conomic uncertainty. A changing political climate. Decreasing consumer confidence. Americans today have a lot to be anxious about -- and the need for escape is greater than ever. No place is this need more evident than in the home.

According to Judy Riley, Moen's vice president of design, the home is looked to as the primary place for comfort and serenity during times of unrest. "With decreased entertainment budgets and the growing trend toward entertaining in the home, Americans are spending a lot more time indoors," says Riley. "Today's home is for much more than eating and sleeping -- it is an escape from the outside world."

fter a long, economically challenged year, many homeowners can look forward to one bright spot on the New Year horizon: the expectation of a tax refund to help fund much-needed home fix-ups.

t's hard not to want a fashionable, newly remodeled home, especially if your cabinets are cluttered and crumbling from years of use, and the bathroom is so out of date you're embarrassed to have company visit. Now is a good time to do a little advance planning for remodeling to ensure every hard-earned dollar is used wisely.

f you're selling your home, you're not just competing against the house down the street anymore. You're mixing it up with desperate new-home builders with pockets deeper than yours, banks willing to sell foreclosed homes at a loss, and buyers who know that sellers are at a disadvantage. You definitely need an edge.

ural style furnishings usually refer to objects that are natural, carry a sense of history, are made by hand, have a hardy or sturdy exterior, or are inspired by a correlation to the great outdoors. "Western" style decorations are similar to the rural theme; with more of an influence of the "old West." The Old West influence typically refers to the cowboy, gun-slinging way of life of the 19th century or the western area of the United States. Western style decor also commonly carries with it profound themes from Native American art and traditions, particularly in the popular Southwestern approach of home furnishings and decoration.