242 LIGHT IN THE HOME 



in many city homes no direct light enters at all. Light 

 is of much importance to us, not only because we see ob- 

 jects by the light which comes from them, but also be- 

 cause it benefits health, and destroys bacteria. We must 

 also remember, if we live in the country, that too much 

 shade and too many trees are as bad as too few. Trees, 



A house with plenty of light. 



hills; and buildings, as well as porches and other overhang- 

 ing parts of the house, all cut off light from our houses. 



Regulation of sunlight in the home. It is a very good 

 rule in planning a house to have the window space of a 

 room one fourth to one fifth of its floor space. This will 

 give a sufficient amount of light for most purposes. The 

 bedroom may have less window space, but no bedroom 

 should ever shut out light and air by having window hang- 

 ings and draperies. If the wall paper and woodwork 

 of the room are dark, the room itself will be dark, for dark 

 objects absorb light. As a rule the ceiling should be 

 lightest, the walls a little darker, and the floor still darker. 



