The Washington times., 1924-07-07
EFFECTS.
! PLA||VED BY
EXPERT
Sally E. Davidson Tells How
to Get Best Results
in Homes
BY SALLY e. DAVIDSON.

Psychologists state lighting and
color play a far more important part
In our daily lives than most Of us
realize, and for that reason they
strongly advocate teaching the
proper use Of both in all our schools
Whether or not this will come to
pass Is difficult to say, but the need
for It is apparent in things all about
us. How much does the average
person know about lighting and
color or their effect upon our lives.
Yet understanding these subjects
would solve many of our difficulties.
Those unfamiliar with these sub.
jects have no one but themselves TO
blame, for interesting and compre-
hensive books on them both are
easily available at most public libra.
ries. Lack of time is no excuse at
all for neglecting anything 80 vital
to human happiness.
We can only appreciate how vi al
this entire subject is when. once we
realize that lighting and color l,l-
fluence practically our every MOOD
We are all creatures Of environment
we respond very readily to atmos-
phere, whether Is be favorable or
otherwise.
A famous judge and a nerve spe.
cialist recently gave 1t as their optE.
ion that poor lighting. as well as
misuse OF color, was directly =
sponsible for a large percentage OF
unhappy homes and nervous dis.
eases.
Repel and Attract.
Both light and color have great
attractive powers, and since all hills
have valleys, light and color repel
as easily as they attract IL not used
intelligently
This judge asserted that an inn
pressive percentage of family quar-.
rels are traceable to poor lighting
and uncongenial coloring, both OF
which have very irritating influ
ence upon people. Splotches+ of light
| and sharp shadows should be scru
pulously avoided. A room to be
pleasing must be properly balanced
Never light an electric lamp at one
end of the room and leave the rest
in ugly shadow. This upsets tho
balance of the room and therefore
initiates. II one light is all you de
sire try to have that in the center
| of the room.
In summer there Is nothing more
cooling than the light from floor OF
table portable electric lamps, pro
vided, of course. the shades are OF
appropriate coloring. The reason
for this Is that light from such q
lamp does not flood the room with
too brilliant a light, but is soft
and mellow and consequently adds
TO the soothing atmosphere Of this
room.
Lights to Avoid.
Always avoid lamp which
throws much of the light upon thu
ceiling, for this draws the eve Il
the white surface of the ceiline
and distufbs the balance OF tho
room. @
Avoid. wherever possible, the U.S.
OF red or kindred colors for sum
mer lamp shades. These. while yer,
warm and luxurious in winter, are
too much so for the summer
Parchment, imitation parchment
small patterned chintzes on sof,
yellow with green backgrounds, arr
good materials for summer 1amr
shades.
Likewise silk shades of COLDER
yellow, yellow and lavender. layen
der and green, or any of the othe,
cool shades are very satisfactory
Under certain conditions translucen,
or 1ridescent glass shades modff,
the light Of electric lamps to any
degree Of mellowness desired.
sometimes one can obtain yer,
beautiful and original colorine IN
lamp shades by trying out varion,
color combinations. Spiritual colors
such as moonlight blue, orange
Tlame rose, Nile blue, mauve, cftror
and azure blue, are most success
Iui IN the home, because they give
the necessary balance; elevate the
atmosphere and all those living II
1t. Such peace is absolutely neces
sary II the home is to be q happy
one. ~
TO be sure these colors are NOT
startling; they do not stand or,
and obliterate all else, but rathe,
become part OF tine whole. anG
after all that is true art in fur
nlshing nome. In fact it. is thi:
very thing that distinguishes !
nome from house. The house /,
furnished Tor gorgeous and startlins
erect, which is usually Of tn,
6reath-taking variety, and last,
Tor about as long, but unfortunatel,
long enough to. mislead people.
Thls sort of thing is all riph
enough for a change, but certa nj,
mot for steady diet.
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