The Arrangement of Household Furnishings 



1591 



A 



along the width rather than the length of the room, tends to make the 

 room look wider and shorter than in B. This suggestion is an important 

 one to remember when furnishing a narrow room; objects placed across 

 the ends seem to widen and shorten the space, while objects placed along 

 the sides tend to increase the already great length and to decrease the 

 already narrow width. The arrangement shown in C is both livable 

 and restful. 



the essentials of arrangement 



From the foregoing analysis it is evident that good arrangement results 

 from observing two general principles: first, the arrangement of objects 

 should follow, repeat, 

 or fit the structural 

 outlines of the space 

 used; second, objects 

 should not be scattered 

 over the space, but 

 should be disposed in 

 groups or masses in 

 order that large open 

 spaces may be left to 

 set off the arrange- 

 ment. 



The diagrams shown 

 in figure 6 illustrate 

 the first essential of 

 good arrangement. 

 The long side of a room 

 is shown with draperies 

 at window and door, 

 and with couch and 

 pictures between. 



In arrangement A 

 there is a continual 

 use of diagonal lines 

 in the disposition of 

 the furnishings; the curtains are draped back, the pictures are hung in 

 steps, and the couch has an irregular sloping back. As a result the 

 general impression of the arrangement is spotty and fancy. 



In B the furnishings are all arranged in straight lines, thereby creating 

 a simpler, more restful, and more dignified effect than the one shown 

 in A. In B the window and door curtains hang in straight folds, following- 

 the structural shape of the openings; a couch of simple, rectangular form 



•B- 



Fig. 6. — Arrangements of furnishings along an interior 

 wall. Diagram A illustrates poor arrangement; diagram 

 B good arrangement 



