Minature Home

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19953, 10 November 1934, Page 10

M inature Home

THE SPARE ROOM

It is difficult to understand why in so many homes the spare room is expected to house all the odd pieces of furniture which are not wanted elsewhere (says the Glasgow Weekly Herald). Really, to make It ideal, this room should not be a bedroom only; it should also be a little home in miniature where a guest can read, write, and laze in comfort, as well as sleep in peace.

You will not need to spend a lot of money to make your guestroom perfect. It will only need careful planning so that everything is in harmony. If at all possible let the spare room be a sunny room. This will make it seem cheerful and friendly. Another reason why a sunny room should be chosen is because the constant sunshine will help to keep the room aired when it is not occupied.

The actual decorative scheme is important, because it is to be used by different people. Ivory-coloured walls, with the woodwork in a slightly darker shade, is always a safe scheme to choose when the aspect is south or west. If the room has a north aspect it would be better to choose a pale primrose wallpaper, which will give a suggestion of sunshine.

Never choose a definite colour scheme, because the colour which would please one guest might be really distasteful to another. Soft colourings can be Introduced by means of the furnishing fabrics. The room, being for a special purpose, will need a little more furniture than an ordinary bedroom. In addition to the bed—this, of course, must be very comfortable —and dressing table, there should be either a settee or a really comfortable armchair. There should also be a writing table and a bedside table.

The spare room will also need some arrangement for warming it. An electric or gas fire is best, for either of these can be put on and off in a moment. Unless it is really too hot, always have a fire lighted to give your guest a welcome. Be sure that your guest has plenty of room for her clothes—both drawer space and hanging room. Don’t use the spare-room wardrobe to house clothes which you are not wearing at the moment. It is a temptation, certainly, when putting a winter coat out of the way, to hang it up in the spareroom wardrobe.

All that the wardrobe should contain is a good Supply of coat-hangers. Regarding the details for the guestroom, be sure that the writing table is well stocked with all the necessary materials. Your guest will also be pleased if you put on the table a card showing the times of the arrival and departure of the posts. Another card should tell the time the meals are served. On the bedside table there should

be a reading lamp, books, flowers, and and ash-tray. If you have no electric light, a candle and matches should take the place of the lamp. Remember that your guest will want to know the time, so put a clock in the room; but it must not be one with a loud tick. The top of the dressing table should be left free, with the exception of a jar of flowers, and empty powder-bowl for your friend’s powder, and another powder-bowl filled with small pads of cotton wool. There should also be in the room a small filled work-bag and some cards of various coloured darning silks. As it is not unusual to feel chilly when away from home, after making the bed with its full complement of blankets, put an extra blanket or rug in a drawer and tell your guest where she can find it. Be sure to put plenty of pillows on the bed —not just the conventional bolster and one pillow. Some people prefer to be propped up in bed, so three pillows as well as the bolster will not be too many. If you have not enough pillows to allow this, then put cushions in the pillow-cases on your own bed and given the pillows to your guest. This is a good temporary measure and will save unnecessary expense. If you have not much domestic help you may find it more convenient for you to arrange for your guest to have her breakfast in bed. This will leave you free to see your husband off to business, the children to school, and a little time for any special household duties. When a guest offers to help a little it is wise to agree ,for it wfll make her feel so much more at home. Many people like some refreshment at night. It is a good idea to put a vacuum jug containing a hot drink and a box of biscuits on a tray and to take this to the room last thing. Don’t let there be any difficulties over the bathroom. Tell your guest when the business folk have finished and then run the bath and leave your friend to enjoy it as long as she likes. As a hostess has certain obligations when she entertains, so has a guest, and the guest who would like to be asked again should: Be punctual at all meals, and make as little extra work as possible. Make the bed and tidy her room if there is no maid in the house. Try to help her hostess in little ways such as dusting or doing the shopping. In any case, she should amuse herself for some part of the day. There is also one very important thing which every guest should remember. If out of courtesy, she is given the paper to read first she should not crease it unduly or mix up the sheets and leave it for somebody else to straighten. It may be funny, but nearly everyone is irritable when they find their morning paper in a muddle