INEXPENSIVE HOUSEHOLD DECORATIONS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1842, 17 January 1880, Page 3

INEXPENSIVE HOUSEHOLD DECORATIONS.

[“Caetner’s Monthly.”] How much depth of feeling, and what pure and innocent thoughts, are connected with the word “ home ! ” The weatherbeaten mariner, the weary traveller, the profligate son, all dwell upon it with a “fooling of sadness and longing that is akin to pain ; ” and “ The patriot’s boast, where’er we roam, His first, best countiy ever is at home.” An old but beautiful prove;b says, “ home is home, though it be never so homely ; ’’ but how attractive may not that lowly home be mace by the artistic taste and inventive mind of a woman 1 It docs not require riches to make home beautiful, for the cosiest and prettiest of homes may be furnished with a comparatively alight expenditure of money. Neither does a berutiful home necessarily require handsome furniture, rich drapings and grand pictures How many cheerful and charming houses are there, which, were it not for dainty home-made articles effectively and gracefullv disposed in nooks and corners, would indeed be cheerless as habitations I When furnishing a home, the first thought should be in regard to the ap earance of the walls. Sleeping apartim nts and kitchens are effective when painted, but if this be too expensive an undertaking, a little coloring material, such as Prussian blue, ultra- marine blue, chrome-yel'ow or lake, according to the tint required, may be mixed with the lime wash, in which there should be a little salt, the effect of the latter when properly applied being just as satisfactory as paint. Sittingrooms, parlors, and dining rooms are very pretty when either painted or prepared, paper being the least expensive, unless it be of a superior quality. Tidies for chairs and sofas, covers for the tables, and mats for the various vases and miscellaneous ornaments to stand upon, add much to the, charm of a room, and their cost is but a trifle when made at home. Pretty and inexpensive articles of this sort are made of Java canvas, embroidered in fancy designs with wool of uniform or shaded tints. This canvas can be purchased in several different shades of red, yellow, drab, and brown, and alto in black, and white. The color of the worsted may either contrast or harmonise with the canvas, two or three contrasting shades beirg the most effective wh r n tas efui’y commingled in the pattern, •* Daisy ” tidies are dainty in effect and easy to make, and the material required for them costs but a mere trifle. Tin y are made of bleached muslin, wlite lawn or Swiss muslin, cut in circles a! out two or three inches in diameter, and gathered closely about the edges, which are by this means drawn to the centre of the circles on the upper side, where they are concealed under a rosette of bright yellow worsted. These little “daisies,” which bear a striking resemblance to those gathered from the field of Nature, are joined together in star, diamond, or other fanciful shapes, and are very pretty when fastened to the back of the chair, lounge, or sofa. Sometimes red, blue, pink, or violet worsteds are used, but the effect is not so natural, and consequently, not so much admired, A toilet set consists of a dressing case over, a pin cushion, a d two small mats, all of which may be of embroidered Java canvas. An airy set may be made of paper muslin, or silcsia, overlaid with plain or dotte i white Swiss, bordered with lace or laoeolged ruffi s of the material. Tee paper muslin should be of some delicate shade of blue, pink, gold, or green, or else of cardinal red, and should be cut to fit the bureau or dressing case smoothly. The cover is bordered with rufll s of the same, neatly pinked out at the edges, and after b-.ing f stoned smoothly to the bureau, is overlaid with the Swiss cover, through whose delicate transparent trxture the color of the under-cover is prettily displayed. The cushion and mats should be made to harmonise with the cover. Paper muslin is preferable to silesia, as it holds the lace out better, and when the un glazed side is turned out, the difference is not perceptible unless closely examined Pretty corner brackets may be made of pieces of wood, cut to fit snugly in the corners, and covered with embroidered canvas, flannel merino or silk, or j ainted and decorated with a suitable or fancied picture. These little articles very effectively decorate

v; cant hooks, and may be made to hold a tioy statuette, pretty shells, or vase of ewers, or other tasteful ornament. To keep a house orderly, and to prevent newspapers, journals, &c„ occupying every table, chair, and stand, in the room, and even the floor, as a thrifty housewife often finds them so disposed of by her forgetful better-half ; there should be a place prepared for them, and always used for the purpose. The '• loveliest of all lovely things” with which to adorn a home, are the beautiful flower and foliage girnitures of Nature’s emerald robe. Their bright looks and delicate perfume are soothing to the heart, and their presence “ makes sunshine in a shady place.” There are many simple methods for combining £1 ivoring and foliage plants, so as to be pretty and effective. One very ornamental receptacle for them is the window box, which may be of plain wood, painted and varnished, or ornamented with rustic slicks crossed over its surface, or in any other way most pleasing to the taste: these whm varnished look well.

Any creeper may ba planted at each end of the box, and trained up tho side of the window, and between the climbers may be effectively arranged a plant of maiden hair fern, dracoeaa, nasturtium, and sweet alyssum, and over the sides may droop some light sprays of a favorite runner. Two handsome looking “jardinieres” can be made from a small keg, by cutting the latter in two halves, and covering each half with tree bark, which may be varnished or not. according to fancy. Each of these “jardinieres” may contain one or two handsome foliage plants, and drooping negligently but prettily over the sides, may be sprays of of anything that suit. The crowning ornament of all, is the firepi ice fernery. It is very simply and cheaply made, and yet is one of the handsomest decorations for a parlor, sitting room, or dining room. A box about four inches deep, and fitted perfectly to the fire place, so as to present the appearance of being a portion of the mantel, is made of wood, lined with zinc, and made tight, so as not to lose any of the water that may be afterwards applied, and then painted in any color that will beat accord with the color of the mantel. If the mantel is of light color, the box will be mote effective if black. A very simple and inexpensive method of imitating ebony is to blacken the box with burnt wood, and then coat it with black varnish, which must be well applied, so as to produce a gord polish. All communication with the chimney should be shut off, and the back of the fire-place covered with panel paper, which may portray a " deep and gloomy bush scene,” a gleaner, a stork, Onpid in a bower of roses, or any scenery preferred. The box should then bo furnished with good rich soil, and well filled, but not crowded, with ferns surrounded by moss, and if the fire place is very large, moss-covered rocks may be used with a charming effect for filling in. In this event the ferns should be planted between the stones, and the more natural the arrangement, the handsomer the result. Every particle of earth should ba covered with moss, and a runner placed in each end of the box ;to be carefully trained along the margin of the fire place, to simulate a bower. The roots and the foliage should be watered every day, as ferns delight in moist situations,

This arrangement makes an exceedingly handsome fire-place ornament, and so long as careful attention is bestowed upon it, the fernery will keep nice and green, and will be constantly improving in appearance, A fancy mat of some kind, placed in front of the fernery will heighten the pretty effect of the room so decorated.