The purists’ Colonial bedroom is stately and restful, though too 
austere for many people 
Decorating the Bedroom 
SUGGESTIONS FOR ITS TREATMENT AS REGARDS WALL COVERINGS, FURNITURE, FLOOR COVERINGS, 
WOODWORK AND COLOR SCHEME—THE ROOM PRESENTING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALITY 
by Margaret Greenleaf 
Photographs by Leon Dadmun, M. H. Northend and others 
I N the bedroom the individuality of the occupant is more in 
evidence than in any other room of the house, as such 
rooms or suites are complete in themselves and need not neces¬ 
sarily be considered relatively. Where the house has the marked 
characteristics of any period the architectural detail of the wood 
trim in the bedrooms as well as that in the other apartments will, 
of course, express this and must in a measure influence the fur¬ 
nishings, but even under these conditions more latitude is permis¬ 
sible in the chambers than in the living rooms. 
A room in which no period idea is dominant may be made very 
charming, and the individual taste of the occupant may influence 
the entire scheme of decoration. A very dainty and attractive 
room is shown in the second illustration at the top of this page. 
The floral paper used on the side wall here is beautiful in color 
and design, and the crown of this has a cut-out extension of 
flowers and leaves that is applied directly to the ceiling proper. 
The furniture of ivory enamel finish has been painted with clusters 
of the same flowers as those shown in the wall paper. Much of 
the green of the foliage in this design is repeated in the two-tone 
rug upon the floor. The curtains and bedspread are made of 
ivory white linen taffeta and bordered with four-inch bands of 
cretonne showing the same floral design as the side walls. 
Much of the comfort as well as the attractiveness of a bedroom 
depends upon the arrangement of the furniture it holds. The 
space for the bed is usually indicated by the architect in the first 
drafting of the plans, and should be adhered to unless the room 
is unusually large. However, the other furniture may be arranged 
and rearranged until the right position is found for each piece. 
Where a couch is included this may be placed near the window 
with the bookshelves conveniently at hand, or it may be set 
directly across the foot of the bed. The reading- or work-tables 
and easy chairs should find their permanent place, as their proper 
grouping adds much to the livableness of any room. 
The English idea of placing a dressing-table directly in front 
of a window is not especially favored here as we are loath to 
sacrifice so much of direct sun and air as the closed window would 
necessitate, although by such an arrangement we secure a good 
overhead light. 
The placing of the lighting fixtures should also be given some 
careful study. Side or drop lights should be near the dressing- 
mirror, and a convenient stand or drop light, well shaded, should 
be placed near the head of the bed. And a well arranged table 
light for reading and sewing is of great convenience in a large bed¬ 
room which is used at all as a sitting-room. However small the 
room, the light must be well arranged for the dressing-table. 
A central light for a bedroom is a very objectionable feature and 
should never be included. 
Light and crisp colors are more acceptable in the decorative 
scheme of the bedroom than any other room of the house. Where 
The wall paper pattern has been extended across the cove to the 
ceiling by cutting out the floral design 
Have some restful white or plain color in either the wall coverings 
or hangings 
(66) 
