Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-18
MAKING THE GUEST
i ROOM COMFORTABLE
BY ELIZABETH LEE.

While it is seldom possible to keep
guest room in city flats. most of tine
houses in country and suburbs are large
enough to include room that may al
ways be kept ready for guest. In plan
ming the furnishing OF such a room
should take care to buy only the best of
springs and bedding. 1t Is always more
or less difficult to sleep in a strange bed.
so Tor that reason alone 1t should be made
as comfortable and luxurious as possible.
The rest of the furniture may be quite
inexpensive as long as 1t is light and
dainty. but expense should not be spared
when purchasing the bed. and, by the
way, In furnishing guest room 1t will
be found much better plan to provide
twin beds rather than one double bed
It may be that two guests Will De asked
to share the same room some time. and
there can be no objection to this II two
beds are provided.
The sheets and pillowslips should be of
as good quality as one can afford to buy.
and as visits are much shorter now than
they used to be-a week being the aver
age-a large stock Of bedclothing is quite
unnecessary. Therefore, put quality be-
fore quantity. An extra blanket or down
quilt should always be placed handy, in
addition to pretty spread over the top
Of the bed.
II there Is no closet or wardrobe In the
room. one should be ik1provised by mark
ing of a corner Of the room with cur
tain depending from rod attached to
shelflike piece of wood. Dresses and
coats packed into a trunk must be hung
up so some place must be provided. l
have In mind a guest room fitted up most
daintily even to the orthodox vase of
flowers" and not single hook to hang
the travelling wrap upon. and so the
guest, who was extremely neat, spent
half her time keeping her clothes from
creasing in the trunk. for she would not
leave them around on chairs.
1t is always little difficult to give the
guest room just the horny touch one
would like to. but bits Of bright cretonne
will do wonders. For instance, have
cheery-looking scrap basket, and bright
en- up another corner with a couple of
cardboard hat boxes covered with Gre
tonne. and. take my word for it. such
thoughtfulness will be appreciated \
gay kimonO of inexpensive material hang
ing ready for wear is another aid toward
comfort, as every woman knows who has
waited all day for her trunk to arrive.
table. though ever so small, should
hold stationery. pens. ink and few
stamps, and q straight chair that can be
really used to sit upon when writing
should go with 1t. Some guests are ex
pected to write with a pad on the lap, If
one may Judge by the furnishing of the
room. There will be q rocker and per-
haps a comfortable lounging chair, but
no other kind, where one might take off
shoes and stockings in comfort or sit
upon to write letter.
A large bureau is not altogether neces-
sary because small things can be kept
in the trunk: nest Of cretonne boxes
will answer all purposes. good mirror,
however, should be provided-good in size
and quality.
l quite realize this is not the usual ar
ticle telling how to furnish a guest room,
but it seems to me every woman knows
instinctively all about pretty. fresh cur
tains. embroidery spreads. covers, etc,
without being told, but she Is apt to for
get some of the things that go to make
the guest comfortable and at home"
during her stay.