Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/336

 WOMAN'S HOME 3^4 TASTE IN WALLPAPERS Choice of Paper must Depend on the Size, Height, and Brightness o£ the Room — Aspect and Colour — Obtrusiveness an Unpardonable Offence CiNCE the average woman spends a large •^ proportion of her existence within the four walls of a room, surely the covering and decoration of these walls is a matter which calls for a considerable amount of cogitation, A very great advance has been made in recent years in the manufacture and design of wallpapers. It is, therefore, a source of wonder that we should still encourage in many houses hideous and dispiriting examples of early Victorian art. Luckily, with the advance of education, the good housekeeper has realised that it is a mistake to allow the same paper to remain upon the walls for many years. Apart from hygienic reasons, change is good for everyone, and many people insist upon a change of wallpaper every three years. Such an undertaking need not necessarily be expensive. Enterprising manufacturers and clever artists supply us with many dainty aspect of the room, likewise the fact of it being low or lofty, well lighted or badly lighted. A paper with a large design is out of place in a low-pitched room, as also is a frieze or dado rail. Any line which cuts across the walls only serves to emphasise the lack of height. A paper with a plain surface, or one which bears a small self-coloured design, is always safe ; but best of all, perhaps, is a striped paper. Broad stripes, however, and any decided contrast in colouring should be avoided. A Lofty Room A lofty room admits of a deep frieze or a high dado, sometimes both. Good results are achieved by covering the portion of the wall above the juncture rail or frieze shelf with plain cream paper or distemper, while below, one of the new floral papers, with a decorative frieze, might be employed. Should a large conventional design appeal to the housewife's fancy, she should bs A large conventional design tastefully employed IVarittg' designs costing little more than a shilling a piece, and the time taken in hanging should not unduly prolong the period of spring- cleaning, when the aim of every woman is to make her home look as bright and fresh as means permit. The Paper Must Suit the Room Before considering the actual styles of paper, the novice would do well to think of the careful that the pattern is not too glaring. There is nothing more irritating or in worse taste than a wallpaper which " hits you in the eye " directly you look at it. A small room will apparently increase in size if it be papered with a light paper, ornamented with a small design. Large designs, dark groundworks, and especially all-red papers, greatly detract from the size of a room.