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A vertical garden, also known as a living wall, is the ultimate way to bring nature into your home. Whether youre in the city and want to introduce some greenery into urban quarters or simply enjoy the relaxing ambiance of a wall clad with plants, there are many reasons to consider designing one in your home. Heres a breakdown of everything you need to know before getting started on your vertical garden:

Design Details
While you can simply mount a trellis on the wall, youll want to reserve that for the terrace or patio. Indoor living walls require a series of pockets to hold the plants and a drip irrigation system that will keep them healthy without making a mess of your home. They make the perfect addition to a living room, but keep in mind how much light each wall gets when deciding where to put the garden. You also don’t need to create large living walls or elaborate designs”small, simple gardens can still add to a room’s ambiance, so determine which type of design is right for you and your space.

Pick Your Plants
The amount of sunlight that the area receives will play a role in the plants best suited to your vertical garden. Golden pothos and crotons are popular choices because they tend to do well in bright, indirect light. Ferns are another favorite because they can grow quickly in shady places and create a verdant setting, though be aware that they do best in humid conditions.

Sit Back and Enjoy the Benefits
There are many immediate advantages to having a green living environment inside your home. For starters, it will improve your air quality and remove pollutants so you and your family can enjoy a healthier atmosphere. If you can hear the sounds of the city from your living room, or the kids are learning to play the drums in the room next door, youll be happy to hear that vertical gardens are also effective ways to reduce noise pollution. Lastly, plants are proven to reduce our stress levels, meaning this eco-chic design will help you relax each day.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If your home needs repairs and you dont have enough money in your bank account, it can be tempting to use your home equity. Doing so might be your best option in some cases, but it can be risky.

When and How to Tap Into Home Equity for Repairs
The decision on how to finance home repairs will depend on whether they are urgent. A leaky roof needs to be fixed now, before it gets worse and you wind up with major damage, both inside and outside the house. Any issue that could put your family at risk or make your home uninhabitable, such as a broken furnace in the middle of winter, needs to be addressed immediately. In that case, you might have no choice but to access your home equity.

With a home equity loan, you can receive money in a lump sum and repay it at a fixed interest rate. Home equity loans typically have higher interest rates than first or second mortgages. Youll have to make monthly payments until the amount borrowed has been repaid.

With a home equity line of credit (HELOC), you can draw money as you need it, similar to the way a credit card works. Your monthly payments will be based on the amount of money youve used. HELOCs have adjustable rates, which means your payments may rise and fall.

When to Wait and Save
Optional projects, such as remodeling a bathroom or upgrading kitchen appliances, can wait until youve saved up enough cash. Saving the money ahead of time can help you avoid having to repay a home equity loan or HELOC with interest. In the meantime, you can look for other ways to make your home more comfortable, such as making smaller changes or tackling just one piece of a larger project.

Is Using Home Equity a Good Option for Home Repairs?
Some home repairs cant wait. In such a situation, you might have to access your home equity through a loan or line of credit. Before you choose either, make sure you understand how it works and the risks involved. If you take out a home equity loan or HELOC and dont make the payments on time, you can lose your home.

You shouldnt get in the habit of borrowing against your home equity, but rather should focus on saving and prioritizing and use home equity only when absolutely necessary. If you can wait to make repairs, saving the money first is a safer move.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

For veterans or service members looking to buy a home with a Veterans Affairs loan, there are some extra steps to take and home condition requirements that arent needed with other types of loans.

The home must be safe, clean, in good condition and move-in ready, partly because the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doesnt want to back a loan where the military members finances are at risk because they have to make unexpected home repairs.

The extra work can be worthwhile. VA loans are 0.25 to 0.50 percent lower than conventional loans, dont require a down payment or mortgage insurance, and have more flexible and forgiving requirements. Closing costs are limited and lenders fees are limited to 1 percent of the loan amount.

The government guarantees at least a quarter of the loan amount on a VA mortgage, which is why a down payment and mortgage insurance arent needed.

For buyers who qualify, here are some things to be aware of when buying a home with a VA loan:

Look for a move-in ready home.Homes that are structurally sound, safe and sanitary are more likely to pass the VA appraisal. The property must have adequate heating, roofing and safety features, and major issues must be repaired before the loan can close. If the VA expert has to return to reinspect something that needs to be fixed, the borrower will have to pay more inspection fees.

Be ready for an inspection.A home inspection is a normal part of buying a house, but a VA inspector will make sure the property is in good, working order. But a lot of the things theyll be looking at are cosmetic, which a regular lender wouldnt be concerned with. Though a VA inspection can sound like a professional home inspection, it isnt and buyers can hire their own inspectors after the VA one if theyd like.

