The furnishings of the room should Ix* so arranged as not
to crowd all the intc*ii:'st on one or two walls, leaving the other
parts of the room empty and dead. Instead, the interest should
be distributed throughout the room by a balanced arrangement.
For example, heavy features, such as a fireplace on one side
of the room, may l>e balanced by a long davenfxirt on the oppo-
site side, with bookcase, table, and desk occupying end positions.
The next step is to consider the arrangement of furnishings
from the standpoint of convenience and use. The comfort of a
room depends on the grouping of the pieces that ai-e to be used
I
I
I
94
.1 MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING
together. Thiiii a generoiLs liWng-room may provide a hearth
center, a reading center, a music center, and a sewing center if
the furnishings are properly grouped" or, in the case of a bed-
room, a bed, night table, and lamp might form one group, with
dresser, chair, and closet in another.
The arrangement of the furnishings depends very greatly
on the location of windows antl doors. The good light necessary
for reading, writing, or sewing puts a premium on the positions
near the windows, for, while thcMjretically it is possilile to see
in all parts of a comfortalily lighted room, the direct hght from
a window is the best for all kinds of close work. The furniture
grouping must, therefore, acijiist itself to this requirement.
Desks arranged with a good light from the left sirie, the prin-
cipal reading seats within comfortalile distance from the win-
dows, and adeciuate lanij^s or lighting fixtures provided where
most needed, insure satisfaction in this respect.
Care should also be taken to arrange' furniture groups away
from drafts and paths of travel Bookcases^ cabinets, and the
hke, may occupy odd bits of wall in locations where it is not
comfortable to sit.
Just as the form of a chair may be less rectangular than
other pieces of furniture, so its position in the furnishing scheme
is more frw* l^he veiy use of cfiairs implies tfiat they cannot
in general occupy fixed positions, with the exception perhaps
of an occasional upholstered or straight -backed chair, Thia
flexibility of chair arrangements introduces enough variety to
keep the room from looking stiff. Nothing in the room is so
insignificant as to escajx? the ncHnl of thoughtful placing; vases,
clocks, lamps, and pictures, all are elements in the scheme.
Arrangement, however, is as much concerned with the elimi-
nation of superfluous features as with the proper disposal of
the essentials. Souvenirs, trinkets, :md family photographs, no
matter what their personal significance, cheapen the effect
and lessen the dignity of rooms intended for general use.
A room is a good de^sign only when nothing can be added
and nothing can l>e taken away without marring its com-
pleteness.
I
HOME FURNISHING
95
CHARACTER OP BOOMS EXPRESSED BY FURNISHINGS
The hail, living-room, dining-room, and Ubrary, if there is one,
represent one group of interests, and may be considered to form
the soeia!, recreative, or living area of the house. The general
character of these rooms should be spaciotts and decorative in
j&ffect. Though each unit of this i^roup should have its own dis-
tinctive character, tliese living-room^^, on account of their inter-
relation and common use, should show some harmony in color
and treatment.
Page 53
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AI-modernized reading of the original text
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The furnishings of the room should Ix* so arranged as not
to crowd all the intc*ii:'st on one or two walls, leaving the other
parts of the room empty and dead. Instead, the interest should
be distributed throughout the room by a balanced arrangement.
For example, heavy features, such as a fireplace on one side
of the room, may l>e balanced by a long davenfxirt on the oppo-
site side, with bookcase, table, and desk occupying end positions.
The next step is to consider the arrangement of furnishings
from the standpoint of convenience and use. The comfort of a
room depends on the grouping of the pieces that ai-e to be used
I
I
I
94
.1 MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING
together. Thiiii a generoiLs liWng-room may provide a hearth
center, a reading center, a music center, and a sewing center if
the furnishings are properly grouped" or, in the case of a bed-
room, a bed, night table, and lamp might form one group, with
dresser, chair, and closet in another.
The arrangement of the furnishings depends very greatly
on the location of windows antl doors. The good light necessary
for reading, writing, or sewing puts a premium on the positions
near the windows, for, while thcMjretically it is possilile to see
in all parts of a comfortalily lighted room, the direct hght from
a window is the best for all kinds of close work. The furniture
grouping must, therefore, acijiist itself to this requirement.
Desks arranged with a good light from the left sirie, the prin-
cipal reading seats within comfortalile distance from the win-
dows, and adeciuate lanij^s or lighting fixtures provided where
most needed, insure satisfaction in this respect.
Care should also be taken to arrange' furniture groups away
from drafts and paths of travel Bookcases^ cabinets, and the
hke, may occupy odd bits of wall in locations where it is not
comfortable to sit.
Just as the form of a chair may be less rectangular than
other pieces of furniture, so its position in the furnishing scheme
is more frw* l^he veiy use of cfiairs implies tfiat they cannot
in general occupy fixed positions, with the exception perhaps
of an occasional upholstered or straight -backed chair, Thia
flexibility of chair arrangements introduces enough variety to
keep the room from looking stiff. Nothing in the room is so
insignificant as to escajx? the ncHnl of thoughtful placing; vases,
clocks, lamps, and pictures, all are elements in the scheme.
Arrangement, however, is as much concerned with the elimi-
nation of superfluous features as with the proper disposal of
the essentials. Souvenirs, trinkets, :md family photographs, no
matter what their personal significance, cheapen the effect
and lessen the dignity of rooms intended for general use.
A room is a good de^sign only when nothing can be added
and nothing can l>e taken away without marring its com-
pleteness.
I
HOME FURNISHING
95
CHARACTER OP BOOMS EXPRESSED BY FURNISHINGS
The hail, living-room, dining-room, and Ubrary, if there is one,
represent one group of interests, and may be considered to form
the soeia!, recreative, or living area of the house. The general
character of these rooms should be spaciotts and decorative in
j&ffect. Though each unit of this i^roup should have its own dis-
tinctive character, tliese living-room^^, on account of their inter-
relation and common use, should show some harmony in color
and treatment.