Ｈome.Few words in the English language have such a special meaning.Home is a place where you can relax，kick back1 and just be yourself. Just about(差不多，幾乎) everyone has a strong opinion of what makes a house a home. And for most people in America， home should be， above all， comfortable.

Americans like their homes to reflect their personal tastes. Many do-it-yourselfers enjoy fixing up(收拾) their house and making it more \"livable.\" They often try to create a cozy(舒適的，安逸的) atmosphere2 so that when they're at home，they'll really feel \"at home.\" Sofas and lounge chairs (躺椅，安樂椅) may be heavily padded and arranged in groupings conducive(有助的)to relaxed conversation.The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors， scented(芳香的)soaps，colorful wallpaper and decorative3 curtains adorn(裝飾) the \"comfort room\" in many homes. And on average，Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.

Lisa Marie Odegard， an interior(內部的) designer in Bozeman， Montana， comments that \"a home is a haven(安全的地方). People want an open， easy feeling to make their homes comfortable.\"For that reason，many new homes now have big， open kitchens and vaulted (拱狀的，有拱頂?shù)? ceilings.

Americans try to make the most of their space，too.The majority of homes have built-in(嵌入墻內的) closets and shelves，and people sparenopains4toadd dressers(梳妝臺)， filing cabinets (貯藏柜) and closet organizers to maximize (使增加到最大限度)their storage space.Although keeping the house neat is often a constant battle，Americans feel it's a battle worth fighting.

People in America keep an eye on5 the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s， the \"country\" look dominated6 the home decorating scene. Rustic (農村風味的) furniture and shelves full of old-fashioned knick-knacks (小裝飾物，小擺設)created a homey atmosphere reminiscent（發(fā)人回想的）of ruralAmericaseveralgenerations back.The 90s have brought in another longing(渴望) for the past: the retro (重新流行的)50s and 60s look——plain and simple furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.

家，在英文中沒有幾個單詞有這樣特別的意義。家是一個你可以放松、平靜下來并感覺自然舒適的地方。幾乎每個人對于如何把一處房屋變成一個家都非常有主見。對大多數(shù)的美國人來說，家最重要的應該是舒適。

美國人喜歡讓家反映出他們的個人品味。許多喜歡自己動手做的人沉醉于收拾他們的房子并讓它更“適于居住”。他們經(jīng)常試著營造一個舒適的氣氛，這樣當他們待在家時，會真的感覺到“毫無拘束”。沙發(fā)及安樂椅可能會被鋪上厚厚的墊子，并運用不同空間組合的擺設以利于營造輕松的談話氛圍。甚至連浴室也頗費心思：鋪有地毯的地面、香氣四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁紙及帶裝飾窗簾，如此就打扮出了許多家庭的“舒適之地”。平均來說，美國人擁有的浴室比世界上其他的人都多。

蒙大拿州博茲曼的一位室內設計師莉薩·瑪麗·奧迪加德談到：“家是一個避難所。人們想要一個開放、輕松的感覺來讓他們的家變得很舒適。”因為這個原因，現(xiàn)在許多新房子都有大而開放的廚房以及拱形的天花板。

美國人也試著將空間做最佳的利用。大多數(shù)的家庭都有壁櫥以及架子，人們也不辭辛勞地添加梳妝臺、文件柜以及組合柜來最大限度地增加儲藏空間。雖然維持房子整潔像是一場永無止境的長期戰(zhàn)役，但美國人覺得這是一場值得打下去的戰(zhàn)役。

美國人也會注意室內設計的最新時尚。80年代，“鄉(xiāng)村”風貌主導了家庭裝潢；擺滿舊式風格小擺設的質樸家具及架子，創(chuàng)造出一種會令人想起幾代以前以農業(yè)為主的美國家庭氣氛。90年代又帶入另一個懷舊情愫：回溯到50及60年代的風貌——四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌腳的樸素、簡單的家具。

注釋：

1．kick back [口]放松，平靜下來

2．a(chǎn)tmospheren. 環(huán)境，氣氛

3．decorativen. 裝飾性的，作裝飾用的

4．spare no pains 不遺余力，全力以赴

5．keep an eye on 照看，留神，密切注意

6. dominate vt. 支配，統(tǒng)治