you are not bound to an all-traditional choice except where dampness and mil- or all-modern style unless that is your dew is a problem. Foam rubber would preference. be a better choice under these circum- Tweeds or shags are usually more stances. Carpet pad prices range from informal while plush cut pile, sculptured $1.50 to $3.50 per square yard. patterns, and formal designs are best Room-size rugs are also very prac- for more formal rooms. Colors of me- tical, since they can be turned to dis- dium intensity show soil the least and tribute wear and you can send them usually allow more freedom in the over- out for thorough cleaning. If you buy all color scheme. Plush piles show foot- a good rug, it will last for years and prints and traffic patterns more than you can take it with you when you dense piles of low to medium loops or move. It is also possible to change color twists. schemes more easily by moving rugs Density refers to the amount of pile from one room to another. Area rugs per square inch of carpeting. To check are now being used over carpeting for a density, roll the edge of the carpet back decorator effect or in areas of heavy to back to see how close the rows and traffic. stitches of yarn are. If there are large Whatever your floor needs are, plan, spaces and the backing is quite evident, shop, and select carefully, and practice the quahty is low. proper maintenance for a more satis- Fiber content is very important to fying product. carpet performance, maintenance, and appearance. Wool, the traditional car- pet fiber, is resilient, luxurious, resis- tant to abrasion and soil, warm, and easy to maintain. It is generally higher Window Treatments: in cost per square yard ($14 to $25) than the synthetic fibers (nylon, Curtains and Drapes acrylic, polyester). Acrylic fibers are most nearly like wool. An acrylic carpet is a good choice WINDOWS PROVIDE VENTILATION, if you want the look and feel of wool at let in light, and display the view. You a lower cost ($8 to $16) and with can add another dimension by making hypoallergenic properties (having a rel- a window a spot of beauty. atively low capacity to induce hyper- Before you decide what will best sensitivity). enhance your windows, consider the Polyesters have the weight and lux- visual effect you want to achieve. The ury of wool but are shinier and less style you select will depend on the type resilient. They are in the same price of window, amount of light desired, the range as acrylics. view, and style of furnishings. Nylon is the best wearing fiber of the Treatments to consider might in- synthetics. It is tough, resistant to soil, clude draperies, sheer curtains, ruffled and cleans easily. Static electricity is a curtains, cafe curtains, and headings to problem with some nylons but newer coordinate with the curtains or draper- types are available that are static free. ies you select. Nylon carpets range from $6 to $16 in Fabrics you choose for your windows cost. will depend upon the effect you wish Padding (underlay) will lengthen to achieve. Sheer curtains covering the the life of a carpet and add luxury and window will filter the light to some warmth. I strongly recommend using extent and give you a feeling of privacy padding. in the daytime. You will be able to see Pads may be made of hair, sponge or out—but others will not be able to foam rubber, foam rubber on hair, or see in. jute and hair. Hair is always a good Sheer fabrics which will serve for this

273 purpose include marquisette, ninon, when used alone include cotton, acrylic, voile, batiste, and lace. Marquisette and glass fibers. Blends of the follow- and ninon will be the most transparent ing types have been satisfactory: cot- fabrics. Batiste, voile, and lace are more ton and rayon, cotton and polyester, opaque fabrics and shut out more of rayon and polyester, and rayon and the view. acetate. Gotton, acrylic, polyester, and Since sheer fabrics must be made glass fibers are more resistant to sun- from small yarns, choose fabrics con- light degradation than are rayon and taining strong fibers to obtain the best acetate. wearing qualities. Polyester is the most The kind of care you wish to be able satisfactory fiber for marquisette and to use will influence your choice of ninon fabrics. It has high strength and fabrics for curtains and draperies. good resistance to the degradative ef- Many fabrics on the market today are fects of sunlight and of atmospheric machine washable. Durable press fin- pollutants. ishes give easy-care qualities to fabrics. Polyester blended with cotton or with These finishes are most satisfactory rayon is frequently used in batiste and when used on blends of polyester with voile. This blend gives a more opaque cotton or rayon. fabric which has good wearing quali- Drycleaning is recommended for fab- ties and easy-care features. rics of 100 percent rayon, and blends Marquisette, ninon, batiste, voile, of rayon with cotton or acetate, to pre- and lace are all soft fabrics. They will vent shrinkage. Glass fiber fabrics must give the best appearance when used as always be hand washed, since