| Above all else, the furniture in the living-room should | | | | to leave a space empty than to have it occupied by a |
| make it livable. It should be grouped so that it offers | | | | badly placed piece of furniture. Good furniture needs |
| centers of interest, convenience and comfort. Look for | | | | space to be seen to its advantage.If there is a large |
| upholstered seating with homespun-type fabric, or toss | | | | array of furniture in the living-room, keep the carpet, |
| a pieced quilt over plain fabric or leather. An old rocker | | | | and furniture upholstery all to one tone.Mantel |
| is a great addition.By the time you are ready to | | | | accessories may be applied to the other shelves and |
| choose the furniture for the living room, the walls and | | | | the tables in the room. Keep them free from |
| floor coverings should be in place so that the choice of | | | | dust-collecting, trivial things, while creating a sense of |
| furniture will be merely the selection of the best out of | | | | order and cleanliness.Balance is maintained by using |
| several possibilities. Of course, the quality, shape and | | | | objects in pairs a pair of vases, candlesticks, bowls, or |
| color of furniture varies, and the quantity will as | | | | jars. Placed at either end of the mantel, they should be |
| well.Can one imagine a more livable living-room than | | | | higher than the intervening objects, to form a sweeping |
| one with a large, soft sofa in front of a fireplace, | | | | curve. Also they help to frame in the over-mantel |
| behind it a long table filled with books, while holding a | | | | picture or mirror.In fitting furniture to its architectural |
| lamp at either end. Or else, at the end of the sofa, a | | | | background there are 3 things to considercontour and |
| small table for the reading lamp and on either side a | | | | proportion |
| pair of comfortable chairs?The main essentials are a | | | | design and decorative detail |
| comfortable sofa, a table large enough to hold books, | | | | color of wood.The first two points are obviously |
| magazines and lamps, and at least two comfortable, | | | | necessary; it is in the last that the furnishing of many |
| upholstered chairs and a smaller table.While at the | | | | rooms fails. Oak and mahogany do not mix amicably; |
| other end or side of the room, a pair of book-cases, | | | | one does not set off the other because there is not |
| cabinets or a credence. These balance the fireplace, | | | | sufficient contrast, nor are they closely enough allied to |
| since they are placed against the wall and have a | | | | harmonize. On the other hand, black ebony and |
| corresponding shelf, cornice or mantel line.In developing | | | | yellowish burr walnut, such as is used in inlaying |
| the original simple formula there may be added a | | | | seaweed pattern in oak, are examples of harmony |
| chaise, a good-size table, another large chair, and | | | | gained. |
| another small tableRemember that it is always better | | | | |