PAPER-HANGING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18760, 14 July 1924, Page 11

PAPER-HANGING.

It is remarkable how much time and labour-expense may be saved by the woman who is prepared to t;ike upon herself any responsibility in the way of house decoration and preservation. Many women are finding that the papering of their own rooms is not nearly the difficult task that it appears to be. In fact, once it is undertaken, it proves so fascinating that they are almost sorry when the task is completed. The only condition to bear in mind is the fact that patience and trouble are absolutely necessary factors. The only necessary articles for paperhanging are a small whitewash brush and a good amount of paste. The brush may be bought for a few shillings. The paste is made by mixirfg old flour with cold water, until it is a smooth mass, and then adding more water until it is of the consistency of cream. Then put it on the stove, bringing it to boil gently, and adding more water as it thickens. One ounce of alum should be added to every pint of water. For an ordinarysized room aboufi half a bucketful 'of paste will be amp:e. Before the papei; is applied to the wall every scrap of old paper should bo removed, and if there are any nail-holes in the wall, they should be carefully filled with plaster 1 of Paris. If any of the old paper is difficult to remove, soak it with warm water and a sponge, and then scrape it off with an old dinner knife. In putting up the paper the chief thing to bear in mind' is that it must be hung straight, so that with the aid of a plumb it will be easy_ to draw a straight line from the ceiling to the floor, to enable the paper being hung correctly. The next thing is the cutting off of the margins of th> paper. The best way set about this is to place the roll paper on yoar feet, and while seated unroll the paper toward you, with the edgt that is to be cut off on your right hand side. A long sharp pair of scissors it. necessary for this. After having cut off the margins the next thing is to cut tho paper in the required strips. To apply the paste a table would do, but a couple of boards the exact width of tho paper will be more satisfactory. The paste must be applied thinly .and evenlv and as the paper is liable to tpar when wet. care must be taken to lift it very gently. It is especially impor tant not to hurry over this part c! the work. Thick paper must be left until the paste has properly soaked in. in pressing the paper against the wall start from the top, using a clean duster or soft brush, until the whole strip has been thus pressed on. Wipe away any paste that oozes out with a damp rag. The tops and edges of the paper mustthen be trimmed off, and the easiest way to do this it to press the paper against the wall with the back of the scissors, then pulling it out, and cutting along the crack thus made. When the entire wall has been papered in this way trim any untidy corners or tiresome nooks. It the work is hurried over, the paper will come up in large 61i3tera which cannot b$ got rid of.