147. For the drawing-room and reception-room it is desirable that all parts of the room be evenly lighted, without a pronounced glare in any particular part of the room. One of the most effective ways of accomplishing this is by distributing the lights around the room, either on the ceiling, in the cove or above a wide molding, so that the ceiling acts as a reflecting agent, and distributes an even tone of light to all parts.
ILLUMINATION
148. For the dining-room and living-room a different plan must be used, because of the different requirements. The table is usually in such rooms the chief feature of the furnishings, and it is customary to focus upon it the main body of light. While this is obviously necessary, the surroundings must not be ignored; neither is it possible to raise the center light to such a height that its radiation may reach all parts of the room, because in so doing the light reaches the eye at an extremely unpleasant angle. The drop fixture should be low enough to effectively light all parts of the table, while at the same time its shade should screen the light from the eyes of the room’s occupants. To illuminate the surrounding parts of the room other lights should be distributed where they will most effectively supply what further illumination is required.
149. For the bedroom or boudoir the location of the lights should also be subordinated to the purposes of the room, and in addition to providing sufficient illumination to the entire area, special illumination should be provided for the mirrors and the dressing-table. The lights for the mirrors should be planned to illuminate the person and not the image.
150. For large reception-rooms in hotels and public institutions the plan is frequently adopted of having all light provided by small table lamps with opalescent shades. These provide a medium glow throughout the entire room that is pleasing, and avoid entirely the garishness usually associated with such rooms. One of the mistakes of the day is the use of high-power lights, which are so intense that they require to be screened or shaded, involving waste of light and concentrating an unnecessary amount of illumination upon a narrow sphere.
REFLECTIVE POWER OF COLOR
The following table will give an idea of the percentage of light reflected from ordinary wall-hangings and papers:
| Per Cent. Reflection | ||
| White blotting-paper | .82 | |
| White cartridge-paper | .80 | |
| Ordinary foolscap | .70 | |
| Ordinary newspaper | .50 to .70 | |
| Chrome yellow paper | .62 | |
| Orange paper | .50 | |
| Yellow wall-paper | .40 | |
| Yellow painted wall (clean) | .40 | |
| Tracing cloth, pale blue | .35 | |
| Light pink paper | .36 | |
| Blue paper | .25 | |
| Emerald green | .18 | |
| Dark brown paper | .13 | |
| Vermilion paper | .12 | |
| Blue green paper | .12 | |
| Cobalt blue paper | .12 | |
| Black paper | 0.5 | |
| Deep chocolate paper | 0.4 | |
| French ultramarine blue paper | 3.5 | |
| Black cloth | 1.2 | |
| Black velvet | 0.4 |
151. It is very difficult to select practical artificial illuminants, because of the various color properties possessed by each. A Welsbach mantle, which gives a greenish tint, is pretty sure to alter the character of any color other than green. Incandescent electric light, as well as ordinary gaslight, contains a yellow tint.