The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-03-03
How 10 Make Home Attractive

How TO Make Home Attractive
The first essential Of ar attractive
home Is light 1t is strange to notice
what d distinct impression Is made mp.
on d visi tors hind wien Tie door Of a
house opens in response TO her sum-
mons.
1t may reveal only an entry with hat
stand and chair. and yet the impress
sion of the home will be made then
and there. People often say that a
room betrays cha. acter; SO it does. but
n OF so instantly as an entry. All who
have started on a tour through a city
in search of board or lodging realize
this. A house looks attractive, it Is
worth VIII le to notice the announce
ment of rooms, and an approach is
made. Directly the door opens the in
quirer is vaguly aware of the probable
result of further investigation. Either
the air is dingy. filled with vaporous
recollection of dead meals. or it Is fresh.
bright and sunny. Perhaps the light
finds its way through semi-transparent
windows or brightly colored glass-no
matter. brightness is felt, and at once
the senses real re that the mats are
daily shaken free from dust. that the
narrow stairway is clean. and that tho
rooms above all be CHEEKY and whole
sonnet and this impression is the result
of mere atmosphere. OF mere atmos.
phere! Why. atmosphere is everything!
and how few remember this. In these
days of decorat We effort. especially,
housekeepers lavish 50 much time and
trouble upon walls and door panels,
windows. screens. and hangings that
they forget how frequently in doing so
they are defeating their own ends.
The home is cluttered up with hum
dreds of useless pretty decorative
articles. the very entry boasts spin
ning-wheel or some stray article Of
antique device, and all the while semi
darkness reigns, and the bright pure,
wholesome light is treated like q COM
mon enemy.
How often entering bright-looking,
many-windowed house overlooking
some lovely looking vista of green
field. meadow, or farm, is it to find
oneself in s:ckly semi-darkness!
We all realize the good effect of 60
l ;.,1 10 lo N, d,,k
stop to consider how much of the bene
fit is due to the brightness into which
we step. We feel depressed and mood,
and say turn out-of-doors will do III
good, and we leave the house. ever
though the day be dark and murky, WI
are sensible of feeling of relief, WI
are in the full light and at once ou1
hopes revive, our nerves are quoted
and we are aware of change for thu
better.
Very few seem TO appreciate how
attractive home may be made by the
mere influence of light, yet we al
realize it as evening closes and we ex-
change semi-darkness for the light Of
gas or lamp. No one can be cheer
full in dingy atmosphere.
| 1t is a strange fact, and one rarely
appreciated, that single spot of vivi
color can thus influence very larg
space. Instances could easily be givel
in whic in two or three connectin,
rooms, one dash of bright color has en-
tirely changed the character of then
all.
We readily appreciate the brighten
ing effect of flowers in room, bu
very few realize that in arranging
them. a single bright blossom anon!
many duller ones is more artistic ant
effective than q mass of brillian
bloom.
This truth, once accepted, will prove
an important guido in decorative worl
and efforts to make a home attractive
recognized as principle it will lead t.
surprisingly harmonious results.
An understanding of the characte
of the color is essential to successful
decoration. Blue is really depressing
especially in those light shades, rarel.
met with in nature, which are affecte'
by luxurious decorators for hangings
Unless emphasized by deeper co lor, al
most all faint tones are out of place il
an ordinary room; pale pink or lilac o
blue are not DIES rable either for furn
ture or for the coloring of walls. Will
J subdued tones of green or very fain
! yellow harmonic with anything an
are sufficiently individual to be cheer
full. Where the coloring of the wall
J of room is dark. the upholstery ma
be either of these colors. relieved b
; brighter dashes, and where neutralit
is an object both green and yellow ]
! faint tones are sympathetic, wherea
, blue. which is with so many favorit
color, is decidedly unmanageable
\ These suggestions Of general charac
: ter will be found to have specia
value when we come to detail.-
! Janet E. Runtz Rees. tn Home KnoD
. edge.