Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-30


frightened and be given the effect OF
sunlight. This may be impaired by
using warm colors in its decorations.
These are yellow. red brown. reds.
yellow with hint of red, olive and
gold green.
1t is we'll to bear in mind that al
most every color has cold and g.
warm tone. The first is produced by
combining blue or green with the orig
inai color. while the warm tone is
made by combining red or yellow with
it. Thus brown with hint of blue is
cold, while brown with u 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 fnten-
sity Of the color 1t must always be
remembered thar any interior is DARK
compared with out 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 which
appeared perfectly satisfactory in the
Dealers store is often disappoint-
ment on the wall Of the room for
which it was bought. The sample In
the store was displayed in different
light from that in the room. Three prtn-
ciples will always govern the proper
use Of color in house decoration-first.
that of color in relation to light; sec
ond. color in graduation. and. third. col
or in masses. These principles are not
difficult to master. but they are as I'M
portant 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 prefer
ences have been taken into account the
next principle is that Of graduation.
The strongest and purest tones OF the
color are naturally and almost by in
stinct put at the base-that is. the floor
covering should carry the darkest col
or or its strongest tone.
1t is not often advisable to use what
is known as one color decoration-that
is, combining the entire decoration to
single color. Such plan is much like
trying to make melody on one note
of the scale. The best effects in both
sounds and color are produced by the
skillful variation Of tones. The grada-
ton and combination of even opposing
tints give the greatest satisfaction to
the eye. But. whatever the color or col
ors used. they must be darkest on the
floor The walls will give the second
grade in color and the ceiling the last.
These gradations, too, should be dis
tinct and separate enough in tone to
be perfectly apparent. The connecting
grades may appear in furniture cover
ing and draperics. 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. 1t should not
be broken into patches and neutralized
by divisions. Nature does not put
single red leaf on tree and then
change the color to yellow or green.
Rather the whole forest will have it's
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 1t
does not interfere with the glow of
the yellow or the restfulness Of the
green. The general tone OF the room
may be what you will-green or blue
or q division Of each-but to be per-
feet 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 n spot which has no real con-
nection with and puts the entire room
out of harmony.
Where to Use Different coIors.
Some colors are much better suited
to one room than another. If ones
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 the average person there
is no better color than soft, unob-
trusive green for bedroom.
Red has Tor years been the 1avorlte
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 nerv-
Gus or highly strung persons. Al
though a warm color. it is inclined to
absorb light. 1t is very rich and
warm in sunlight or artificial light.
but in ordinary, daylight it makes
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 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