What is Preserved Moss Art?

Preserved moss art is a sustainable design solution where natural mosses are harvested and treated with a biodegradable preservative to maintain their cellular structure without the need for light or water. Unlike living walls, these installations remain “evergreen,” offering the tactile and visual benefits of nature in commercial environments where ongoing botanical maintenance is not feasible. There are many different types of preserved moss. 

Preserved vs. Living Moss: Which is Right for Your Project?

Living moss walls require complex irrigation, specialised lighting, and routine horticultural care to prevent decay. In contrast, preserved moss is a “set-and-forget” product, making it the preferred choice for architects and interior designers looking to implement biophilic elements in offices, hotel lobbies, and retail spaces without the overhead of plumbing or specialised UV systems.

Using preserved moss is a great way to add subtle botanicals in office spaces to create a biophilic feeling. They are easy to put up and are relatively low maintenance.

The Benefits of Using Preserved Moss in Your Design Project

Environmental and Health Benefits

Whilst the moss we sell at Atlas Flowers is real, it has been preserved, making it a sustainable option. It does not require ongoing resources like water and fertilisers, and is completely biodegradable. 100% natural raw materials are used during production, and we sustainably source all our preserved moss for our clients. Plus, it is completely non-toxic, and all dyes used on our preserved products are edible. Interestingly, we also supply our Reindeer Moss to some restaurants!

Preserved moss provides the freshness of natural plants but with the convenience of artificial ones. Amazingly, even though it doesn’t have roots, once preserved, it will continue to draw moisture and airborne particles (including dust) out of the air. It may not actively purify the air like live plants, but it doesn’t produce allergens or mould either, contributing to a healthier indoor environment.

Bringing a touch of the outside into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical well-being. Adopting a biophilic interior design can reduce stress and anxiety levels, boost serotonin levels and in turn, improve your mood, ready to either be super productive or super chilled.

Aesthetic Appeal

Preserved moss keeps its natural texture and vibrant colour for months or even years, bringing an effortless, organic feel to any space.

It’s incredibly versatile too, lending itself to everything from wall art and vertical gardens to furniture details and smaller decorative accents.

Low Maintenance

Unlike live plants, preserved moss does not require watering or any kind of intricate water irrigation system installation, making it ideal for indoor settings where regular maintenance might be challenging.

It does not need sunlight to thrive either, allowing it to be used in spaces with little to no natural light.

Design Flexibility

Interior designers are able to shape and mould the moss thanks to its astonishing malleability, allowing them to create handcrafted, bespoke, three-dimensional pieces of art or designs of any size, whether that is a large feature wall in a restaurant or hotel lobby, wall coverage for an entire office, or a small, framed moss picture.

Preserved moss comes in a variety of textures and can be dyed and shaped to fit specific needs, making it highly customisable from a design perspective. It is perfect for use in tight corners and curves, and for creating a high-impact focal point on an otherwise blank wall without using up precious floor space.

Its lightweight nature and ease of installation make it suitable for various surfaces and applications.

Flexible Textures: Reindeer, Mood, and Sheet Moss

For the professional designer, selecting the right entity is about more than just colour; it is about texture and depth.

• Reindeer Moss: A sponge-like, branching structure that offers incredible acoustic dampening and a wide range of dyed colour options.

• Mood Moss: Characterised by its thick, “clumpy” mounds, it provides significant 3D relief and a premium, forest-floor aesthetic.

• Sheet Moss: A flat, velvety moss used primarily as a base layer or “canvas” for larger compositions.

Learn more about the other varieties of preserved moss here.

Longevity

Depending on its environment, position, sunlight exposure, and how well it is cared for, preserved moss can last for years without losing its aesthetic appeal, making it a cost-effective solution for long-term projects.

Acoustic Benefits

The beautiful natural textures of preserved moss are extremely tactile and lightweight, and it’s these same springy structures that not only look great, but also act as natural sound-absorbers, helping to reduce noise levels and improve acoustics in a room or busy open-plan office.

Cost-Effective

The minimal maintenance required translates to lower upkeep costs over time, making it an economically viable option for many.

