The Hanging gardens of Babylon are dubbed as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Unfortunately for us, top-notch digital photography was just not available at the time to capture all its wonders. And while we may not replicate the grandeur of those hanging gardens, contemporary designers are bringing in the ‘green’ with their own unique designs. Most modern homes and apartments are often short on space. A beautiful wall of hanging planters instantly brings home the fresh garden vibe indoors. Elegant, ergonomic and stylish, these modern hanging gardens are all about form, functionality and space-consciousness.

Here are a few fabulous inspirations that instantly add life to a room. From DIY projects that involve mason jars to exquisite creations from innovative designers, there is a container garden idea for everyone. As these eco-friendly creations showcase, at times all you need is some ingenious inspiration!

Strung with Style

Air plants are simply perfect for a hanging container garden inside your home. This one though tops the list not just because of the cool aesthetics. These DIY planters are pretty easy to create and you will be amazed with the touch of contemporary panache they bring to your home. All you need is shampoo bottle tops (or any bullet-shaped containers), a bit of spray paint, nails and some rope.

Let you kids join in on the spray painting and you will have a fun and productive family weekend. Check out the complete step-by-step DIY guide for the hanging planters before you get started.

Designed by Gabriella Asztalos, the floating garden plant containers bring a dash of metallic glint along with their modern form. The minimalistic style of these planters ensures that you have a container garden that is not just cool but is also contemporary in style! You can mix and match planters in various sizes and shapes to create an exclusive look.

Coming from design house Boskke and Jaguarshoes Collective, these Sky Planters seem to defy gravity with astonishing ease! Our first instinct was to wonder whether standing under one of these was really safe. But it absolutely is. Coming in chic prints and vivid colors, these planters usher in accent shades with ease. Put together a few of these in a cool Scandinavian setting and you have an elegant floating container garden ready to steal the show.

These hanging glass bubble terrariums are bound to be among the coolest decor that you ever brought into your home. Air plants are a perfect fit for hanging container gardens. With the necessity of soil being done away with, the open and transparent glass bubbles seem all the more appealing. Glass is an integral part of modern interiors. Impressive styling and ease of maintenance has made these hanging terrariums pretty popular. [from: West Elm]

Well, you are in luck as the air plant pods designed by Michael McDowell offer precised this. Made from natural Moroccan sand-colored clay, the pods have been custom designed for sensitive air plants that could decay in any stagnated water. Hung using a lovely natural hemp cord, they are a natural fit even for the outdoors.

Hang of few of these in your studio apartment and you will instantly feel closer to nature. The air plant pods are also available in several colors and finishes and are ideal for those who prefer a more modern and glossy look. [from: mudpuppy]

Crafted in porcelain and sporting an unglazed exterior, they save up space with ease. You can get an army of these and create a hanging garden setup that is both vibrant and beautiful. Hang them by the window or in that forgotten corner and watch your interiors acquire a new lease of life!

Wonders on the Wall

The porcelain and rope hanging planters a re pretty popular with home owners. Their clean and classy design allows them to blend in with almost any pre-set theme of the room. The rope that is used is often cotton or leather and you can open between individual planters or two-tiered and three-tiered planter sets. Setting you back by anything between $120 to $150 for each set, a beautiful niche filled with 3 three-tiered sets brings in both beauty and balance to the space around it.

A Myriad of Styles and Hues

Simple and elegant, these strung planters are both cost effective and cool. All you need to get them done is some rope, glass jars, small rocks and the necessary green and you are good to go. Try to pick jars of different sizes to add style and contrast to the container garden on your wall. Strings in different colors also could do the trick. [from: apartment therapy / song and dance]

Drinking Glasses in Solid ShadesWe begin with solid-hued glassware sans pattern, starting with a classic find for those who want a clean-lined look. This 8-Piece Marta Barware Set from CB2 is micro-thin, consisting of four 18 oz. coolers and four 13 oz. double old-fashioneds (the wider of the two glasses below)

For those who already have the basics in their collections, it’s time to branch out with some interesting shapes. This 5-Piece Archival Glass Set from Crate & Barrel is brilliantly based on five Mid-Century modern designs.

