reaming of traveling to your favorite tropical destination? Are you, like many, skipping your vacation due to the current economic recession? Don't worry. Creative homeowners are bringing the idea of travel into their home by incorporating exotic decor that provides the feeling of a travel retreat.

According to a recent "Vacationing at Home" survey by Febreze and Harris Interactive, 75 percent of people would like to travel to an exotic destination around the world, but cannot afford to in the current economy. Furthermore, 84 percent of people feel that staying at home is a great way to relax.

This is why so many people are choosing a "staycation," where they spend time at home instead of traveling. The staycation idea has inspired a new trend in home decorating and design: tropical home decor. Inspiration for the trend springs directly from pleasant past vacation memories -- simply open up your photo album and reminisce about your trip to Hawaii or Brazil.

f the words "nature-inspired decor" make you think of muted wall hues or overwrought floral fabrics, it's time to rethink your take on this hot design trend.

Nature-inspired design can certainly be soothing, sedate and traditional, but a plethora of new products and techniques is also bringing the bold, bright and fun side of nature indoors. Whether it's a throw pillow that looks like birch bark or a full wall mural of green bamboo, nature's brighter side is spicing up modern American decor.

If you're looking for fun, funky ways to bring the brighter side of nature-inspired design into your home, here are a few ideas and items to look for:

f you haven't shopped for flooring in the past few years, prepare yourself. The vast array of hard-surface options is extensive, to say the least.

From stone to tile, wood to vinyl, linoleum to laminate, the choices can seem endless. How do you sift through the features and benefits of each to choose the product that is best for your home and your needs, from installation to maintenance and upkeep? And, equally important, how much is it going to cost to get the floor of your dreams?

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newly remodeled home, especially if your cabinets are cluttered and crumbling from years of use, and the bathroom is so out of date you're embarrassed to have company visit.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.