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    The French styles of decoration require no other notice than that they
have
 received in former parts of this work. The names by which they are known
 fix the date of their introduction, and from the specimens we have given,
it
 will be evident they are only suited for the saloon and the drawing-room.
 The ornaments of these styles are always rich and elegant, frequently elaborate,
 and well calculated to attract attention. The effect of a room decorated
in this
 mode, depends greatly upon the propriety and richness of colouring. Gaudiness
 must be carefully avoided, and yet a great depth of tone is allowable. 
    In
 providing for the decoration of a drawing-room, it should always be remembered
 that it is to be used by an artificial light; and the artist will then probably
 find it necessary to adopt some tones of colouring different from those
which
 he would otherwise have employed. As the French styles have of late become
 very fashionable in England, many of the designs in this work have been
 prepared with the view of assisting the decorator in the designing and com-
 pleting such works when required; but we cannot too much insist upon the
 fact, that the effect must in a great measure depend upon the colour.
   There are two methods of executing a design: one is by ornaments in relief,
the other by painting on a flat surface. The raised ornaments are now moulded
and cast in composition, so that almost all varieties may be obtained ready
for
use.   When a design is to be painted in turpentine colours, artists should
be employed; for if the work be not done with care and spirit, the effect
will be no better than that of common stencilling in a village tavern. But
if the requisite care and talent be employed, great excellence may be obtained,
although in no instance equal, we think, to the same design in relief.
  For many years past, it has been the custom to decorate the houses of the
middle and even the upper classes with papers prepared for the purpose.
These papers, or paper-hangings as they are generally called, added greatly
to
the comfort and appearance of our dwellings, and, we have no doubt, aided
in producing that degree of cleanliness by which the English people, in all
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