The Dining Room and Its Furnishings 205
arranging the furniture in a dining room, the principle of
balance should be observed. In Figure 68, the serving table and
wheel tray at one end of the room balance the buffet at the other
end. The one larger piece
attracts about as much at-
tention as the two smaller
pieces of furniture.
A dining room has one
purpose : it is a place to
eat. Because of this, only
those things which make
eating comfortable and
pleasant should be placed
in the room. The dining
room should not have a
crowded appearance. Can-
dles, vases, and beautiful
dishes placed on the buffet
may add to the attractive-
ness of the room, but they
should be few in number.
Study the arrangement of
articles on top of the buffet
in Figures 70 and 71.
What are the advan-
tages of a breakfast nook
and combination living-
dining room? The break-
fast nook is a step-saver; this probably accounts for itc
popularity. Where economy must be practiced, it is possible
to dispense with a dining room when there is a breakfast nook.
The greatest objection to this plan is that breakfast nooks are
not large enough to entertain guests for a meal. The living-
dining room (Figure 72) overcomes this objection. Such a
Figure 69. A Poor Arrangement of
Furniture in a Dining Room
Furniture placed diagonally across the
corner of a room does not look well because
the diagonal line contradicts the vertical and
horizontal lines of the corners of the room.
A rug diagonally placed is displeasing for the
same reason. The chairs grouped in one
corner of the room are neither symmetri-
cally nor conveniently placed.
Figure 70. A Good Arrangement of Articles on a Buffet
Notice that the bowl of flowers is exactly in the middle of the buffet and
makes a center of interest. The candlesticks are alike ; the plates are the
same in size and material, differing only in design. The pair of candles and
plates are placed in similar positions, because one attracts the same amount
of attention as the other.
Figure 71. A Poor Arrangement of Articles on a Buffet
These two groups of objects are placed at the same distance from the
center, but the objects differ in material and shape. Two unrelated centers
of interest are shown, each detracting from the beauty of the other. Hence
this arrangement is poor.
A strip of tapestry or printed linen hung behind the buffet, somewhat as
shown in Figure 70, would tie the two groups of objects together, and make
a pleasing arrangement.
206
The Dining Room and Its Furnishings 207
room is used as a combination living room and dining room.
One end of the room is arranged for the serving of meals.
An L-shaped room makes a good living-dining room. A table
that would look well in a living room and also serve as a
dining table is desirable in such a room (Figures 73 and 74).
A secretary is a suitable piece of furniture in the living-dining
Better Homes and Garden
Figure 72. A Living-Dining Room
One end of this room is planned for a dining room and the other for a
living room. The steps to the dining-room end separate the two parts of the
room in an interesting way. A partition between the rooms would make
each room appear small and much less attractive. Where space must be
economized, one large room used as both living and dining rooms is much
more pleasing than two small rooms.
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The Dining Room and Its Furnishings 205
arranging the furniture in a dining room, the principle of
balance should be observed. In Figure 68, the serving table and
wheel tray at one end of the room balance the buffet at the other
end. The one larger piece
attracts about as much at-
tention as the two smaller
pieces of furniture.
A dining room has one
purpose : it is a place to
eat. Because of this, only
those things which make
eating comfortable and
pleasant should be placed
in the room. The dining
room should not have a
crowded appearance. Can-
dles, vases, and beautiful
dishes placed on the buffet
may add to the attractive-
ness of the room, but they
should be few in number.
Study the arrangement of
articles on top of the buffet
in Figures 70 and 71.
What are the advan-
tages of a breakfast nook
and combination living-
dining room? The break-
fast nook is a step-saver; this probably accounts for itc
popularity. Where economy must be practiced, it is possible
to dispense with a dining room when there is a breakfast nook.
The greatest objection to this plan is that breakfast nooks are
not large enough to entertain guests for a meal. The living-
dining room (Figure 72) overcomes this objection. Such a
Figure 69. A Poor Arrangement of
Furniture in a Dining Room
Furniture placed diagonally across the
corner of a room does not look well because
the diagonal line contradicts the vertical and
horizontal lines of the corners of the room.
A rug diagonally placed is displeasing for the
same reason. The chairs grouped in one
corner of the room are neither symmetri-
cally nor conveniently placed.
Figure 70. A Good Arrangement of Articles on a Buffet
Notice that the bowl of flowers is exactly in the middle of the buffet and
makes a center of interest. The candlesticks are alike ; the plates are the
same in size and material, differing only in design. The pair of candles and
plates are placed in similar positions, because one attracts the same amount
of attention as the other.
Figure 71. A Poor Arrangement of Articles on a Buffet
These two groups of objects are placed at the same distance from the
center, but the objects differ in material and shape. Two unrelated centers
of interest are shown, each detracting from the beauty of the other. Hence
this arrangement is poor.
A strip of tapestry or printed linen hung behind the buffet, somewhat as
shown in Figure 70, would tie the two groups of objects together, and make
a pleasing arrangement.
206
The Dining Room and Its Furnishings 207
room is used as a combination living room and dining room.
One end of the room is arranged for the serving of meals.
An L-shaped room makes a good living-dining room. A table
that would look well in a living room and also serve as a
dining table is desirable in such a room (Figures 73 and 74).
A secretary is a suitable piece of furniture in the living-dining
Better Homes and Garden
Figure 72. A Living-Dining Room
One end of this room is planned for a dining room and the other for a
living room. The steps to the dining-room end separate the two parts of the
room in an interesting way. A partition between the rooms would make
each room appear small and much less attractive. Where space must be
economized, one large room used as both living and dining rooms is much
more pleasing than two small rooms.