In a measure, the materials for hangings and furniture-coverings are
determined more or less by the amount one wishes to spend in this
direction. For choice, one would say silk or velvet for formal rooms;
velvets, corduroys or chintz for living-rooms; leather and corduroy
with rep hangings for a man's study or smoking-room; thin silks and
chintz for bedrooms; chintz for nurseries, breakfast-rooms and
porches.

In England, slip-covers of chintz (glazed cretonne) appear, also, in
formal rooms; but are removed when the owner is entertaining. If the
permanent upholstery is of chintz, then at once your room becomes
informal. If you are planning the living-room for a small house or
apartment, which must serve as reception-room during the winter
months, far more dignity, and some elegance can be obtained for the
same expenditure, by using plain velveteen, modern silk brocades in
one colour, or some of the modern reps to be had in very smart shades
of all colours.

If your furniture is choice, rarely beautiful in quality, line and
colour, hangings and covers must accord. Genuine antiques demand
antique silks for hangings and table covers; but no decorator, if at
all practical, will cover a chair or sofa in the frail old silks, for
they go to pieces almost in the mounting. Waive sentiment in this
case, for the modern reproductions are satisfactory to the eye and
improve in tone with age.

If you own only a small piece of antique silk, make a square of it for
the centre of the table, or cleverly combine several small bits, if