Secrets to Decorating in a Downturn

Take Comfort

We need all the comforts of home these days, so surround yourself with cozy fabrics -- chenille, velvet, and mohair, if you can afford it. Just one armchair covered in a soft, warm fabric can provide refuge from the tide of bad news -- it’s the equivalent of a photo of your family on your desk at work, guaranteed to lower your blood pressure.

Put fluffy throws within arm’s reach of your favorite seat. Surround yourself with things that remind you of happy times, and hold the promise of the better days ahead: Photographs of family trips, family heirlooms, and souvenirs help you feel grounded in a turbulent world.