The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-06-26
ARTISTIC WALLS.
How TO Select waIi-Paper that IL Cheer
fuf and ET-cttvs.


The highest art is now displayed In
the designs for Wallpapers. and there
Is no discounting the magnificent APP
pearances of some of these latest
patterns when properly placed on the
sides of the room. Large figures in old
gold, especially scroll work in borders
are used In selecting wall. paper it
should be chosen in accordance with
good taste, and the most important
question to decide Is whether ii is to
form a decoration for itself or whether
it is to become mere back ground for
pictures. In either case the colors
should be subdued in tone, and two
shades of light drab or silver-gray will
be found the most appropriate for this
purpose. Where water-color drawings
are hung in drawing room paper Of
embossed white or cream color, with
very small spots of gold. will not be
amiss. The patterns should also be
selected with reference to the place.
Where large part of the wall is to be
presented to the eye greater play of
line in the patterns may be attractive,
but in all other situations the patterns
should be comparatively simple. 1t is
mistake to make the Wallpaper
decorations of the same color of the
furniture. Instead OF repeating the
color of the furniture and hangimgs it
should oppose il. Contrast is rs essen
tial ;ts simplicity to good taste in
household decoration.
In selecting papers for the walls one
should not trust simply to the pattern
books. A paper that has been ordered
will often look darker or lighter after
it is hung than it did in the pattern
book. In order to avoid disappoint-
ment in this respect it is advisable to
take several lengths of the paper aud
suspend them side by side on the wall,
aud notice carefully the general effect
1t has upon the eye and the room. The
leaves OF certain plants conventionaIly
treated are very effective decorative
forms. The ivy. maple. oak and iig
leaves are beautifully adapted to this
purpose. and they come in large and
small designs on wall paper. Where
two shades of the same color are en-
ployed. and quietuess of effect is espe-
cially desired. the orerIaid tint should
be but very little darker than the
ground; aud if drawings and other
things are to be hung upon it the pat
tern should be hardly discernible from
Il little distance.
The most dreary method of decorat-
ing the wpd of a sitting-room is to
cover 1t all over with an unrelieved
pattern of monotonous design. Yet
many housewives who are careless
about such matters. or probably do not
know the secret of the art will do this
every Spring that their paper is
changed. Paper-hangiug should in no
case be allowed to cover the whole
space of a wall from skirting to cell
ing. plinth space of plain color.
either in paper or distemper. should be
left to n height of two or three feet
from the floor. A light wood mould
ing. stained or gilded. should separate
tins from the paper absve- A second
space of frieze, left just below the
ceiling and filled with arabesque orna-
ment, is always effective. but. OF
course. always involves more expense.
Gold. when iudiciously introduced. is
always II valnable adjunct in the de-
sign of paper hangings but it fire.
quently doubles and sometimes treb-
les the price of n piece.-N. Y. World