Naomi Watts' vertical planting trick transforms her doorway into a 'living wall' – the vibrant look has expert-approved benefits

Why worry about the exterior color of your home when you can bring it to life with the right plants? Vertical planting on a house's exterior transforms its look, instantly adding an air of romance and whimsy. The ivy planted around Naomi Watts's back door is the perfect example.

Watts took to Instagram to share an image of herself posing in a green dress on her patio. Though Watts looks stunning, the climbing plants on her cream walls are just as beautiful. They have been trained to grow around and over her door and expertly pruned to leave a walkway clear. Her glass French doors with gray paint are cool and reflective, contrasting a modern feel with the classic energy of the ivy against the home.

Vertical gardening is more than just beautiful, it's also a very practical way to decorate the exterior of your home. 'Vertical planting is a great way to disguise elements of your yard that might not be the most attractive, including walls,' says gardening expert Dan Bailey. He continues, 'This helps to not only hide these elements but also to provide a more naturalistic cover that doesn't just create another eyesore.'

For those hoping to recreate Watts's walls, there's one plant that's best for the job: English Ivy. It's beautiful and and easy to learn how to care for ivy. Bailey suggests: 'I tend to recommend your traditional English ivy for the job—it's low-maintenance, fast growing, and creates gorgeous green cover for unsightly walls.'

On the topic of best plants to cover a wall, Miguel Camperos, gardening expert at SunVara adds: 'English Ivy is a great plant to use for vertical planting if you're trying to disguise an ugly wall. This plant is known for its vigorous growth and its ability to climb virtually any surface. It has beautiful lobed foliage that stays green throughout the entire year, providing constant cover for your space. It's also quite hardy and can tolerate a range of light conditions, from shade to partial sunlight. It also has air-purifying qualities, making it a great choice for both aesthetics and health reasons!'

However, before you decide to plant your entire house over with English ivy, it's important to do research. In certain regions, this vine can be an invasive plant. Be sure to check that it's safe to plant where you live. If English Ivy doesn't work in your area, there are many other varieties of ivy and climbing plant that can be used as an easy alternative.

The most important thing when it comes to ivy care is knowing how and when to prune your ivy. Though it may seem intimidating or unhealthy for the plant, the opposite is actually true. Excessive pruning is needed to keep your ivy in check and to keep the plant thriving in any conditions.

To recreate Naomi Watts's look, be sure to contrast the traditional nature of the ivy exterior with more modern elements. On her home, Watts accomplishes this look with gray paint and glass. You could also choose to use an angular door shape, yard statues, or bright colored walls for a similar juxtaposition.

When the walls are alive, your home will always pop.