Lorraine Hansberry's stage directions do not imply sarcasm. They refer to different aspects of "comfortable" and "well-ordered" in regard to this room. Three generations of the Younger family are living in a small apartment, so "order" is rarely the state of affairs.

Mama/Lena has accumulated the necessary furniture and accessories, plus the family's personal touches, but there are severe limits to what she can accomplish even with the others' support. The apartment can't be made bigger, or another bedroom conjured up. Because they all know they must coexist in too small a space, the family members try to interact respectfully, but privacy is in short supply. The "indestructible contradictions," beyond the physical confines, include the reality of people's personalities and desires, such as Walter's dream of his own business contrasted to his mother's dream of a safe and secure family home.

The full extent of their suppressed dissatisfaction becomes apparent only near the play's end, after Mama buys the house. Ruth jubilantly bounces around, bidding farewell to every flaw, down to the roaches.