Next in importance to the background of a room is the matter of its curtains or hangings. From one viewpoint they are really a part of the background. From another angle, however, they are more than this: they are the first decorative idea used with the walls and trim as a background for them. A discussion of curtains and hangings involves two questions: what to hang and how to hang it.

While no specific rules can be given as to what shall be used, some hints may be helpful. In the first place, there is the question of their relation to the function of the window. If my room is already too dark or too light, I must choose my hangings with this as a modifying idea. If considerable latitude in this regard is possible, then less attention should be given to the thinness or thickness and the general textural weight of the material used.

The question of lighting also affects the colour. It must be remembered that yellow produces light; black absorbs it. Blues, reds and violets are nearer black and, therefore, more powerful in absorbing colour than in reflecting it. All this must be considered before the colour is finally determined.

Hangings must also be considered as a decorative note. If the walls are proper backgrounds - plain, simple and free from objects which attract undue attention - the curtains may be stronger in colour and more striking in pattern, and still be of a most fascinating decorative quality.

Printed linens, damasks, brocades, brocatelles, etc., according to the character of the room, may be used with simple backgrounds to produce a simple decorative effect. If the patterns show a floral treatment the decorative effect is better when the curtains are drawn aside, thus presenting a charming colour effect without the introduction of the naturalistic idea in a too prominent way.

If more than one set of curtains is to be hung, the inner pair may be net, fine plain lace, thin silk or casement cloth, according to the textural quality needed in the design idea. The outer or heavy hanging, which is more within the room, may be of any of the heavy materials before mentioned. This outer hanging serves three purposes: it adds a note of richness and elegance to the decorative idea, it may be used to regulate the amount of light during the daytime, and when closely drawn at night gives to the room an air of seclusion and privacy as well as richness that is hard to obtain in any other way.

How to hang curtains is a little harder to determine. Window trims and other extenuating circumstances differ so radically that a general law is likely to be misapplied. Sometimes woodwork is so bad in colour, or so hideous in treatment, that it is a joy to arrange the heavy hangings in such a way that the window trim is entirely covered. This is true sometimes of doors. If the windows are particularly small in scale for the room, this same treatment may be used to advantage. When a note of larger decorative area is desirable, it may be attained in this way also.

In general, however, the inside curtain - that is, the one next the glass - should be hung inside the window casing. This is done by extending a small brass rod across the top well within the window casing toward the glass. If cords and travellers are obtainable, the inner curtain should be plaited in single plaits at intervals, so that when the curtains are hung in place they will exactly fill the window space when drawn together in the centre. This allows the curtain to hang in folds regularly arranged and pleasingly placed. When the curtains are drawn, the window space is filled and, when pulled apart, the curtain easily adjusts itself in a decorative way.

The material should be arranged with a heading at the top, stiffened in some way so that it obscures the brass pins which are fastened into the back of the curtain. On the rod there are small brass rings into which these pins are fastened and the mechanics of the curtain are hidden by the heading at the top. The curtains should be of such a length that they just escape the window sill. They may be pulled close or left wide open without any effort; and they fit their space and place as a decorative idea.

In hanging curtains one should always bear in mind that the function of the window must not be interfered with; neither must the function of the curtain. The material must be so arranged that the largest measure of decorative effect is obtained. The above suggestions, if followed, will lead to this result.

Sometimes the outer or heavy hangings may also be hung within the window casing in the same way as the inner hangings, excepting that the former should be placed near the edge of the casing toward the room. When the rod is placed at the extreme outer edges of the casing, it should be raised far enough toward the top to conceal the casing. In this case, small brackets are used which will be covered by the hanging.

The same era that produced clumsy picture frames, gorgeous and ostentatious, and produced badly proportioned grills and other atrocities, invented also the wooden curtain pole, with its brass ends and other trimmings. Discard these and all objects of their kind as impossible to the decorative sense. The brass rods should be no larger than is essential to perform their function. If possible, they should be dulled in colour until they are unobtrusive and show little against the background. The rings, pins and other trappings should be kept on the side nearest the glass and out of sight, as all other machinery must be where art or decorative quality is concerned.

It may be inferred from this that two sets of curtains are generally desirable. This is not always the case. In some places, and under some conditions, window shades or blinds are essential. It is a pity that this is so because of their extreme ugliness. When they are used they should be kept rolled up and out of sight, excepting when performing their necessary function. With two sets of curtains it is less necessary to use shades.