Summer Rugs, Seasonal Floor Coverings

Summer Rugs, Seasonal Floor Coverings

It is not always possible to have two sets of floor coverings. If the carpet or large rug must be kept down, it can be cleansed, covered with newspapers laid smooth, and then covered with denim stretched and tacked around the edges. The papers prevent the dust from sifting in and, as observed before, will keep away the moths. If the rug is large, it were wiser to turn the denim over the edge and sew it firmly underneath. As denim may be had in tones to harmonize with any color scheme and is easily stitched up, it forms a cool, agreeable covering. Each fall it can be taken up and packed away for the ensuing summer.

For summer the best rug is one with no pile. Flat tapestry weave rugs come in all sizes and colors. The more expensive Scotch rugs, the cheaper American art rugs and the Colonial rag rugs all fall into the no-pile class. For medium price and good service, the domestic art rug is preferable. For bedroom use, rag rugs have some justification, but the art rug is at all times best since it is heavy, stays in place and does not soil easily. They come in two tones with plain banded or fancy borders, and are to be had in a variety of grades with countless trade names.

For the outside living room and the first floor rooms fibre rugs are serviceable. It is well to avoid the fancy weaves and colors, as they make a room appear chaotic and are too suggestive of the camp and porch.

If, in refurnishing, one wishes to use the rugs that are at hand, they can be easily dyed. Thus, in a black and rose room, we may not be certain that we will like the scheme and therefore will not want to go to the expense of buying a black rug. As a try-out, we may have the old rug dyed black at little expense. Red rugs dyed black come out a wonderfully soft rich plum which fits in with so many color schemes, and which one never finds in a new rug.

It is always better to use small rugs in summer than large, as small rugs are more easily taken up and, moreover, a sparsely covered floor gives a sense of coolness.

To re-kalsomine a ceiling is a matter of small expense. A newly tinted ceiling adds freshness, and, done for the summer season, it need not be re-done in the fall. Always have it tinted to tone in with the color of the wall. The advantage of having the ceiling repainted in summer is that it stays fresh longer, since in winter it quickly shows the smoke from lamps, fire and furnace.

Next Page: Seasonal Curtains.