Give Your Home the Joy of Stripes
Stripes can add real zest to your décor – here's how to introduce this classic motif to any room in your home
Eva Byrne
30 August 2017
I'm an Architect + House Consultant based in Dublin. I specialise in House Consultations to maximise Space, Light and Storage in your home. Whether you are planning a Renovation, Extension or New Build project, I aim to help you get your project off to the best possible start and to make best use of your cents and centimetres.
I'm an Architect + House Consultant based in Dublin. I specialise in House Consultations... More
There’s something about stripes. Whether narrow or wide, straight or chevron, stripes have a character all of their own. There are jolly stripes, nautical stripes, sombre stripes and stripes that are powerfully assertive. You can use stripes to add a playful touch to any space or even to bring a whole room together. Stripes can also lend real zest to the most minimalist of interiors. Here’s a room-by-room guide to bringing the joy of stripes to every space in your house.
Put on a floor show…
Add a wonderful, welcoming touch to your home with a runner on your hall floor. The runner will also play a key role in your household dirt-management regime. Given the amount of dirt a runner can trap on a weekly basis, a washable one will be a bonus.
Add a wonderful, welcoming touch to your home with a runner on your hall floor. The runner will also play a key role in your household dirt-management regime. Given the amount of dirt a runner can trap on a weekly basis, a washable one will be a bonus.
Stripes will add that extra flourish and can be used to manipulate the sense of space in what is normally a tight area in the home. Stripes running parallel to the walls can make a short space feel longer, while stripes running perpendicular to the walls, as seen on this landing, can make a narrow space feel wider.
…or a stairs show
Stripes are especially suited to staircases, lending instant elegance to all styles of stairs.
A stripe painted on the middle of a timber staircase will define the well-trodden central area of the steps. Use a dark colour on the central area to absorb the inevitable wear and tear, with a lighter colour each side for drama and emphasis.
13 fresh options for painted stairs
Stripes are especially suited to staircases, lending instant elegance to all styles of stairs.
A stripe painted on the middle of a timber staircase will define the well-trodden central area of the steps. Use a dark colour on the central area to absorb the inevitable wear and tear, with a lighter colour each side for drama and emphasis.
13 fresh options for painted stairs
Carpet them instead
Again, choose a colour palette that will absorb the punishment the steps will inevitably suffer. An element of white among the stripes will bring lightness to the overall scheme, but notice here that forgiving inky blue is the dominant theme.
With a carpet runner, you’ll need to decide between a runner that runs the full width of the steps and one that leaves a painted edge of about 10cm each side. The narrower option is visually more attractive, but bear in mind the additional housekeeping required, between dusting the painted timber and vacuuming the carpeted runner.
Again, choose a colour palette that will absorb the punishment the steps will inevitably suffer. An element of white among the stripes will bring lightness to the overall scheme, but notice here that forgiving inky blue is the dominant theme.
With a carpet runner, you’ll need to decide between a runner that runs the full width of the steps and one that leaves a painted edge of about 10cm each side. The narrower option is visually more attractive, but bear in mind the additional housekeeping required, between dusting the painted timber and vacuuming the carpeted runner.
Use them on walls…
Be brave and enliven a small cloakroom with a bold, striped wallpaper. Big gestures in small spaces can work surprisingly well.
For the fainter of heart, a wallpaper with more muted stripes will still cut a dash, while striped towels and accessories will strike a jaunty note in a more low-key way.
Be brave and enliven a small cloakroom with a bold, striped wallpaper. Big gestures in small spaces can work surprisingly well.
For the fainter of heart, a wallpaper with more muted stripes will still cut a dash, while striped towels and accessories will strike a jaunty note in a more low-key way.
…or on furniture
Perk up an ageing kitchen or any cabinet doors with painted stripes in restful tones. Pair wide painted stripes with a blind or other accessories in narrower stripes for a veritable feast of pinstripe.
Perk up an ageing kitchen or any cabinet doors with painted stripes in restful tones. Pair wide painted stripes with a blind or other accessories in narrower stripes for a veritable feast of pinstripe.