machine straight panels shirred on rods or pinch- washing or drycleaning will cause dam- pleated for use on traverse rods. They age by abrasion in the machine. may be used alone or under draperies. Atmospheric pollutants as well as Glass fiber is used in heavier fabrics sunlight cause degradation of the fibers. with an open-weave appearance. Glass These pollutants are invisible and will fibers have good resistance to sunlight not always be accompanied by tiny and atmospheric pollutants. However, particles which cause obvious soiling glass fiber fabrics must be handled of fabrics. In areas where high levels with care in laundering. Gurtains and of pollutants are present, more frequent draperies containing glass fibers will washing or drycleaning will be neces- have a statement on the label cautioning sary to remove the pollutants and give you about their care. longer life to fabrics. Fabrics for draperies vary from such Dyes used in fabrics are not all informal types as homespun and denim equally fast to sunlight and atmo- to formal ones such as damask and an- spheric pollutants. It is difficult to pre- tique satin. Heavyweight, thick fabrics dict what effect sunlight and atmo- will shut out all light and give privacy spheric conditions will have on colors. at night without the use of additional Undyed fabrics or very light shades of blinds. Lighter weight fabrics may not colors may be a better choice for cur- give the degree of privacy desired. tains or draperies in areas of intense Many fibers and blends of fibers are sunlight as color change will be less being used for drapery fabrics. Fibers noticeable. which have given the most satisfaction Fabric manufactured for apparel purposes will not normally have the colorfastness qualities required in cur- AUTHOR BARBARA DENSMORE ÍS AsSOCiatC tains or draperies. Brightly printed per- Professor of Clothing and Textiles in the College of Human Development, The Penn- cales may fade easily and thus give sylvania State University, University Park. limited satisfaction. COAUTHOR MARY ANN ZENTNER is As- Linings in draperies, either attached sistant Professor of Clothing and Textiles. or separate, give protection against

274 sunlight damage. Linings can also pro- last several sets of draperies and will vide more insulation and light control. be largely responsible for the way the The style of window hangings you fabric hangs. choose will determine the type of hard- When draperies are heavy or con- ware to purchase. The selection in- stantly opened and closed, be sure the cludes cafe-traverse rods, adjustable anchorage for the fixtures is firm. If traverse rods, combination traverse screws go into the window frame there and valance rods, single or double is usually no problem. If fixtures are curtain rods, spring-tension cafe rods, attached to the wall, toggle bolts may and rods that will fit around comers. be used. Draperies will cover such Rods come in many decorator styles devices. and colors. Draperies and curtains may be pur- You can choose from a wide selection chased ready made, or the material may of models in sizes up to 25 feet wide be bought by the yard. The ready in traverse styles, 12/2 feet in cafe rods, mades are the most popular. and 10 feet in curtain rods. Extension Readymade draperies and curtains units can be added. For special window offer one of the best means for creating areas, rods can be custom cut by stores very attractive window treatments the that offer such services. Check local quick way. stores to determine types of fixtures Use your imagination—add fringes, and special services available. colored borders, tiebacks, and other Decide exactly what type fixtures decorator touches for your own special you are going to use and where they creations. If you are so inclined, you are to be placed—on the window frame, can save yourself the price of the work- above the window, extending beyond manship by making them yourself. the window on each side, or conforming After hardware has been selected and to some special need of your own. Good installed, measurements can be made. fixtures are important for they will out- Decide on the length of your draperies. Window hangings may come to the window sill, brushing the sill lighüy, or to the bottom of the apron, which is the piece of wood just below the sill. The most practical length for long draperies is one-half to one inch above the floor or carpeting. For ready mades, measure from the top of the rod to the desired total length. Also measure the length of the rod on the wall. Stores and catalogs provide measurement charts to help in selecting the appropriate size curtain or drapery. To determine the amount of fabric needed for custom-made draperies, measure the face—including the ends of the rod—and multiply by two for double fullness. To this add the sum of inches in allowance for four side hems, usually 2 inches each. Add 6 inches for standard overlap. The total is the width needed for each pair of draper- ies. Slightly more or less width can be used by adjusting the pleat size and Drapes reach bottom of window apron. spacing.

