A manual of home-making

Walls and floors are flat solid surfaces. Their effectiveness &ml comeliness depend on this striietural fact and this must be borne in nuod in the selection of [Kit tern for tlieiu. Any varia- tion of surface would impair the function of wall or floor. Any suggestion by the pattern of sucli ilefects is manifestly out of place. Wall patterns of trellises and vines, of realistic flowers or fruit or landscape, of simulated columns, or of panels made of pictured moldings shoulil, therefore, ix^ avoided. For the same reasons^ realistic flowcj*s and animals are out of place in Item* The more realistic these motifs are, the pooj-er is the lign. Because the effect of solidify in wails and Hoor must ' maintaincH.!, the pattern should seem very flat. Since both walls and floor arc backgrounds, the pattern 5uld be unobtrusive in color and design. Fantastic ornament, nolent color, or strong contrasts of any sort are out of place in a background. Since walls are upright surfaces, stripes, if inconspicuous, ires in which the vertical dominates or that are so arranged . to give an up-and-down rather than a crosswise or diagonal ovement, are good types for wall pattern. 54 A MANUAL OF HOME MAKING Floors are horizontal syrfaces that are viewed from ever; direction. The pattern on the Boor s^hould, therefore, 1>e eflfe<'t ive from any angle. Goenietn't* or wry eonventional patter etiiiaily good from every point of view are the best choice fo floor coverings. SELECTION^ OF FURNISHINGS Wall coverings A textile may he used to cover s^mooth plastered walls* sorts of materials that i^ive the desired effect, from the chca|>^ est to the most expensive, have been employed for tliis purpose. Canvas, burlap, grasscloth, and other weaves of pleajsing tes ure are efFet'tive when approfjriately used. None of the however, compares with paper in {x*pularily as a wall covering Paper is comparatively inexpensive, is easily hung, is made an inmiense variety of colorings and pattern and a wide varietal of textures. Wall paper has an advantage over paint in tha the exac^ effect may be known before it is purchased, by perimenting with a roll of it in the very room and light in whicll it is to he used. If there is cause for doubt, a plain paper should be select (*d for walls. There are many plain papers of good cole from which to chfK)se, The oatmeal textures probably offe the most desiralile and satisfactory coloring among the ineX'^ pensive papers. The silk-fil>ered papers, while more expensive compensate in color and quality for the greater investment of money. Another safe choice in paper is one nearly plain in effect bulifl the surface of which is liroken by dots or dashes or spla*shes or™ other slight variations that give a little ** bloom" or vibration of color. Paper with stripes that are not too wifle or of too conspicuous contnist are gCKMl, especially in low rooms, A plain paper sometimes sliows up loo conspicuously the un evenness in old walls» In such a case a paper with a small con- ventional figure, or one with a self-toned foliage pattern better, A paper with a good pattern may be very effective a hall or corridor or a room with few or no pictures and plaii draperies. It hel[>s to* furnish the room. A large-figured pdi HOME FURNISHING 55 in a small room is out of scale and makes the room look smallen