MODERN LIVING STANDARDS NEED COMFORT

Southland Times, Issue 23652, 29 October 1938, Page 16

MODERN LIVING STANDARDS NEED COMFORT

The average person spends about one-third of his life asleep. Sleep and complete relaxation are vitally necessary to health, but, strangely enough, our sleeping quarters are often the least comfortable of the house. In many cases a few alterations to the furniture or colour scheme of a bedroom will bring about the necessary change, and these can often be effected at a fairly small cost.

Not only do the furniture, fittings, any decoration of the bedroom help to make or mar its comfort, but items such as its aspect and position in the house also play a big part. Care should therefore be taken in choosing a bedroom to see that it is not in a position to receive the full strength of the summer sun, and yet, . unless well heated, it should not be in too dull a part of the house or it will be very cold in winter. If possible, a happy medium between the two should be struck.

The aspect and size of a room will also decide the colour scheme. A bright room may be furnished in almost any colours desired, and in a dark room strong colours such as yellow, red, or orange give the room a bright appearance.

In recent times a number of designers have made a study of the comfortable qualities of different types of bedroom furniture, and the result is that beds in particular are much improved. Soft-sprung mattresses which are covered with a thick layer of padding mould themselves to the shape of the body, and shelving fitments at the head of the bed accommodate radio, books,, light switches and the telephone. A type of bed that has become very popular lately is the box bed. This consists of a divan which has a sprung mattress on top and a couple of spacious drawers below. In the day time the bed clothes are simply packed away in the drawers, and the bed becomes a comfortable settee.

For comfort the bedroom requires close-carpeting more than any other room. The carpet should be laid right to the edge of the skirting board all the way round the room, leaving, no cold, bare floor to walk on. Or, if it is desired to leave wooden floorboards visible, a few warm rugs can be laid here and there. In place of a carpet a thick rug of lamb’s wool could be used, which can be dyed any shade to match the colour scheme.

Good lighting is an. item which can make for comfort, and in the bedroom it should be arranged so that there is no strain on the eyes, and, at the same time, sufficient light to make it possible to read in bed with comfort If central lighting is installed, it. should be supplemented with small lights at the bedside and dressing-table. At the latter a diffused light shining on the mirror will provide good illumination without causing strain, and will help to throw an even glow throughout the room.