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.

家。在英文中没有几个字有这样特别的意义。家是一个你可以放松、只要做你自己的地方。大概每个人对于如何把一间屋子变成一个家都非常有主见。对大多数的美国人来说，家最重要的应该是舒适。

Americans like their homes to reflect their personal tastes. Many do-it-yourselfers enjoy fixing up their house and making it more "livable." They often try to create a cozy¹ 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 conducive² to relaxed conversation. The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors, scented³ soaps, colorful wallpaper and decorative⁴ curtains adorn⁵ the "comfort room" in many homes. And on average, Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.

美国人喜欢让家反映出他们个人的品味。许多喜欢自己动手做的人沉醉于修补他们的房子并让它更「适于居住」。他们常试着营造一个温暖而舒适的气氛，这样当他们待在家时，会真的感觉到「毫无拘束」。沙发及安乐椅可能会被铺上厚厚的垫子，并运用不同空间组合的摆设，让坐的人可以轻松的谈话。甚至连浴室也颇费心思：铺有地毯的地板、香气四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁纸及装饰窗帘，如此就打扮出了许多家庭的「舒服之地」。平均来说，美国人拥有的浴室比世界上其它的人都多。

Lisa Marie Odegard, an interior designer in Bozeman, Montana, comments that "a home is a haven⁶. People want an open, easy feeling to make their homes comfortable." For that reason, many new homes now have big, open kitchens and vaulted⁷ ceilings.

蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室内设计师丽莎?区迪嘉谈到：「家是一个避难所。人们想要一个开放、轻松的感觉来让他们的家变得很舒适。」因为这个原因，现在许多新房子都有大而开放的厨房以及拱形的屋顶。

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.

美国人也试着将空间做最佳的利用。大多数的家庭都有壁橱以及架子，人们也不辞辛劳的添加橱柜、文件柜以及壁柜分隔架来加大储藏空间。虽然让房子维持整洁像是一场永无止尽的长期战役，美国人觉得这是一个值得打下去的战役。

People in America keep an eye on the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s, the "country" look dominated the home decorating scene. Rustic⁸ 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 longing⁹ for the past: the retro 50s and 60s look--plain and simple furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.

美国人也会注意室内设计的最新时尚。八○年代，「乡村」风貌主导了家庭装潢；摆满旧式风格的小摆设的质朴家俱及架子，创造出一种会令人想起几世代以前以农业为主的美国之家庭气氛。九○年代又带入另一个怀旧情愫：回溯到五○及六○年代风貌--有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌脚的朴素、简单的家俱。