Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-27
Bringing Out the Best in Room
Ry LYDIA LIE BARON WALKER.

It is possible for home-maker to
stress the things about a house that
she would prefer guests to notice anc
so draw their attention away from
the things she wishes them not 70
see. There are few housewives VINO
would not find this ability OF advan
tage, so it is well to cultivate the
habit of accenting the best things IN
rooms. The others then sink into
less prominence and may not even
he noticea BILE. There are several ways
of gaining the desired effects.
The first thing to appreciate is now
to focus attention in room. Al
yantageous use of light is powerful vi
method The clever use OF color IS
another scarcely less pronounced. Inc
wise placing OF the better articles
Of furniture and the artistic arrange
ment of ornaments are othef ways.
The introduction Of flowers and plants
NAV be responsible for Centering at
tention. These are some Of the most
obvious schemes, which we shall dis
cuss today.
Focusing Light.
The MANAGEMENT of light comes
hrst whether it be daylight or some
Illuminating agent for the night time.
For instance, sunlight accents cheer,
but 1t also is very revealing. 1t must
be treated well to stress the best IN
furnishings. The choicest articles
alone can stand its penetrating bril-
lance. On the other hand, it also
has the power of setting off to adVan-
tage the excellencies of forms ana
contours that have grace. SO mag
netic is it's power that it Immediately
focuses attention on the parts OF
room which K br@htens, so that the
spaces outside the rays sink INTO IN
significance. 1t is in these somewhat
shadowy spaces that the less at
tractive furnishings should be ar
ranged. To make the balance OF
light articles, attention must pc palu
10 adjustment of window shades ana
the choice and arrangement CT cur
tains and hangings.
Placing of Lamps.
If is easier to handle artificial hight
Ing effects than the powerful radiance
of sunshine, but this must be Wen
done to be satisfying in accenting
The best. Lamps can be so placed
that the light strikes directly on
beautiful objects and those less good
are minimized We may CONSIDER
lamps as spotliShts in decoration ior
the eye cannot resist its focussihs
force. Study your rooms with TINS
in mind. .to+
freight is another elenen. that
can be utilized delightfully."- IN oecord-
ton. | know of one woman, Z genius
in making the simplest things appear
handsome, who. when she had niue
10 do with. earned the reputation Oh
having handsome furnishings heca use
of her cheerful open ii"GS ana the
wav she settled her guests co'nioIta'
bly about them, and drew allel. 'Wl
10 some special things of artistic
merit. One became ABSORBED IN lIle
things that were worth while ana
the others scarcely existed, theE De
came so insignificant.
Color.
The part that color plays IN &C
centinc the best in furnishings IS
stronc one or two gay ana mana
some sofa cushions VIII focus alteH'
ion wherever placed. Brilliant ne
inrs will bring an effect of sunshine
into dark rooms. EXquisitely tohed
ceramics. vases beautiful in color anu
shane when deity placed in the rl?ht
nositious. draw the eye. ShlmmerliS
silver and FURNISHED brasses are
actual powers in focusing attention.
Lat such things help TO draw eyes
~ quests from the less deslfahIc 10
the more attractive in decoration
In arranging furniture and furnish
ings learn to quell the poorer thlhs9
nv drawing the better pieces INTO
prominence. The advantageous plac.
ing of furniture should be STUDIED
carefully by home decorators.