Household Decoration 



1041 



ing unbleached muslin or a canvas with prepared 

 back, or a manufacttired oilcloth that has a dull 

 plain surface, or even a tough grade of ingrain 

 paper. Ingrain or cartridge papers come in many 

 soft colors and possess a nice texture, due to what 

 seem to be little hairy flecks of color. It is this 

 quality of texture that gives burlap, linen, grass 

 cloth, and matting their charm, although the dust- 

 catching qualities of these uneven surfaces are a 

 great drawback to the practical and cleanly house- 

 wife. Unbleached muslin on walls may be finished 

 by painting with either water or oil paints. Muslin 

 or canvas applied to a loose ceiling, under wood 

 strips that are screwed on, can be relied on as a 

 good-looking and permanent " fix," and for homes 

 this is much to be preferred to the crudity of a 

 metal ceiling. 



Water color paints, tints, or calcimines of what- 

 ever brand should be a great blessing to the 

 farmer's wife, for they are inexpensive and readily 

 applied by members of the family. They are 

 especially good for bedrooms, being clean, soft 

 colored, and easily freshened by a new coat. 

 Darker tones than were used formerly are made 

 now, so that water paints are also suitable for 

 living-rooms. Any desired shade may be obtained 

 by mixing two colors of the same brand. Try a 

 sample first and let the paint dry. When the 

 right shade is obtained, mix bulk enough to com- 

 plete the job in hand. Keep a note of the exact 

 proportion of each color used in the mixture, for 

 reference in case you or a friend ever desire to 

 match that particular shade. 



One can sometimes apply calcimine over an old 

 wall paper if it is in good condition, plain colored, 

 or of an inconspicuous pattern. Red spots or 

 stripes in paper cannot be obliterated, but will 

 strike through the paint. One cannot safely apply 

 paper over calcimine, however, since calcimine, or 

 water paint called by whatever name, is a mix- 

 ture of plaster of paris and ground color, which 

 when applied in liquid condition leaves a thin 



IKtOI 



Fig. 16. — A decorative 

 band or border greatly 

 relieves plain walls 



