LIVING-ROOM DECORATION

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30233, 11 September 1963, Page 2

LIVING-ROOM DECORATION

Main Factors Outlined

“Imagine Henry VIII sitting on a shiny new bicycle —this is how ludicrous illmatched furnishings can look,” said Miss Prue Rothenberg in a talk on the decorating of livingrooms last evening, as part of the “Design for Living’’ course being run by the Dulux colour centre. On a more practical level, Miss Rothenberg described a combination of a mahogany sideboard and chrome chairs to illustrate her point.

A sense of order, even distribution of weight and balance, and provision of enough room to move about in were major factors to be considered. Balance distribution could be checked by drawing imaginary lines which cut the room into quarters.

“For the best effect all rooms should have a centre of interest which can be built around the chief structural attractions of the room,” Miss Rothenberg said. This could be a fireplace, window, or long wall with an attractive picture. After the centre of interest was estab-

lished, the remaining furniture should be arranged in balanced distribution of weight and size throughout the room. The decorating of a livingroom round a special picture was illustrated with prints, fabrics and carpet samples. Dominant colours in the print were repeated for the room decor, and a minor tone from the print used as “accent” colour for accessories. The colour scheme could also be built around a particularly nice fabric. Miss Rothenberg deplored the use of the word “lounge” to describe the living or sittingroom. One magazine had referred to it as “distinctly non-U.” The word was never used in America, for instance, and seldom described the purpose of the room.