Home. Few words in the English language have such a special meaning. Home is a place where you can relax, kick back and just be yourself. Just about 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 their house and it more "livable." They often try to create a cozy atmosphere so that when they’re at home, they’ll really feel "at home." Sofas and lounge chairs may be heavily padded and arranged in groupings conducive ( 有益于 ) to relaxed conversation. The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors, scented soaps, colorful wallpaper and decorative curtains adorn the "comfort room" in many homes. And on average, Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.
Americans try to make the most of their space, too. The majority of homes have built-in closets and shelves, and people spare no pains to add dressers, filing cabinets and closet organizers to maximize 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 on the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s, the "country" look dominated the home decorating scene. Rustic furniture and shelves full of old-fashioned knick-knacks created a homey atmosphere reminiscent of rural America several generations back. The 90s have brought in another longing for the past: the retro ( 怀旧的 ) 50s and 60s look——plain and furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.
With all this attention to their homes, you would think Americans place a high premium on housekeeping. In fact, however, keeping house doesn’t receive as much attention as it used to. Why The fast-paced lifestyles of the 90s allow little spare time for dusting, vacuuming and scrubbing the tub. Ironically, however, even though more and more women work outside the home, women still do twice as much housework as men. Modem conveniences like the washing machine, the vacuum cleaner, and the dishwasher have taken some of the drudgery (苦差事) out of household chores. But in general, Americans these days take their cue from books like How to Avoid Housework.
Keeping house doesn’t get so much attention today due to ______________________________.