A GOOD way to completely transform a bedroom when the furniture has become old and shabby, is to give every piece of furniture several coats of paint. The first thing to do is to sandpaper it smooth, and while this is tedious, it is very necessary. Then give each piece a coat of white lead paint, and when this is dry it must be followed by a second coat, and the third coat must be an enamel finish, and, if the work is carefully done, a lovely polish may be obtained as effectually as if the most expensive workmen were employed.
Curtain shades that are worn at the bottom can sometimes be made to look like new by taking the roller off the top and turning them upside down, but one must be very careful in tacking the curtain in place again.
The best renovation for carpets is ox-gall, as it brightens the colors, and one pint of ox-gall to three gallons of boiling water will clean a large carpet or rug. A large Brussels rug that was worn and faded was first thoroly cleaned and neatly darned, then it was gone over with olive green diamond dye for wool, which was put on with a brush and rubbed well into the carpet with clean, soft cloths; and some small rugs that were faded were colored a rich dark blue as they were to be used in a bedroom furnished in blue.
The brass top of a lamp can be fastened to the bowl by applying melted alum. Melt the alum, and while it is hot cover the inside of the brass top, put it in position, and your lamp will be as good as new. If the brass part of the lamp has become dull or discolored, get some bronze at the drug-store, and put it on your lamp as you would bronze any article. A white lamp globe can be cleaned and brightened by washing with kerosene oil and then with hot suds and polishing with soft, dry cloths. M. H.