Keep it simple
Instead of painting furniture (see previous photo), focus on the flooring and save your feet and protect the most trafficked-areas of your kitchen floor – at the sink and hob – by adding a jolly, striped runner. Fit non-slip backing under the rug to ensure it stays in place, and a washable rug will ensure your floor stays as fresh as you will wish.
Find a kitchen designer in your area
Instead of painting furniture (see previous photo), focus on the flooring and save your feet and protect the most trafficked-areas of your kitchen floor – at the sink and hob – by adding a jolly, striped runner. Fit non-slip backing under the rug to ensure it stays in place, and a washable rug will ensure your floor stays as fresh as you will wish.
Find a kitchen designer in your area
Define an area…
Anchor the dining area in an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room with a large, striped rug, ideally sized to extend under the seats around the table.
As well as providing a strong focal point to your room, the rug will serve as a useful landing spot for crumbs and debris from the table. A flat-woven rug will be easier to maintain than a deep pile option.
Anchor the dining area in an open-plan kitchen, dining and living room with a large, striped rug, ideally sized to extend under the seats around the table.
As well as providing a strong focal point to your room, the rug will serve as a useful landing spot for crumbs and debris from the table. A flat-woven rug will be easier to maintain than a deep pile option.
…or two
In the same way, accentuate the seating area in your living room or open-plan space with a large, striped rug.
Plain stripes, especially black and white, will be powerful and can work to bring together a room with one simple gesture. Herringbone stripes, as here, will produce a more muted effect.
Use the direction of the stripes to manipulate the sense of space in the room or to contrast with the direction of other finishes such as floorboards or tiles.
In the same way, accentuate the seating area in your living room or open-plan space with a large, striped rug.
Plain stripes, especially black and white, will be powerful and can work to bring together a room with one simple gesture. Herringbone stripes, as here, will produce a more muted effect.
Use the direction of the stripes to manipulate the sense of space in the room or to contrast with the direction of other finishes such as floorboards or tiles.
Accessorise it
Mix cushions with chevrons and plain stripes to fun effect on your couch and armchairs. Black-and-white cushions will work especially well in a monochrome or muted interior. They will also enliven dark leather seating which can be dull and light-absorbing
Little gestures like a striped vase or a stripy throw will add to the jolly conversation.
Mix cushions with chevrons and plain stripes to fun effect on your couch and armchairs. Black-and-white cushions will work especially well in a monochrome or muted interior. They will also enliven dark leather seating which can be dull and light-absorbing
Little gestures like a striped vase or a stripy throw will add to the jolly conversation.
Take it to the windows…
The tiny gesture of a striped blind on a window will set a merry tone in any room. The stripes will also work to distract from an ugly window or from an uninspiring view. Blue and white works well here, setting a semi-nautical tone against crisp white walls and wooden accents.
The tiny gesture of a striped blind on a window will set a merry tone in any room. The stripes will also work to distract from an ugly window or from an uninspiring view. Blue and white works well here, setting a semi-nautical tone against crisp white walls and wooden accents.
…or to the bathroom
With their overtones of all things nautical, stripes are especially at home in the bathroom.
Go all out with a striped floor or wall tiles. Or opt for more low-key, versatile touches such as stripy towels, shower curtains and other accessories to lift the spirits at the start and end of each day.
Do you love stripes or do you have another favourite motif to add decorative touches to your home? Let us know in the Comments section.
With their overtones of all things nautical, stripes are especially at home in the bathroom.
Go all out with a striped floor or wall tiles. Or opt for more low-key, versatile touches such as stripy towels, shower curtains and other accessories to lift the spirits at the start and end of each day.
Do you love stripes or do you have another favourite motif to add decorative touches to your home? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Hooray, for once I disagree with janedale and Gerry Rust and forzaitalia! ;) I do not like stripes! Not sure why but I find them oppressive and depressing - though fionaoneill, your carpet is smart!
Heresy chemistrykaren! For penance you will have to like at least three of our next posts :D
Gerry! ROFL! (Of course, that'll be *easy* - look, I've started already.)
(Houzz, for these moments we need more than a 'Like' button!)