Preserved Moss Wall Art

Combining different types of moss can create amazing design effects from the velvety texture of sheet moss that provides a classic mossy look, to the 3D effect of clumpy mood moss combined with the showstopping colours and sponge-like feel of reindeer moss. Slotting in some air ferns and some other well-placed foliage can also transform your work of moss art.

Moss walls and moss wall art are the most talked about and widely used examples of moss art in contemporary design. Let’s take a closer look at each example:

Preserved Moss Walls

Moss walls create an instant feature in any indoor environment. On top of their stunning visual appeal, moss walls require minimal maintenance and do wonders for your mental and physical wellbeing, and productivity.

Check out our Malin & Goetz case study - a company wanting biophilic design at the heart of their flagship store with a huge moss wall as the centrepiece. 

How long do preserved moss walls last?

Naturally preserved moss and plants maintain their soft textures, intricate natural details and vibrant colours for many years if you adhere to the following guidelines:

Preserved moss should only be used indoors.

Do not place in humid or wet environments.

Avoid direct sunlight as this will accelerate colour fading.

Its appealing tactile nature can make it enticing to touch – avoid damage by placing it out of reach from curious hands.

It can be repaired or tidied in the unlikely event it needs a little maintenance.

How to Make a Preserved Moss Wall

Every job is different when it comes to installations, but the most tried and tested technique for making moss walls involves using plywood or a similar lightweight, durable, and flat sheet. The different types of mosses are then glued into place using hot glue. We recommend making a small sketch and planning your wall before starting – it can be useful to set the different preserved moss types and colours in place before securing them to the board.

The image below shows the production of a moss wall that was produced for the Malin+Goetz store in Brewer Street, London (see finished installation above):

How to Care for a Preserved Moss Wall

One of the greatest benefits of a preserved moss wall is how little maintenance it requires. Because the moss is no longer living, it does not need water, misting, or sunlight—in fact, keeping it away from direct sun will prevent the colours from fading. To keep your wall looking its best, simply give it a light dusting with a soft brush or a hair dryer on a cool, low setting every few months. As long as you keep it indoors and away from extreme humidity, your moss wall will remain soft and vibrant for years.

How to Decorate with Preserved Moss

While moss walls make a big statement, you can also use moss in smaller ways to bring a touch of nature into your home. These little details work perfectly on bookshelves, side tables, or windowsills.

1. Moss Bowls

A moss bowl is one of the easiest ways to style a coffee table. Unlike flowers that wilt, a bowl filled with pole moss or bun moss stays vibrant all year. To get the best look, use a shallow bowl made of stone or wood and nestle the moss together to create a natural, mounded look.

2. Potted Plant Toppers

If you have large indoor plants, the soil at the base can often look unfinished. You can use forest moss or reindeer moss as a topper to cover the soil. This hides the plastic nursery pot and gives your houseplants a much cleaner, more professional finish.

3. Glass Terrariums

For a more detailed look, place moss inside a glass cloche or a small terrarium. The glass frames the moss and makes it look like a piece of art. You can mix in a few stones or small pieces of driftwood to create a tiny forest scene that looks great on a mantelpiece or desk.

Other Creative Ideas

Moss is incredibly versatile. Beyond pots and bowls, you can try making Kokedama (hanging moss balls), adding moss to furniture inlays, or framing it in shadow boxes. Whether you use a single bowl or a few moss-topped pots, these small touches bring a calm, organic feel to any room.

Moss Pictures

If you don’t want to dedicate an entire wall to moss art, try adding some framed moss pictures to your interiors instead. This works well whether you have a small or large space to show off and add a subtle touch of biophilia to your home or office.

Preserved Moss Art FAQs

Is preserved moss real or artificial?

Preserved moss is 100% natural moss that has undergone a professional preservation process to replace its sap with a glycerin-based solution. This allows it to retain its texture and colour without being alive.

Can I hang moss art in a bathroom or humid area?

No, preserved moss is designed for dry indoor environments. Excess humidity can cause the dyes to bleed or the moss to lose its texture over time.

Do moss walls require an irrigation system?

No irrigation or plumbing is required. Preserved moss does not have roots and does not require water to maintain its appearance, making it a cost-effective alternative to living walls for commercial projects.