Etsy is a great source for unique glassware finds. From vintage pieces to handmade selections, you’ll discover amazing pieces from the past, as well as new items that showcase true craftsmanship. Below we see a set of Glasses Made from Recycled Aranciata Mini-Juice Bottles, courtesy of Etsy shop Glass|Wares. Sold in a set of four, these glasses  have the light green tint and bumpy texture of original sparkling juice bottles. Perfect for sipping juice or white wine!

Patterned Drinking GlassesWe now turn our attention to drinking glasses featuring patterns, starting with one unforgettable set. It was the kitschy motif of the summer…flamingos! All of a sudden, the ’80s were back with a vengeance, thanks to a slew of flamingo finds. Shower curtains, napkins, glasses–luckily these pink birds put their stamp on a variety of products. While the flock seems to have left stores for the time being, we couldn’t help but reminisce about the best of summer decorby showcasing these pink flamingo glasses from IKEA:

Designed with a twist in conventional geometry by Nic Owen Architects, this fascinating new addition to a classic Kew House in Melbourne steals the show with ease. This audacious extension to an existing home Dow Under was done to provide more space and offer a contemporary hub to the owners. Since the existing façade in the area could not be altered extensively, the new addition was added to the large backyard so as to provide seamless visual connectivity between the indoors and the world outside.

While the catchy new extension of the Kew House looks unusual and daring from the outside, the interiors are kept simple and minimal. A cool color tone in neutral shades is employed with ravishing wooden flooring bringing inviting warmth. Ample use of glass makes sure the interiors feel a lot more spacious than they really are. An open floor plan sees the living area, kitchen and the dining room connected in a natural fashion.

These spaces are often BIG. We’re talking big on a grand scale! Filling the space is a real challenge. With the size comes the desire for dramatic details. When done well, these details can be amazing. When done poorly, they can tarnish a lobby.

Hotel LobbiesHotel lobbies evoke the decadence of a relaxing getaway. And who wouldn’t want to celebrate the feeling of being on vacation? In recent years, it’s been fun to see the emergence of boutique hotels that infuse creative, eclectic design elements into their lobbies. Below we see a tribal rug and other earthy-meets-modern details at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. Let’s hear it for non-traditional dramatic draperies! [photo by Becky Harris via Houzz]

The lobby of Hotel Palazzo Zichy in Budapest is an homage to dramatic lighting. Pendant lighting, backlighting, recessed lighting. Put it all together and you have a truly epic space…

Speaking of dramatic lighting, the lobby of the Hilton Hangzhou Qiandao Lake Resort has it in spades! In fact, this hotel is filled with design elements that evoke the feel of water. Can you see the ripples represented by this stunning lighting installation? Intricate flooring provides another level of ornate design, while features such as modern art and angled windows keep the look contemporary. [from Ivan C. Design Limited]

Ah, the simplicity of gorgeous furnishings and bold colors! The black and gold color scheme of the Fitzwilliam Hotel in Belfast makes a powerful statement. Clean-lined seating and striking pillows also add elegant flair to the space:

Commercial Lobbies
We now move from hotels to the spaces we walk through everyday–our residences and offices. Let’s start with the lobby of The Shore highrise condo building in Austin, Texas. Stadout features include seating by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and a bubble-themed wall art installation. A trio of indoor planters adds a touch of greenery, while a large pendant light draws the eye upward…

Plant Growing PC Concepts: "The main idea of this project is to design a CPU that is more concerned about "green thinking' and 'life style' by having a decorative piece."

Mansion Planter: Creation of designer Nobuhiro Sato, this unique planter resembles a realistic small-scale mansion; its incredibly detailed, complete with windows, balconies, handrails and stairs.

Eggling Planter: A real plant comes out of this one. 

Upside-Down Tomato Garden: With this one the tomatoes grow downward from the top and it can hold up to 4 tomato plants at one time.

Kitchen Garden: "Have fresh aromatic herblets in your kitchen. Just cut them when you need some. They can grow vertically."

Tiles Planter: Green Pockets an innovative idea by designer Maruja Fuentes to grow your indoor plants. Sure to add greenery to the interior space and definitely improving the looks.

Manga Books Planters: Tokyo-based artist Koshi Kawachi cultivated vegetables such as radish sprouts in an interesting way using Manga books that can be found everywhere.

Ceramic and Park Planters: 

Office Partition & Foot Rest: "It has an exclusive area to place the plants whilst acting as a divider between work-desks. An automatic watering system takes care of the watering."

