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House Furnishing and Decorating: Afterwards

Soluble Glass for Floors. -Instead of the old-fashioned method of using wax for polished floors, etc., soluble glass is now employed to great advantage. For this purpose the floor is first well cleaned, and then the cracks are well filled up with a cement of water glass and powdered chalk or gypsum. Afterwards a water glass of 60° to 65°, of the thickness of sirup, is applied by means of a stiff brush.

Any desired color may be imparted to the floor in a second coat of the water glass, and additional coats given until the requisite polish is obtained. A still higher finish may be given by pumicing off the last layer, and then putting on a coating of oil.

Or denim of good quality in solid colors may be laid upon the floor as a background for the rugs. But when this material is used the rugs must be large enough and numerous enough to cover most of the surface and receive the greater part of the wear.

Or use heavy building paper pasted smoothly to the floors, and apply to this two or more coats of varnish paint. This material wears well and presents a good appearance.

Or heavy unbleached cotton or denim may be treated by tacking it against a building or laying it on a floor which is not in use, and applying with a paint brush one or two coats of linseed oil. After this is dry, apply a coat of varnish or "lac" paint, let dry and apply a second coat. Afterwards apply a coat of varnish. Let the cloth dry thoroughly before using.

This is a good and cheap substitute for oilcloth and linoleum for kitchen floors and all other purposes.

Or matting may be used, especially in bedrooms, sewing room, sitting room, and even in the parlor if the rugs are of the right size and number and of sufficiently good quality.

Or the floor may be covered, especially in the sitting room, where there is more or less tracking in of mud and dirt, and in bedrooms, with a good quality of linoleum, which may be stained and painted in imitation of a hard-wood floor, or to correspond with the woodwork.