And more inspections.The VA also requires some inspections that other lenders dont. A VA loan will require a pest inspection, along with a look at the septic tank, if there is one, and the water well if the property isnt on a city water line.

Quicker timeline.VA loans have tighter timelines than other types of loans, which is why hiring a real estate agent and loan officer who have experience with VA loans can make the process smoother. Active-duty service members can have short buying windows if theyre ordered to move to another base.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Some things just get better with age, and thats certainly the case when it comes to reclaimed wood. Brand-new wood floors and ceiling beams have plenty of appeal, but if you want to give your home a distinguished look, you may want to consider salvaging timber from an old barn or factory. Here are just a few reasons why reclaimed wood might be the right choice for you!

Eco-Friendly
There are many popular types of wood that are difficult to find sustainably sourced, like ipe and teak. If you have your heart set on using one of these, the best way to do it just might be by repurposing it from elsewhere. Furthermore, youre helping to preserve natural resources and can feel good about using timber that would otherwise go to waste.

Already Weathered
Each piece of reclaimed wood is unique and has often already developed a patina. This makes it a great choice if you have kids or pets who are prone to scuffing up the floors, because the beauty is in the flaws that come from being used over time.

Versatility
For a long time, reclaimed wood was only used in traditional or rustic design; however, these days, it can be found in almost any setting. In a modern residence, the juxtaposition of old and new creates a stunning aesthetic while also adding warmth.

History
Unlike new materials, theres a story behind reclaimed wood that gives character to your home. Whether its antique French oak floors in the kitchen or hand-hewn beams from an old farmhouse in your living room, these are far from run-of-the-mill details.

Transcend the Trends
While certain styles come and go, salvaged wood has timeless appeal that continues to improve with age. After all, there arent too many other finishes in a home that still look good after being used for decades or sometimes even centuries!

Published with permission from RISMedia.

With rent rising and family sizes decreasing, millennials have started to opt for smaller alternatives when it comes to real estate. Maybe the trend came from IKEA showrooms, the micro-housing wave, or simply from growing accustomed to sharing apartments with one too many people. The fact remains: people may want to pay for smaller, but they still want to live as large as possible.

The goal is to avoid creating a highly congested space. Thankfully, experts like author and real estate professional Matt Parker have done the homework for us. Learn to make the most of your small space by following these tips from Parker:

1. Rooms with high ceilings, 9 ft. or taller, help make small square-footage spaces feel large. In many cases, liking or disliking a home has to do with ceiling height.
2. Add custom bookshelves high on one wall in a room. This creates a spacer for your eye, drawing your glance up and making the room appear larger.
3. Use large paintings in small rooms, one wall only, and you will be amazed how much bigger they feel, says Parker.
4. Follow this rule: If you havent used it in a year, sell or donate it. Parker recently did this, and removed about 25% of his familys clutter.
5. When it comes to clothes, consider quality over quantity. According to Parker, folks in Los Angeles often hire a wardrobe assistant who helps them pick four perfect outfits per quarter. Buy really nice clothes, that are really trendy, in small batches, then immediately get rid of them, he explains. What a win/win from a fashion/lifestyle standpoint!
6. Use a stand-up desk instead of a sit-down desk. Sit-down desks occupy about 100 square feet, explains Parker.
7. In small rooms, install a very large custom mantle. This lends a sense of grandeur to a small space.
8. To make small rooms feel more spacious, decorate with light colors: gray, white, light blues, light yellow, light green, and stick to the same color palette throughout the room.
9. Large floor rugs make rooms feel much bigger.
10. Parker also advises against buying huge wholesale quantities of food. Instead, buy one weeks worth of healthy, fresh food each week. You will feel better, and look better, like your home!

I am recommending people buy nicer things, enjoy them more, and live better lives. I am not indicating to stop consuming or become a hermit. Simply be decisive about what you love and eliminate the rest! You will not believe the sense of peace, and style, adds Parker.

As you can see, the trick to living large in a small space is to not be afraid to let go. Freeing up space usually taken up by clutter allows you to enjoy things you actually like. Thats what makes the transition worth it. Well, that and all the extra cash youll be saving!

Matt Parker is the author of Real Estate Smart: The New Home Buying Guide and Real Estate Agent Talks. Parker works entirely paperless and happily lives in a 560 square-foot home with his wife, where he prioritizes living, not clutter.

Published with permission from RISMedia.