their
characteristic is to decorate the room by daylight only, and to impart
no _quality_ to the light which they shade. Unless in pale colours,
they stop the light, absolutely, throwing it down, if on a lamp, and
back against the wall, if on side brackets. Therefore decorators now
cut out the lovely designs on these figured papers and use them as
appliques on a deep cream parchment background.

When you decide upon the shape of your shades do not forget that
successful results depend upon absolutely correct proportions. Almost
any shape, if well proportioned as to height and width, can be made
beautiful, and the variety and effect desired, may be secured by
varying the colours, the design of decoration, if any, or the texture
or the length of fringe.

The "umbrella" shades with long chiffon curtains reaching to the
table, not unlike a woman's hat with loose-hanging veil, make a
charming and practical lamp shade for a boudoir or a woman's summer
sitting-room, especially if furnished in lacquer or wicker. It is a
light to rest or talk by, not for reading nor writing.

The greatest care is required in selecting shades for side-wall
lights, because they quickly catch the eye upon entering a room and
materially contribute to its appearance or detract from it.

CHAPTER VI

WINDOW SHADES AND AWNINGS

The first thing to consider in selecting window shades when furnishing
a _house_, is whether their colour harmonises with the exterior.
Keeping this point in mind, further limit your selection to those
colours and tones which harmonise with your colour schemes for the
interior. If you use white net or scrim, your shades must be white,
and if ecru net, your shades must be ecru. If the outside of your
house calls for one colour in shades and the interior calls for
another, use two sets. Your dark-green sun shades never interfere, as
they can always be covered by the inner set. Sometimes the dark green
harmonises with the colouring of the rooms.

A room often needs, for sake of balance, to be weighted by colour on
the window sides more than your heavy curtains (silk or cretonne)
contribute when drawn back; in such a case decorators use coloured
gauze for sash curtains in one, two or three shades and layers, which
are so filmy and delicate both in texture and colouring that they
allow air and light to pass through them, the effect being charming.

Another way to obtain the required colour value at your windows is th