UP-TO-DATE NURSERY

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1936, Page 15

UP-TO-DATE NURSERY

FURNISHING PROBLEMS

SILENT FLOOR COVERINGS

OX all the rooms in the home, the one used as the nursery provides the most fascinating furnishing problem, states a writer in the "Cape Times." In this room, where absolute care and thought of its young occupant is uppermost, today's efficiency can well be combined with attractiveness of colour and form. We may begin with a consideration of floor coverings. If the nursery is so situated that other occupants of the house may he disturbed by noise coming from it, something of a sounddeadening character must be used, such as rugs of heavy linen fibre or plain or leather carpeting. Inlaid lino makes a very suitable nursery floor covering since it combines the advantage of easy cleaning with wide decorative possibilities. Some of the new rubber floorings possess these qualities, also, while their sound insulation properties and their resilience make them especially desirable for nursery use. These'» floor coverings can be cemented in place and thus become a permanent floor. They can be designed, using a variety of plain solid colours, to contain guide lines for a large number of nursery games, such as hop scotch, ten pins, and so on. Wall coverings are next in order. Plain-painted walls are' satisfactory, but the use of patterned walls adds a little more gaiety. A confused or insistent pattern should be avoided. A plain ground with silver or pastelshade polka dots, stars, or diamonds is simple and attractive, while simple floral patterns or broken plaids in pastel shades are also good. WASHABLE BACKGROUNDS. Especially suitable for nursery wall treatment are the washable wallpapers and the washable cloth-back wall coverings. Children's patterns for nurseries have been worked out in these. Linos are also successfully and interestingly used in wall treatment of nurseries, and offer great durability and practicality. Curtain materials may be had in charming chintz, with juvenile patterns, and suggested nursery schemes also make effective use of cotton materials in gay colours and patterns, of simple coloured nets or washable silks, or of American cloth patterned or plain with hand decorations.

The new philosophy of nursery management is reflected very strongly in the design of furniture for young children's use. Instead of having cupboards, drawers, taps, and so on put up well out of the youngster's reach, these things are now studiously being made easily accessible. The miniature furniture for tho "under five years" nursery is designed for him to use as he needs it. The toddler has thereby become independent, capable of satisfying his own needs of adventure, and activity. If his things fall off the table he can retrieve them himself, and so there is no temptation to throw toys over to compel adult attention and assistance. The high chair and the playpen which used to hold small children captive for weary hours on end are kept now for rare occasions and for only momentary occupation. As modern nursing practice is opposed to young children having their meals with adults, the high chair which was designed to bring the occupant to a level with the adults' table is gradually giving way to the low chair with tray, which involves little risk should the child happen to climb out. Cupboards are provided at low level for toys and clothes also. They may be separate units or built-in fitments.