A Growing Book: This unique planter makes book reading more interactive. "You get to water and take care of your plants everyday as you see the book, which brings about a different and unique experience."

Pram Planter: Created using a vintage baby pram.

Stiletto Heels Planters: High heels get a second life as planters.

Roman Colosseum Planter: "This artistically detailed sculpture can also be used as a table centerpiece on your patio or porch."

Can Planters: An interesting way to bring a little low-maintenance life to your home office.

Lamp Planter: "This is a ceramic piece attached to the desk lamp arm, it gives us an idea for creative reuse of the real thing."

Pet Plant: Creation of Junyi Heo, "it allows you to see your plant's "emotions" - whether it needs water, is too hot, and other conditions."

Home Farming: It's a self-contained farm for growing plants and raising fish.

Rock Face Planters: Made from durable rock textured polyresin, these come in a set of two, one large and one small.

Sound Garden Speakerse: These speakers generate their own electricity using the water added to them plus you will be able to enjoy great music at the same time.

Handcrafted Ceramic Planter: It's a multi-plant ceramic container supporting a variety of herbs and flowers and can be used both indoors and outdoors.

Outdoor Living Wall Planter: A creative way to naturally decorate a blank wall.

Indoor Living Wall Planters: The tray on the bottom collects all excess water. 

Solar Powered Planter: Depending on the sunlight the planter will glow for 2 to 8.

Electrolux Planter: Its handy for those who like greenery but would have hard time finding a place for their plants.

Off The Wall Mini Planter: Creation of London design team Thelermont Hupton, these decorate your plain walls with greenery.

There are times in life when you have to count the cost. When you have to weigh the benefits to the disadvantages and vice versa. As summer and it’s Olympic glory is upon us we find ourselves ensconced in our air-conditioned houses, feet kicked back on the lazy boy as we run our fingers through our hair in boredom and frustration.

The advantage of this situation: Staying cool and sweat free. But picture yourself on the beach, enjoying the sports of fellow beach mongers as they ride the waves in real 3D visualization rather than glued to your indoor TV screen.

Sure you will get hot, the tip of your nose and shoulders may get sunburned and it could take weeks to eliminate the sand from your car and clothes but there will be no preoccupied finger hair combing.

Do you know what they call this? It’s called being alive.

Turquoise and any shade of this color should have a main role in the formation of your room. This exuberant color with sidekicks of green and coral or tangerine will bring the wonder of the clear waters of St. Lucia alive. Start from the ground up and include turquoise in your rugs, your pillows, throws décor and at least one hanging element from your ceiling. This will hopefully lend the feeling of being entirely captured under the sweet and salty exotic fish invested waters.

Motion

Even when it seems like water is still, if it seems it’s lying dormant there is so much animation that cannot be grasped by our eyes alone. This motion can be brought in our new room in a literal way via an interior hammock made of loosely woven natural rope. You can also give your décor an element of mystery by it requiring translation. Hand blown glass elements are a perfect way to bring in the sand of the Oceanside as well as the motion through an abstract shape.

Unencumbered Furniture

Keep it comfortable, keep it simple, keep it fresh. Our main goal is to capture the outdoor essence and set if loose in our home, so furniture that could be seen indoors as well as outdoors is a bonus as well.

Sunshine & Lighting

Project Albatross located in Mermaid Beach, Queensland is a tropical getaway that combines the charm of the sun, sea and sand outdoors with lavish elegance indoors. Part of the famed Gold Coast, the house has been designed to take in the many sights and sounds outside in an unabated manner. Flowing interiors that seem to have seamless connectivity with the surroundings grace the Albatross Residence throughout. Designed by BGD Architects, an open living plan coupled with beautiful use of wood, stone and glass elevates the appeal of this majestic beach house.

While the façade of the structure itself offers ample privacy thanks to the daft use of wood and concrete, the elevation facing the ocean offers unobstructed views. Extravagant use of glass and large sliding glass doors ensure there is ample natural ventilation at all times. Presence of warm wooden surfaces and timber accents in the residence gives it an inviting and cozy atmosphere. While the lower level of the structure holds the living area, dining space and the ergonomic kitchen, plush bedroom and bathrooms are housed in the top level.

