Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-01-26
How to Make Home Attractive

what distinct impression Is made mp
on visi tors mind when the door of a
house opens in response to her sum-
mons.
IL 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 character; SO it does, but
OF SO instantly as an entry. All who
have started on a tour through 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 sem-transparent
windows or brightly colored glass--no
matter. brightness is felt. and at once
the senses real &c that the mats are
daily shaken'free from dust, that the
rooms above all be CHEEKY and whole.
some; 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 so 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 homefs cluttered up with hum
dreds of useless pretty decorative
articles. the very entry boasts a spin
ning-whee. or some stray article of
antique device. and all the while semi
darkness reigns, and the bright, pure.
wholesome light is treated like a COM
mon enemy.
How often entering brisht-looking,
many-windowed house overlooking
some lovely looking vista of green
field. meadow, or farm. is it to find
oneself in sickly semi-darkness!
We all realize the good effect of 60
ing into the fresh air. but we seldom
stop to consider how much of the bene-
fit is due to the brightness into which
we step. We feel depressed and moody
and say a turn out-of-doors will do us
good, and we leave the house. even
though the day be dark and murky, we
are sensible of feeling of relief. we
are in the full light, and at once our
hopes revive. our nerves are quieted,
and we are aware of a change for the
better.
Very few seem to appreciate how
attractive home may be made by the
mere influence of light, yet we all
realize it rs 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 S a strange ftct, and one rarely
appreciated. that a single spot of vivid
color can thus influence very large
space. Instances could easily be given
in viii CHI. in two or three connecting
rooms, one dash of bright color has en-
tirely changed the character of them
all.
We readily appreciate the brighten
ing effect of flowers in room. but
very few realize that. in arranging
them, a single bright blossom among
many duller ones is more artistic and
effective than mass of brilliant
bloom.
This truth, once accepted, will prove
an important guide in decorative work
and efforts TO make a home attractive;
recognized rs principle it will lead to
surprisingly harmonious results.
An understanding of the character
of the color is essential to successful
decoration. Blue is really depressing.
especially in those light shades, rarely
met with in nature. which are affected
by luxurious decorators for hangings.
Unless emphasized by deeper co lor, al
most all faint tones are out of place in
an ordinary room; pale pink or lilac or
blue are not DIES rabe either for furni.
ture or for the coloring of walls, VIII lie
subdued tones of green or very faint
yellow harmonic with anything and
are sufficiently individual to be cheer
full Where the coloring of the walls
of a room IS dark, the upholstery may
be either of these colors, relieved by
br ghter dashes, and where neutrality
is an object, both green and yellow in
faint tones are sympathetic. wherea $
blue. which is with so many favorite
color. is decidedly mmanageable.
These suggestions of general charac
ter will be found to have a special
value when we come to detail
Janet E. Runtz Rees. IN Home Kno,Ui.