which will be a suitable size for a room.  The colors are very good, especially the soft grays, tans, putty color, and taupe.  There are also some good blues and greens, a very beautiful dark blue having great possibilities.  There are also, besides these wide carpets, narrow carpets from twenty-seven inches to four feet wide which can be sewed together and made into rugs, or the carpet can cover the entire floor.  In some cases this is the most attractive thing to do, for it will make a room seem larger by carrying the vision all the way to the wall without the break of a border; and it also covers a multitude of sins in the way of a rough floor.  In these days of vacuum cleaners the old terrors of dust have lost their sting.

A plain carpet or rug may be used with propriety in any room in the house, provided the right color is chosen for the surroundings.  Some people, however, prefer a figured carpet in the dining-room on account of the wear and tear around the table.  This risk is not very great if the rug is of good quality in the first place.  A two-toned all-over design is often chosen for halls and stairs because of the special wear which they receive, and a Chinese rug is a good selection to make with a stair carpet of soft blue and yellow Chinese design to match.  A small, figured, all-over design is a good choice for a nursery.

Bedrooms may have either one large rug or be covered entirely with carpet, or have several rugs so placed that the floor is practically covered but is easily kept clean.  Plain rugs are more restful in effect in bedrooms than figured rugs, and with plain walls and chintz are fresh and charming.  These carpet rugs should be made with a flat binding which turns under and is sewed down, as this looks far better and lies flatter on the floor than the usual over-and-over finish, which is apt to stretch.  All rugs should be thoroughly stretched before they are delivered as otherwise they will not lie flat.

There is a kind of plain woven linen rug, with a different colored border if desired, which is very good to use in many country houses.  These rugs come in a large assortment of colors and sizes, and, when sufficient time is allowed, they can be made in special sizes.  Old-fashioned woven and hooked rag rugs are not appropriate in all kinds of rooms, even in the country.  They should only be used in the simple farm house type and in some bungalows, and should be used with the simple styles of old furniture and never with fine examples, whether copies or originals.

[Illustration:  This attractive Colonial hallway shows a good arrangement of rugs.  The border on the portieres spoils the effect, but the lamp is well chosen.]

The light in a room must be taken into account in choosing a rug, and cold colors should not be used in north or cheerless rooms.  The theory of color in regard to light has been explained in other chapters, very fully in the chapter on wallpapers, and its principles should be applied to all questions of furnishing, or disappointment will be the result.