Household Furnishing 1057 



In general, rugs should be heavy enough to lie flat by their own weight 

 without tacking. A light-weight rug that wrinkles or that curls up on 

 the edges is an aggravation. For a room that is used continually or by a 

 number of persons, such as a sitting-room, one large rug is better than 

 several small ones. A generous central rug makes a room appear larger 

 and is more effective and more satisfactory to the occupants than a number 

 of small rugs, no matter how beautiful the latter may be in themselves. 

 If the room is large or long, the main rug may be supplemented by one 

 or two smaller ones in alcoves, between wide doorways, or in irregularly 

 shaped parts of the room. Small rugs are suitable for bedrooms, fitted 

 conveniently into the open spaces left by furniture. A rug should not 

 extend under the bed, as this arrangement complicates cleaning. Rugs 

 or mats placed before the bureau, the washstand, and the bed are com- 

 forting and necessary. A washable cotton mat is the most practicable 

 kind for use before the washstand. 



Bare treads on the stairs are easy to clean, but they are noisy and for 

 this reason are not advisable if in frequent use. It must not be supposed 

 that bare floors are intended to walk on. The areas of travel for the most 

 part should be covered, so that persons can move noiselessly about the 

 house. We should be much fresher at the end of the day's task if we 

 were spared all unnecessary noise. The nervous system pays toll alike 

 for jarring sights and sounds. 



As in the case of wall papers, large , vigorous flowery or scrolly patterns 

 should be avoided in selecting floor coverings. The floor should lie 

 modestly in place and not seem to dart up to meet one. Fortunately, 

 flowered carpets are for the most part relegated to the past. The advent 

 of rugs with their rectangular outlines has brought about more appro- 

 priate designs for floor coverings. The body of the rug is usually covered 

 with some sort of geometric pattern introducing several colors or shades 

 and flnished with a border of similar design. Many plain rugs with dark 

 border and lighter center are also made. These are very attractive, but 

 they are impracticable for general use since the care that a plain rug re- 

 quires is often out of proportion to the effect secured. 



The various mottled textures to be found in rugs of domestic weave are 

 more practicable than and almost as beautiful as plain rugs. Among the 

 richest of these mixed effects are rugs made by the carpet weaver from old 

 ingrain oi" body brussels carpets. Such rugs stand high in favor with house- 

 keepers who have tested their worth, being at once inexpensive, durable, and 

 artistic. They are reversible, deep-napped, and heavy enough to lie in place. 

 A plain band of lighter or darker shade is usually woven near each end, thus 

 adding to the general impression. Old velvet or axminster carpets cannot 

 be used in this way but they may be sewed into rugs of convenient size. 



