ctual balance of a room is
upset by the careless placing of electric fixtures. Therefore keep in
mind when deciding upon the lighting of a room the following points:
first, fixtures must follow in line style of architecture and
furniture; second, the position of fixtures on walls must carry out
the architect's scheme of proportion, line and balance; third, the
material used in fixtures--brass, gilded wood, glass or wrought
iron--must contribute to the decorator's scheme of line and colour;
fourth, as a contribution to colour scheme the fixtures must be in
harmony with the colour of the side walls, so as not to cut them up,
and the shade should be a _light_ note of colour, not one of the
_dark_ notes when illuminated.

This brings us to the question of shades. The selecting of shapes and
colours for shading the lights in your rooms is of the greatest
importance, for the shades are one of the harmonics for striking
important colour notes, and their value must be equal by day and by
night; that is, equally great, _even if different_. Some shades,
beautiful and decorative by daylight, when illuminated, lose their
colour and become meaningless blots in a room. We have in mind a large
silk lamp shade of faded sage green, mauve, faun and a dull blue, the
same combination appearing in the fringe--a combination not only
beautiful, but harmonising perfectly with the old Gothic tapestry on
the nearby wall. Nothing could be more decorative in this particular
room during the day than the shade described; but were it not for the
shell-pink lining, gleaming through the silk of the shade when
lighted, it would have no decorative value at all at night.

In ordering or making shades, be sure that you select colours and
materials which produce a diffused light. A soft thin pink silk as a
lining for a silk or cretonne shade is always successful, and if a
delicate pink, never clashes with the colours on the outside. A white
silk lining is cold and unbecoming. A dark shade unlined, or a light
coloured shade unlined, even if pink, unless the silk is shirred very
full, will not give a diffused, yellow light.

It is because Italian parchment-paper produces the desired _glow_ of
light that it has become so popular for making shades, and, coming as
it does in deep soft cream, it gives a lovely background for
decorations which in line and colour can carry out the style of your
room.

Figured Italian papers are equally popular for shades, but