Bugs and Floors 201 



iug of the room, is uniformly cheerful and satis- 

 fying ; next to it rank the various terra cotta 

 shades. Neither rug nor wall -covering should 

 have large, striking designs ; if having pattern 

 at all, it should rather be of an indefinite, 

 wandering design like the Japanese jute rugs, 

 or of small inconspicuous conventional design, 

 such as may be found in the best Brussels 

 carpet. 



If the floors, however, be poor and old they 

 may be covered very inexpensively with thick, 

 strong building paper which comes in beautiful 

 tints and the rug may be laid on top of this ; or 

 with denim on top of newspapers, which is only 

 a little more expensive, and which may be had 

 in a variety of beautiful shades ; or, best of all, 

 with matting on top of paper. Matting is 

 especially desirable because the dust sifts 

 through below, and does not rise easily when 

 swept. But the money spent to cover up a poor 

 floor would often serve to lay a good new one, 

 and this should be done whenever possible. 

 For kitchen and, in some cases, for a dining 

 room floor as well, nothing is so satisfactory as 

 linoleum. It is impervious, warm, soft to the 

 foot, easily kept in order by an occasional coat 

 of oil, and to be had in agreeable patterns. It 

 may also be used like denim, building paper, 

 and matting, to cover up bad floors, and as a 



