How to make DIY botanical wall art - perfect for adding low-maintenance greenery to your home

Bring the outside in by creating your own living wall

It's no secret that bringing plants into your home can boost your wellbeing thanks to their air purifying properties. However, not all of us are gifted with green fingers. This DIY botanical wall art project by Furniture & Choice is easy to make and maintain.

Related: How to make a DIY garden signpost with leftover outdoor paint and upcycled wood battens

You only need a few toolbox essentials and basic DIY knowledge and you'll be on your way to a stunning living wall display.

How to make DIY botanical wall art

What you will need

botanical art with hooks nails hammer and scissor

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)
  • Four square wood boards
  • Wood wax
  • Picture hooks and wire
  • Pencil
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • Sphagnum moss
  • Four staghorn ferns
  • Fishing wire
  • Hessian fabric
  • Upholstery nails

1. Prepare the wood

wooden board with hooks wire and scissor

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)

Seal your four wooden boards with wax. This helps to protect the surface of the wood and achieves an even finish.

Attach the picture hooks and wire to the back of the wooden boards.

Buy now: Copper effect picture hooks pack of 6, £2.02, B&Q

2. Draw around the plant pot

potted plant with wooden board and pencil

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)

Use a pencil to trace around the bottom of the plant pot on the front part of the wooden boards. The outline should be around 2.5cm wider than the plant's circumference.

3. Hammer in the nails

wooden board with hammer and nails

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)

Hammer eight nails along the pencilled outline. Leave approximately 1cm between each nail.

Related: Garden trellis ideas to add planting screens to garden fences, walls and more

4. Prepare your plants

fern plant with hand and green pot

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)

Decant the plants from their pots, ready for mounting. Dip the ferns into water to hydrate before assembling.

5. Secure your ferns

fern plant with wooden board and hand

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)

Keep the potting soil at the base of your plants. Place the staghorn fern on the wooden board within the circle of nails. Pack wet sphagnum moss around the base of the fern. Make sure it stays within the circle.

Buy now: Smart garden moss, £6.78, B&Q

Wrap fishing wire around the nails to secure the moss. Try also wrapping it diagonally across the fern leaves.

Buy now: Invisible thread 200m, £1.40, Hobbycraft

6. Protect with hessian

wooden board with hammer sack and plant

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)

Cut hessian fabric slightly larger than the plant. Wrap it around the moss and soil to stop it spilling out. Fasten with upholstery nails. Repeat for the rest of the stag horn ferns and wooden boards.

Buy now: Hessian 8in squares 5 pack, £2.20, Hobbycraft

7. Hang your DIY botanical wall art

batanical wall with lady and planters

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)

Using the picture hooks on the back, secure each board to the wall. You will need two nails to secure each board. It's up to you how you arrange them - so get creative!

plastic water sprayer with fern plant

(Image credit: Furniture & Choice)

To keep your display looking fresh, simply spray the ferns with water each week. Once a month, dunk the whole plant in water for 24 hours.

Stephanie Durrant
Deputy Editor Style at Home

Steph Durrant is the Deputy Editor of Ideal Home’s sister magazine, Style at Home. Steph is an experienced journalist with more than 12  years under her belt working across the UK’s leading craft and interiors magazines. She first joined the team back in 2016 writing for both homes brands, specialising in all things craft, upcycling and DIY.