The Washington times., 1903-12-27
MAKING THE BEST OF ONE ROOM

IT HE spirit of the arts and crafts
movement, which insists upon
4 the continual union of utility and
beauty. has made less progress
in the bedroom than in any other por-
ton of the house.
No other part Of the dwelling stands
more direly in need at present of sim
plification and hygienic arrangements
This is doubtless due in part to the fact
that many Of those who lodge or
-housekeepr in small flats are so un-
fortunate as to have bedroom. dressing
room. and sitting room all in one.
They excuse themselves for closing the
room and the bed 10 the air and sun
early in the morning by the fact thae
before breakfast the apartment must
masquerade as "A dressing room, and ar
ter breakfast as sitting room. This
is bad state of affairs. but one from
which those who are blessed in this
worlds goods do not escape with the
alacrity with which less favored NOR
tails of the three-rooms-in-one think
they ought.
Sitting-room in which to work and to
receive visitors. dressing room in which
towels and clothes can be kept spread
out in the sun, sleeping room which
can be left open every hour of the day
and night, and in which there need be
no day cloths hanging about at night
Such luxury.
Attic Bed Rooms.
And yet. not such dream as at first
appears. II one truly wished TO have a
real bedroom. it might often be possible
at small expense 70 partition off a sunny
corner OF the attic. This need not be
heated. for one would enter IL in dress
ing gown and bed slippers. get imme-
diately into bed and leave upon rising
in the morning. IL could be absolutely
free from all wooden furnishings. except
the blankets on the bed, which would be
covered by the sheets. and free also
from all dust-entrapping articles.
Supposing one has zoe square feet Of
space, 40 might be used for a sitting
room and eighty for dressing room.
IL the latter were lined with shallow
v ardrobes, which are the most desirable
places to keep clothes, because every
thing is in full view. and can also be
easily aired, il would serve as a closet
as well. Three rooms are not so out OF
the question as they seem il people
would be content with small rooms. The
possibilities by the way. of small rooms
We have never fathomed. for we have
never given them the utmost possible
light and air.
How Shall the Room Be Dressed?
So much for the future. and FOR those
who can arrange things to suit them
selves: but how about the poor mortals
who have but one room apiece? Shall
We dress this room up 20 look like a
sitting room alone. OF shall we let IL
stand forth boldly in its real three
fold character?
There is no one place. probably. where
more Of the excretions of the body are
thrown or than I'm this composite room.
Even if the occupants ----. ..----
sleep IN it, they are in Fl. n least one
third Of their time. which h. more than
they are in any other one place
Onc-third % the carbOn-diOEide and
water that come through the i1ngs ana
skin are given of here Most Of the
latter Is absorbed bv night clothes ana
bcdclothes Besides. dey clothes are
taken here and minute particles OF other
decomposition products shaken into the
room. Add TO the fact that night Is the
time for recuperation. and that our sur
roundings al that time should be the
most healthful possible. we see that no
possible pains should be spared TO Sc
cure cleanliness. Not single ray OF
sunlight that can possibly reach the
room should be excluded. except for the
most important Of reasons. These rea-
sons do not include the protection OF
the furnishings from fading Shades
should BE- run up TO the top and kept
there through all the sunny part of tho
dav-
Windows should be kept open. except
when IL is absolutely necessary to close
them.
A sash curtain. attached to a rod be-
low as well as above. 10 keep it from