Decorating with stripes: six lovely ways to line up in style

Stripes are incoming! So say the interior design thought leaders. The funny thing is that for many home lovers – us included – this eyecatcher of a pattern isn't a trend, it's a modern classic. In fact, it’s the style staple that can always be relied on to bring forever good looks to nigh on every design decoration scheme.

“Stripes are the daily bread of the pattern world,” says Steve Forder, director at The Pure Edit. “There is one to suit every type of property from country to city to coast, plus you can colour them happily with a myriad of hues from across the spectrum or stick to the tried-and-tested neutrals.”

Stripes come in many scales and guises – from awning (like the Tassa Grande Rose Roman Blind shown) to candy, pencil, pin, ticking and hairline. It’s all down to the variation in the width of the bars, the way they are drawn and the visual effect that they result in – think wide and daring, or pencil thin and quiet, multi-coloured or mono.

Read on to meet six straight-down-the-line decor ideas. In easy-to-live-with colourways, they’re all made with the best and most sustainable materials in mind, so you can design a home for good…

A balanced repeat of clean cut stripes is guaranteed to result in a sharp and pleasing effect. Stylish and suave, these stripes give an edge to a room’s key soft furnishing elements such as upholstery and window treatments. Consider them as a good alternative to a plain fabric; they feel smart but won’t date or dominate a space.

Head to a heavyweight woven stripe fabric in a mid-grey for a tailored armchair or sofa (stripes on sofas are a big yes in the world of interiors right now). We like Jovita Slate (shown) on the Bliss Chair. Jovita’s characterful texture is produced from responsibly sourced cotton and sits beautifully on classic curved arms and generous proportions. Break up the lines with a small-scale geometric ikat with bled ink edging such as Odisha Graphite Cushion.

Painterly watercolour stripes are your go-to for languorous settings where you want the atmosphere to feel laidback and carefree. Head towards the power pastels of the season – dusty pink, surf blue or asparagus green – to keep the colours contemporary rather than saccharine.

Bedrooms or bathrooms make an instinctive setting for an informal stripe, such as Tassa Petite Rose (shown). For her daughter’s bedroom, @cottagebythefield chose the Izzie Headboard with its distinctive scalloped architecture and classic studded border, as a pretty complement to the gouache ink stripe.

Don’t be frightened to mix different stripe width styles in the same space. The trick is to keep the colour the same or similar for cohesion. A soft handle pinstripe Roman blind, in say Cho Rose, works beautifully with Tassa Rose Petite. Both Tassa Petite and Cho are printed on responsibly sourced cotton.

Delicate decorative stripes are a feminine and barely-there way to introduce the repeated line into a scheme. You get all of the benefits, without the design being too assertive.

For a pretty coordinate in a room of plains, seek out an illustrated design with the appearance of hand stitched embroidery. Look to country and coastal-friendly colourways, such as leaf green, inky blue, gingery reds and charcoal black.

Shown here in the home of @casacocointhecotswolds, the Bodo Stripe Willow Cushion with its lace-like detailing is produced on a beautifully soft responsibly sourced cotton. This expansive design also works well on made to measure curtains; any seams are blurred and they frame a window elegantly without distracting from the view beyond.

A French ticking is a stripe with a thin stripe either side usually in the same colour. Synonymous with the rustic farmhouse groove, this everyday utility design is simple, pared back and budget-friendly. Yet it is very effective in creating casual window treatments in bustling spaces where people and animals gather.

Make the most of its vintage vibe to fashion DIY drapes like cafe curtains and basin curtains. For a loose and breezy window treatment, choose ticking for patio and back door curtains. @joeykendalbrown used Aline in Charcoal to create flop-over frill curtains for a romantically soft complement to her on-trend monochrome painted kitchen cabinetry and checkerboard floor. This ticking with its playful zigzag ups the rhythm of the classic design and is printed on responsibly sourced cotton with a sophisticated weave appearance.

Ikat stripes bring with them a distinctive feathered edge thanks to their artisan-made origins. This hazy and blurred line effect results in a handcrafted quality that feels at home in both fancy- or rustic-luxe room schemes.

When used on a wallpaper, Ikat stripes will feel dynamic and powerful, and create the illusion of both height and width. On pockets of fabric, they feel equally impactful but more restrained.

Fall for the earthy and organic colours that are so-rightly popular just now in rust, ink, mineral or olive. The Aarna Olive Cushion (shown) is a Persian inspired stripe printed onto a fine textural ground. Made from a beautifully soft responsibly sourced cotton and filled with sustainably sourced feather or recycled polyester filling or as a cover only. Team with other global-inspired motifs, such as Folia Cinnabar Cushion, for a grown-up counterbalance.

Apply an heirloom-style stripe to a small upholstered stool or ottoman and you’ll add a charming finishing touch to an already-decorated room.

Occasional pieces welcome skinny to medium vertical bands. Echo the existing scheme for a quiet luxury look like @home_on_cranberrymeadows’s Malpaso Footstool in Aline Stone fabric (shown). The calming stone colourway with its smart stud detailing is the perfect neutral for her sophisticated guest room and matches the Indira Stone cushion on the bed effortlessly. Or choose a peppy colour pop to make a space feel bright, lively and individual.

Loving stripes? Whether used as a bold statement or a hushed accent, stripes have maximum staying power. Thanks to our carefully considered selection of fabrics, wallpaper, made to measure curtains and Roman blinds, furniture and cushions you can be sure of finding the right one for you over on our website. Just filter by Stripes to find your dream one!