Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-06-06
ARTISTIC WALLS.
How to Select WALLPAPER that Is Cheer
fui aud Effective.

The highest art is now displayed in
The designs for wallpapers. and there
s no discounting the magnificent APP
oearances 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 wallpaper it
,nould be chosen in accordance with
good taste, and the most important
question to decide Is whether il is TO
form decoration for itself or whether
it is to become n 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 watcr-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 a 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 haugings it
should oppose it. Contrast is as essen
tial as 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 ia the pattern
book. In order to avoid disappoint-
ment in this respect it is advisable 10
take several lengths Of the paper and
suspend them side by side on the wall,
aud notice carefully the general effect
it has upon the eye and the room. The
leaves OF certain plants conventioDally
treated are very effective decorative
forms. The ivy, maple. oak and fg
leaves are beautifully adapted to this
purpose aud they come in large and
small designs on wall paper. Where
two shades of the same color are en-
ployed. and quietness of effect is espe-
| cially desired, the overlaid tint should
be but very little darker than the
ground; and if drawings and other
things are to be hung upon 1t the pat
tern should be hardly discernible from
a little distance.
The most dreary method of decorat-
ing the wall OF sitting-room is tC
cover it 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 thi;
every Spring that their paper is
changed. Paper-hanging should in no
case be allowed to cover the whole
space of a wall from skirting to cell
ing. A plinth space of plain color
either in paper or distemper should b'
left to height OF two or three fee
from the floor A light wood mould
ing. sta ed or gilded, should separate
this from the paper above. A seconc
space of frieze, left just below tn
ceiling aud filled with Rrabesque orna
ment, is always effective, but. o
course. always involves more expense
Gold, when judiciously introduced, i
always 4 valuable adjunct in the de
sign of paper haugings, but it fire
quently doubles and sometimes treb
les the price of a piece. N. T. World