Located in one of the finest Melbourne’s suburbs, this 4-bedroom house will satisfy your request of luxury and coziness at one time. The picturesque lush garden and beautiful environment is connected almost every room of the house due to the large windows. The transparency creates a seamless transition between the environments, making the inhabitants explore the best of both, home and nature. he breezy indoor and the uncluttered atmosphere creates the perfect nest to keep the stress away. A wonderful roof-top terrace offers the most amazing views over the site. Really love the window in kitchen area and bathroom, so connected to the nature.

Who doesn’t like swing chair? Hang in the air and enjoy the cozy comfort. You can put them wherever you want it to be, inside or out. It’s for after that hard day at work, or something fun for the weekend. Picture yourself, chilling out and relaxing, wherever and whenever you want. Isn’t that great? Check out below 7 Cool Swing Chairs, you can not only swing by yourself but also swing with your family or your co-workers.

1. Cozy Egg Shape Swing chair [buy on amazon]

Enjoy the cozy comfort of the Bertone egg shaped swing chair. Let the wind gently sway you as you relax in the deep, luxurious cushion. All season durability, easy care and water-wicking fabric cushions make the Bertone the perfect addition to any patio or deck. Simple assembly required Use in shaded area recommended for extended durability.

2. Balance Curve Porch Swing Chair [buy on amazon]

Enjoy the open-air of sunshine or moonlight on your deck or patio with the balance curve. The gentle contours of this hanging chair set will enhance any outdoor living design. Weight capacity: 250 Materials Epoxy-coated aluminum frames w/ resin wicker Hardware, Eyelag S-hook Chain Cushions One comfy pillow Easy to maintain, the gorgeous-looking synthetic weave furniture focuses on appealing modern shapes without neglecting comfort. Simple assembling require

3. Urban Balance Curve Rattan [buy on amazon]

As you settle in and adjust to a new level of relaxation, a peaceful easy feeling takes over and before you know it, you’ve contracted a full-blown case of peace of mind. Which is A-OK, because hopefully you’ve got nowhere to go and everywhere to flow. The Urban Balance Curve is made from premier quality materials such as epoxy coated aluminum frames and all-weather wicker with strict attention paid to the highest manufacturing standards.

4. Outdoor Wicker Swing Chair [buy on amazon]

The wicker swing chair is a great piece of outdoor furniture it provides relax, comfortable and stylish looks to your back yard. Made of all genuine material; wicker and rattan. Water-mimicking fabric cushion gives you comfortable seating. Simple assembly required.

5. Bubble Chair [buy on madeindesign]

Type : Armchair
Colour : Clear – Silver cushions
Material : Acrylglass -Chromed steel bar – Cushion Taifun silver
Dimensions : H 108 x W 105 x D 83 cm
Characteristics : 2 meter chain + hooks

6. Swing Table 4 Person [buy on duffylondon]

Materials: Walnut wood from Forestry Stewardship Council managed forests and other controlled sources, and powder-coated mild steel.
Finishes: Available in a variety of other colours and finishes. Please contact us in regards to your preferred finish.
Dimensions: (H) 220cm (L) 160cm (W) 160cm

7. Cacoon swing chair [buy on hang-in-out]

Cacoon by husband and wife team Nick and Sarah is a swing chair, a hammock, a hanging garden seat and whatever you want it to be. It is the coolest hanging haven for grown-ups and a fantastic place for growing up in for kids.

Located in Austin, Texas, the Lakefront Residence exudes laidback rustic charm even as it showcases classy modern. Designed by Audino Construction, dark and mellow wooden surfaces along with glass have been used to create brilliant visual and textural contrast inside this fabulous home. With lush green surroundings and a beautiful water body flanking, there is little wonder the residence seems so elegantly appealing the instant you lay eyes on it!

It is this picture-perfect exterior that drew us to the Lakefront Residence and its interiors are as appealing as the beautiful façade of the home. Rich wooden tones continue throughout the home with stone surfaces only making an appearance when it is an absolutely must. The plush covering on the walls in dark brown and the warm fireplace give the space a log cabin appeal in an instant. Lifting your sullen spirits with ease and taking you away from the constant rush of big city life, there is something innately soothing and tranquil about the setting.

Interesting décor additions that border on the eclectic and sliding glass doors that bring in plenty of natural ventilation make sure there is never any dullness around. A green backyardand large deck space complete the simple, yet stylish outdoors. Private quarters of the home seem to be located on the top level, giving those inside unobstructed views along with necessary solitude.