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 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.