Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1910 — Home Course In Domestic Science [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Home Course In Domestic Science

XlV.—Principles of Home Decoration.

By EDITH G. CHARLTON,

In Charge of Domestic Economy, lowa State College.

THE subject of/ home decoration and furnishing is so large and comes so closely to the individual life of the family that an outsider hesitates to make even the simplest suggestions. And yet just because the subject is large and important and because it is, on the whole, bo little understood by the average person is one very good reason why instruction is needed along certain lines. All that I shall attempt, however, in these articles on house furnishing will be some of the very first principles, just a few hints for the women who are not sure of their own opinions on such matters, whose experience has been limited and whose opportunities for getting really good things are very few. ok There was a time in the history of our country when the family was content with the home which simply afforded shelter. That was the primitive object of the home, an instinct devel-

oped from early ages, when caves, rocks and later mounds of earth and wood furnished the dwelling place for ‘ the family. Undeveloped were the instincts which prompted primeval man

to seek a place of shelter for bis own little circle of human beihgs. They were, however, the beginning of the highest and strongest social institution in the world, that of family life and the private home. Now conditions have changed, people have developed, and the borne must be something more than a place of shelter. It is still the keystone of the nation, the place where those qualities which make for good citizenship are developed, and therefore it is worthy of all the thought all the Intelligent planning and the noblest feelings that can be brought to it. The true home should reflect the character of the people who inhabit it, and above all else it should be of such a nature as to bring out the best there is in each individual beneath its roof. And a home in the true sense of the word can and does do this. Things Not to Do. Some of the most glaring faults in home furnishing are the commonest, those committed thoughtlessly or perhaps, to be more exact, those prompt-, ed by the dictates of fashion. It is so much easier very often to put into our homes and wear on our persons, even to put into our manner, those things which fashion says are right rather than to adopt those things which suit our own individuality, environment and needs. Just because fashion states that a certain kind of wall paper, a certain color in carpets or certain styles in furniture are the “latest” and “newest” is no reason in the world why they should be put into your homes unless they will be suitable there. Yet very many times the decree goes forth and is followed blindly, with the result that beauty, harmony and repose are qualities totally ignored in many homes. Some one has said: “The world is full of beautiful things if one has money to buy them. The world is also full of ugly things—things false in art. in truth and beauty. They are things made to sell wjtb only this idea behind them.” So do not be tempted by the too common expression, “It is the very latest style,” when buying furnishings for your home or wearing apparel for yourself unless the “very latest thing” has beauty and suitability to recommend it. To have something like every one else is also another fault made in house furnishing. That is one reason why so many country houses try to reproduce on a cheaper scale the city home and why there are so many unattractive homes in smaller towns and country places. Ignorance of or indifference to color and color harmony is another cause for lack of beauty in furnishing. Again, pictures, furniture, ornaments and everything else are brought into our home without a thought of articles already there. The new and the very tones ot gray. Rooms in which little sunlight Is admitted must be brightened and be given the effect of sunlight. This may be imparted by using warm colors in its decorations. These are yellow, red brown, reds, yellow with a hint of red, olive and gold green.

It is well to bear in (hind that almost every color has a cold and a warm tone. The first Is produced by combining blue or green with the original color, while the warm tone Is made by combining red or yellow with It. Thus browu with a bint of blue Is cold, while brown with a hint of red is.warm, and the effect of the two is entirely different, . The number, size and placing of the windows also greatly affect the Intensity of the color. It must always be remembered that any Interior;is dark compared with dut of doors, and In the lightest room there will be dark corners or spaces where the color will seem much darker than It really is. This explains why wall paper wbicb appeared perfectly satisfactory in the dealer’s store is often a disappointment on the wall of the room for which it was bought The sample in the store was displayed In a different light from that In the room. Three principles will always govern the proper use of color In house decoration—first, that of color in relation to light; second, color in gradation, and. third, color in masses. These principles are not difficult to master, but they are important and as impossible to escape as climate. The shades of color used on walls or ceiling govern everything else. The color of the walls prescribes the color that must be used in floor coverings, curtains and draperies. After the relation of color to light has been established and personal preferences have been taken into account the nexf principle is that of gradation. The strongest and purest tones of the color are naturally and almost by instinct put at the base—that Is, the floor covering sbpuld carry the darkest coir or or its strongest tone. It is not often advisable to use what Is Ipiown as a one color decoration—that is, confining the entire decoration to a single color. Such a plan Is much like trying to make a melody on one note of the scale. The best effects in both sounds and color are produced by the skillful variation of tones. The gradation and combination of even opposing tints give the greatest satisfaction to the eye. But, whatever the color or colors used, they must be darkest on the floor. The walls will give the second grade In color and the celling the last. These gradations, too, should be distinct and separate enough in tone to be perfectly apparent. The connecting grades may appear in furniture covering and draperies. Then the third principle, using color in masses, means that whatever color is used should be given space enough to establish Itself freely. In other words, it should not be broken into patches and neutralized by divisions. Nature does not put a single red leaf on a tree and then change the color to yellow or green. Rather the whole forest will have its various colors so arranged that one is perfectly conscious of every one of them. The brilliant red is in quantity sufficient to make itself felt, yet it does not interfere with the glow of the yellow or the restfulness of tj>e green. T*he general tone of the room may be what you will—green or blue or a division of each—but to be perfect every detail in the room must be related to one or both of these colors. If this rule is disregarded every piece of furniture unrelated to the whole becomes a spot which has no real connection with and puts the entire room out of harmony. Where to Use Different Colors. Some colors are much better suited to one room than another. If one’s favorite color is pink it should not be used in the dining room or hall. Light blues, pinks, lavender and other dainty shades are more suitable for sleeping rooms occupied by . young people, though for th£ average person there is no better color than a soft, unobtrusive green for a bedroom: Red has for years been the favorite color for dining room, and yet there are certain reasons why it is entirely out of place there. For one reason, the color soon becomes monotonous and has an irritating effect upon nervous or highly strung persons. Although a warm color, it is inclined to absorb light. It is very rich,: and warm in sunlight or artificial light, but in ordinary daylight it makes a room seem dark and gloomy. If red is to be used at all in wall covering It should be confined to a hall or den, some room which is not in constant use. When yellow happens to be a~ favorite color it is a good one to use in the dining room, particularly when, as is often the case, that room has a northern exposure. Golden browns and tans are satisfactory in living rooms when conditions are right for them—that is, when there is not too much sunlight in the room.) Living rooms .should be decorated not .only with restful colors, but those whileh suggest cheeriness as well. Sleeping rooms should be soothing, and the colors which produce this effect are supposed to be quiet greens, soft grays and dull blues. The paneled wall and beamed ceiling of dark wood with color showing between make a splendid finish for living and dining rooms and hall, especially in a country house. One particularly attractive country home had the dining room ceiled with birch legs on which the white bark had been retained to gleam in the firelight. A tinting of soft green on rough plaster gave the room a delightful woodsy effect quite in keeping with the rural surroundings. How much more appropriate a decoration like that in a country house than some artificial arrangement copied from a city bouse! t Whether the investigators find that the “recent” advance of prices is doe to the tariff or not, one thing is certain —viz,,that not only recently, but always. the cost of lining has been 1 higher because we nave a tariff than If we had no tariff-

COMFORTABLE LIVING ROOM.