275 To measure for drapery length, de- ing difficult to treat odd-shaped win- termine the distance from the top of dows. Shades alone or combined with the rod to the bottom of the hem. Add another window treatment offer numer- 11 inches for hems. This will give ous ideas. enough fabric for a double 3-inch hem Venetian bhnds are being used in and a generous heading to cover the glamorous new treatments. Slats have top of the rod. If the fabric has a large become slimmer and a wide range of repeat pattern which must be matched, decorator styles is available. Colorful allow one full length of the motif for laminated blinds create a new mood in each cut fabric length required for the a room where the light must be care- draperies. fully controlled. Slats can be covered Consider the width of the fabric with a pattern to match a wall cover- when deciding on the number of widths ing or upholstery design. For large for fullness. Some fabrics may be only windows, vertical blinds made from 36 inches wide—chintz and some pol- lightweight aluminum and steel are ished cottons, for example. Others may appropriate. run 40, 48, or even 54 or 60 inches in Inside shutters can be used next to width. The average is about 48 inches. windows in place of curtains. Some are Some stores will provide assistance put under curtains or draperies; others in calculating the amount of fabric are used cafe-style, either above or needed. Be sure you have taken mea- beneath cafe curtains. surements of the rod and curtain length Shutters may be made from wood or desired. metal. Natural wood tones are often Draperies and curtains must be cut used to enhance the beauty of the shut- on the true lengthwise and crosswise ters. The inside section may be made grain of the fabric so when they are from any of the following materials: hung they will fall straight from the rod fabric, mesh, cane, grill cloth, or screen- in even, graceful folds. Before cutting ing. You can purchase shutters at your panels, cut off or pink selvages on both local hardware store or builder's sup- edges to avoid puckering in stitching, ply outlet. drycleaning, or washing. When a full window treatment is If you want your draperies to hang not desired, you may want to have a in richer and more formal folds, linings valance at the top of your window to will give the needed weight. Linings harmonize with the decorative scheme also give a uniform appearance to the of your room. For a kitchen window windows from the outside. Some fig- that faces the children's play area or a ured fabrics lose their decorative effect wooded area in which the view is im- when too much light filters through. portant, consider a shirred ruffle hung Linings are usually made from sateen from a regular curtain rod or a pleated in white or off-white depending upon valance suspended from a cafe rod. the background of the fabric used. Use your imagination to create effective Window treatments other than cur- treatments when a decorator's touch is tains or draperies may be the answer needed. to your problem. There is hardly a Problem windows are problems only window of any size or shape that can- as long as you believe they are. You not be covered with an interesting can discover many ways in which win- shade. Shades are relatively inexpen- dows can be made to look taller, short- sive, can block out the light, heat, and er, wider, or thinner. Their treatment cold, and give privacy when needed. can pose an interesting challenge. You You'll find a selection of textures, may have several windows in one wall interesting colors, and designs that will and believe that an impossible task is at harmonize with any decorative scheme. hand. Where double or triple windows There are shade types and brackets to are close together it may be advisable fit almost every window shape, includ- to treat them as one window and use 276 a single pair of draperies to cover them. lighting for the room as a whole. She Consider using several pairs of ruf- needed to consider all the lighting in fled curtains placed side by side to the room so the results would be attrac- create an entire unit covering multiple tive, yet efl^ectively provide her with windows and connecting wall areas. comfortable hght for all needs. After Another solution may be to use one all, the primary function of most lamps long cafe curtain covering the lower and fixtures is to provide useful light. half of the windows and a single val- Her second mistake was that she had ance at the top. not decided if she wanted the lamp to When dealing with separated win- be decorative or functional or both. Did dows on a wall, alternating sections of she want the lamp to be a decorative draperies and sheer curtains may be element or an accessory? Or did she used to cover the entire wall. Place the want it to provide good light for seeing? draperies over the wall sections be- Needless to say, lamps can be attrac- tween windows; use the sheer curtains tive as well as furnish enough com- over the windows. This technique will fortable light for difficult tasks such as give a unified appearance over the en- sewing or studying. Finding these lamps tire area. requires knowledge of the requirements If light and privacy are needed in of good lighting as well as some knowl- the breakfast or dining room, you may edge of interior design. want to use a cafe curtain which covers You, too, may be like Cécile when the bottom of the window and panels you shop for lighting equipment if you at the top separated to admit light. Be don t first decide what you want it to do. innovative in your use of available You will be wise to think of lighting materials to create the desired illusion. for the entire room, and select equip- The window treatment that you ment that contributes to an efiFective choose should depend on your personal overall lighting system. If you are build- taste and style of life. Factors to be ing a new home, the design for the kept in mind include the desired visu- lighting should be part of the plans. al effect, care requirements, and en- Therefore, you may want to seek help vironmental conditions present in your from someone who knows how to de- geographical location. sign a good lighting system. Your elec- tric utility or county Extension Service office may be able to refer you to such a person. Indoor Lighting— A well designed lighting system need not be expensive since modest priced Lamps, Lumens, lamps and fixtures can be attractive and And Fixtures effective. However, the lighting may be designed as elaborately and expensively as you want and can afford. How do you plan your lighting? By V-ECiLE SCOTT stood amid the providing enough light of the right kind store's enormous lamp department ut- in the right place. terly confused. Which lamp to buy? It is not simple to achieve this, and She had thought it would be simple to we will be able to discuss only a few of select one but was perplexed by the the considerations. Many points will variety of styles, shapes, and sizes from have to be omitted, and some of those which to choose. Some didn't resemble included must be oversimplified. a lamp at all. The wide variety of de- "Enough" light means an adequate signs made Cécile have second thoughts about what she wanted. AUTHOR FRANCES FORTENBERRY is Hous- Cécile had made two common mis- ing and Equipment Specialist, Mississippi takes. First, she had not thought of the Cooperative Extension Service. 277 490-100 O - 73 - 19