree of attention and the influence of plants, that students were 70% more attentive when they had classes in classes that were decorated with plants. In addition, the attendance rate was higher for seminars offered in classes that contained plants. How would a greater attention, naturally, help you or those around you?

10. Very easy maintenance or none at all

Paintings or walls with lichens and mosses are an extraordinary investment that requires little or no maintenance. This type of natural interior decoration is ideal for an office space or for your own home, when the time required for maintenance is limited. If you don't want walls with live plants, which require high maintenance, including constant irrigation, then lichens and stabilized mosses are the best option to bring nature indoors.

...Haven't you always dreamed of living in a space that connects you with the peace and quiet of nature? Biophilic design, which seeks to create the connection between people and nature in buildings or their interior, can be the first step towards this dream.

Even without having a house near the forest or near a lake, we can have an interior design that connects us with nature in simple and subtle ways, through biophilic design. We can feed our sense of well-being using design patterns inspired by nature and natural materials, such as plants, wood or stone.

So what is biophilic design?

Biophilia means love for nature and biophilic design refers to the use of natural resources and materials to create a sense of harmony between modern architecture and the natural world outside. Biophilic design creates a closer and deeper connection with nature and intends to provoke positive human interactions with nature, even in the interior space where we spend 90% of our time.

Nature appeals to our inner nature

Following the popularity of vertical gardens, a new option has become a trend in recent years, in biophilic interior design. A trend that changes the visual dynamics and design potential of commercial or domestic spaces: lichens and decorative mosses. They are among the most versatile interior design elements, offering all the beauty and splendor of vertical gardens, without the maintenance required for irrigation or the light needed by living plants.

ImagineMoss paintings, decorations or entire walls with mosses and lichens are created starting from our love for nature and passion for interior design. We want to help, holistically, to integrate biophilic design principles in your space, to create the healthiest and most harmonious environment. That environment that will bring you, beyond the daily urban tumult, a deep and relaxed inspiration.

For more details on how we can create together a splendid design for your space, contact us here .

- To be installed indoors, away from direct sunlight and an immediate source of heat.