Household Decoration 



1043 



Oil paint with dull finish is equally excellent for bedrooms and other 

 parts of the house, but is more expensive than either calcimine or medium 

 grade wall paper. 



FLOORS 



The adoption of rugs in place of carpets is often delayed by lack of 

 knowledge as to how to treat the old floors. If an old floor is good, heavy, 

 and not too uneven by 

 warping or otherwise, 

 it may be made pre- 

 sentable. Fill the 

 cracks between the 

 boards, the nail holes, 

 and other open spaces 

 with some good brand 

 of crack filler; then 

 when completely 

 hardened, paint the 

 floor with two coats of 

 oil paint, allowing it 

 to dry thoroughly 

 between coats. Then 

 apply a coat of a good 

 brand of " hard floor 

 finish." This is a 

 special form of var- 

 nish adapted to use on 

 floors ; it does not heel- 

 mark, can be wiped 

 with a damp cloth, 

 and lasts longer be- 

 tween applications 

 than either wax or 

 ordinary varnish fin- 

 ish. Keep the floor 

 moderately light in 



color. A golden brown is excellent (provided it harmonizes with the 

 furnishings), as it does not show dust or footprints readily. For 

 this color use yellow ochre paint and a natural or medium dark 

 oak floor finish. This light brown floor goes well with painted 

 woodwork. 



Fig. 19. — Plain walls for restf Illness. A home-made room. 

 Woodwork painted gray-green, furniture painted lighter 

 shade of same, walls finished with grayish green Alabastine 

 over old cartridge paper 



