Decorating Themes

How to Choose Furniture

Homemakers in the early 1900s were advised to use discretion and restraint in furnishing their homes, especially at first.  Here are some guidelines from “Household Discoveries” in 1909.

Furniture for the home should be chosen for its simplicity and durability.  Simple designs are the most artistic.  Quiet, subdued colors and dull finishes are generally more restful although some wood, such as mahogany, is better if highly polished.  To produce a soothing and restful effect, all the colors in the room should be in harmony.

The beauty of furniture is in its design, not in the decoration.  Cheap furniture with lots of scrolls and carving or “gingerbread” is not in good taste.  Designs that are simple and durable are much more desirable.  Furniture should be useful and appropriate for the room.

When you are furnishing a new home it is best to buy only what is necessary at first.  After you have lived with this furniture for awhile, it will be easier to see what you need to harmonize with the surroundings, and what will make your room more satisfactory.

The longer you live without unnecessary furnishings, the more likely you are to appreciate the wisdom of simplicity.  Every new article purchased is more to take care of.  A few objects of good quality in a room give a much more elegant effect than many undesirable pieces.  In this way, a home can be furnished in a way that will be in good taste and style for years to come.

Color Schemes

The most pleasing effects in decorating are obtained by treating each room in such a way as to have a harmonious color scheme.  The colors must be chosen according to the purpose of the room, its size and shape, and how much natural light the room receives.  The skillful use of colors can also be used to make a room appear smaller or larger.

Some colors reflect a large part of the light that falls on them and other absorb it.  Dark greens and browns absorb light, where colors such as orange, yellow, light blue, and white are reflective.  Rooms that face south need toning down with the darker greens, browns, dull shades of blue, ecru, or tan.

For rooms facing west, the lighter shades of green with rose, terra cotta, or white are appropriate.  North and east rooms require warm tones of yellow, with which yellow oak furniture harmonizes, or warm shades of red which harmonizes with Mission oak.

If the dining room is bright and sunny, a suitable color is blue or grayish blue, harmonizing with the tones of delft china.  If it is less well lighted, a rich warm tone of yellow gives a sunny atmosphere to the room.  But avoid yellow of a greenish or lemon cast.

For the hall, a suitable color is green.  And for the living room, green or a warm shade of russet brown, to harmonize with the green of the hall.  Bedrooms should be in light and delicate colors.