WORK MADE EASY WITH NOW DECOR

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31776, 5 September 1968, Page 10

WORK MADE EASY WITH NOW DECOR

Mothers with young families will be among the first to applaud the trend towards patterned carpets and plain walls. Anybody who has tried to keep a plain carpet in pristine condition with a boisterous young family will know why.

Plain carpets show every spot and stain, every fleck of dust and fluff. But patterned carpets aren’t the only way to reduce household chores. All furniture, fabrics, even colours, can be chosen with this in mind.

Of course, nobody wants to leave articles dirty for any length of time. If dirt becomes embedded, it is not only harmful and difficult to dislodge but tends to shorten the life of an article.

However, there are ways of keeping housework to a minimum. Check your home for the following points:—

Choose furniture, wall, tableware and silverware, in shapes that are broad and simple, with a minimum of separate parts, corners and crevices, in which dust and dirt can settle. Choose furniture that comes to the floor or is supported on a minimum number of legs. This makes floor cleaning easier especially vacuuming. Built-in bedroom furniture and bedside tables attached to the walls rather than standing on legs are particularly helpful.

Choose surfaces that are smooth and impenetrable, such as well sealed wood, plastic, or ceramic tile. Textured fabrics are harder to keep clean but compensate by not showing the dirt.

Choose colours that are greyed, neither very light nor very dark. A little dust passes unnoticed on these.

Choose patterned hard flooring in the kitchen—linoleum or vinyl tiles or sheet. Small irregular patterns and mottled colours camouflage spots.

Choose surfaces that are dull rather than, glossy. Mirrors, glass and shiny metals give brilliance to a decorating scheme, but show finger prints and dust. Matt surfaces take these in their stride.

This policy, if carried to extremes, could result in a home that was grey and dull with no brightness or life. A little careful thought will soon help you to decide where you want to reduce work and where you are prepared to spend a little time and effort for a brilliant decorative effect.