The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-02-18
How to Make Home Attractive.

what q distinct impression Is made mp
on visi tors mind when the door Of
house opens in response to her sum-
mons.
IL may reveal only an entry with hat
stand aud chair. aud yet the impress
sion OF tho home will be made then
and there. People often say that n
room betrays character; so II does. but
not so instantly rs an entry. All who
have started on tour through city
In search of board or lodging realize
this. A house looks attractive. II Is
worth while TO notice the announce
ment of rooms. aud an approach is
made. Directly the door opens the in
quircr Is vaguly aware OF the probable
result of further investigation. Either
.he air Is dingy. filled with vaporous
recollection OF dead meals. or IL Is fresh.
bright and sunny. Perhaps the light
finds It's way through semi-transparent
windows or brightly colorcd glass-no
matter. brightness Is felt, aud ut once
the senses real re that the mats are
daily shaken tree from dust. that the
narrow stairway Is clean. aud that tho
rooms above all be CHEEKY and whole
some; and this impression is the result
OF mere atmosphere. or mere atmos-
pherel 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 home is cluttered up with hun
drcds OF useless pretty decorative
articles. the very entry boasts a spin
nng-wheel. or some stray article OF
ant ique device. and all the while semi
darkness reigns. and the bright. pure.
wholesome light is treated like COM
mon enemy.
How often entering bright-looking.
many-window house overlooking
somc lovely looking vista of green
field. meadow, or farm. is II to find
oneself in sicsly semi-darkness!
We all realize the good effect OF go
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 aud moody
and say turn out-of-doors W II 10 us
good. and we leave the house. even
though the day be dark and mutky. wo
are sensible of feeling of relief. we
are In the full light. and ut once our
hopes revive. our nerves are quoted.
and we are aware OF change for the
better.
Very few seem 10 appreciate how
attractive n home may be mele 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 is n strange fact. and one rarely
appreciated, that single spot of vivid
color can thus influence very large
space. Instances could easily bc 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. 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 home attractive;
recognized as 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 hangngs.
Unless emphasized by deeper co Tor. al
most all faint tones are ont Of place In
on ordinary room; pale pink or lilac or
blue are not dos rable either for furni-
ture or for the coloring OF walls. VIII lie
subdued tones Of green or very faint
yellow harmonize with anything aud
are sufficiently individual to be cheer
fuL Where the coloring OF the walls
OF room Is dark. the upholstery may
be either of these coors. relieved by
br ghter dashes. and whore neutrality