DESIGNING THE SMALL LIVINGROOM

Southland Times, Issue 23793, 15 April 1939, Page 16

DESIGNING THE SMALL LIVINGROOM

The pursuit of the ideal of uncluttered spaciousness in the living-room has led us to limit the furniture severely in size and quantity so as to preserve a just relation between it and the available space. We have seen the advantage of leaving the centre of the room unencumbered and how low furniture of simple, good design and modern design by not compelling the attention promotes a feeling of unembarrassed freedom and roominess.

When the furniture tends to become established at the sides of a room, it will depend on the size of the room how much may be allowed to intrude into the valuable space in the middle. In the average room there will be space for one or two groups; in winter the fireplace will attract a collection of easy chairs, a couch, a small table, perhaps, and a standard lamp. In summer that group might migrate to another, brighter part of the room, with the couch backed against a wall and chairs on the other side of a small table serving as axis.

In a room of really ideal dimensions there will be space for several such groups forming separate domains for various pursuits.

This kind of arrangement provides opportunity for “composing” a room, for lending it rhythm and diversity.