8 Ways to Work Stripes in 2018
Roll out a striped rug. Tile stripes on a wall. Designers show how to use this classic pattern to refresh a room
Stripes are a classic staple in interior design, and they’re not going away. We caught up with interior designers Maggie Stephens and Genna Margolis to get the skinny on how to use stripes in a way that feels fresh this year. Spoiler alert: We must be craving calm in 2018, because you’ll see lots of neutrals ahead.
2. Neutral Stripes
For interior designer Stephens of Maggie Stephens Interiors, neutrals are still king. “I just can’t quit them,” she says. “I’m usually doing stripes on pillows or maybe a great striped vintage Turkish kilim rug. I have one in my own living room now. But an accent chair is another great spot for them, with a beautiful pillow.”
Tip: In a stripe, blue often reads as a neutral. You know how blue jeans go with everything? It’s like that.
Kilim, Flokati, Beni Ourain, Boucherouite — What’s the Difference?
For interior designer Stephens of Maggie Stephens Interiors, neutrals are still king. “I just can’t quit them,” she says. “I’m usually doing stripes on pillows or maybe a great striped vintage Turkish kilim rug. I have one in my own living room now. But an accent chair is another great spot for them, with a beautiful pillow.”
Tip: In a stripe, blue often reads as a neutral. You know how blue jeans go with everything? It’s like that.
Kilim, Flokati, Beni Ourain, Boucherouite — What’s the Difference?
3. Mixed Stripes
When it comes to mixing stripes, less is often more. Keeping all of the stripes in the neutral range is the simplest way to go, but if you want to branch out, Margolis suggests coordinating your stripes with the room’s overall color palette.
In the space shown here, for example, hues from the blanket are repeated in the furniture and throw pillows. Crisp white walls and a neutral rug in a thinner stripe keep the room from feeling busy.
See more of this South Carolina home
When it comes to mixing stripes, less is often more. Keeping all of the stripes in the neutral range is the simplest way to go, but if you want to branch out, Margolis suggests coordinating your stripes with the room’s overall color palette.
In the space shown here, for example, hues from the blanket are repeated in the furniture and throw pillows. Crisp white walls and a neutral rug in a thinner stripe keep the room from feeling busy.
See more of this South Carolina home
4. Stripes on the Wall
A few years back, we would have been more likely to see bright stripes on the walls. Today, wall stripes are more often neutral than technicolor. And as this chic bathroom by Australian designer Jacque Yates illustrates, tiled stripes are having a design moment.
Wall tile: Earp Bros
A few years back, we would have been more likely to see bright stripes on the walls. Today, wall stripes are more often neutral than technicolor. And as this chic bathroom by Australian designer Jacque Yates illustrates, tiled stripes are having a design moment.
Wall tile: Earp Bros
5. Rustic Stripes
Forget perfection. “Right now it feels fresh to use more organic and rustic stripes seen on vintage or hand-printed textiles,” Stephens says.
Repurposed vintage textiles (grain and flour sacks come to mind) work well, as do new fabrics with an imperfect, handmade stripe.
Forget perfection. “Right now it feels fresh to use more organic and rustic stripes seen on vintage or hand-printed textiles,” Stephens says.
Repurposed vintage textiles (grain and flour sacks come to mind) work well, as do new fabrics with an imperfect, handmade stripe.
6. Large-Scale Stripes
If you want to make a big impact with stripes, it makes sense to go big. “Using stripes that are of a big scale — not too busy — always brings a fresh accent to a room,” Margolis says. Try a single wide stripe on upholstery, as on the pair of wingback chairs shown here.
How to get the upholstery work you hope for
If you want to make a big impact with stripes, it makes sense to go big. “Using stripes that are of a big scale — not too busy — always brings a fresh accent to a room,” Margolis says. Try a single wide stripe on upholstery, as on the pair of wingback chairs shown here.
How to get the upholstery work you hope for
7. Stripes as a Foil for Bold Patterns
Have a love of big, bold patterns like the banana leaf wallpaper seen here? If toning down prints and patterns isn’t part of your vocabulary, consider using a simple wide stripe in black and white as a moderating partner for your bolder decorating moves.
Wide stripes can stand up to the wildest prints without taking your space over the top.
Find striped curtains
Have a love of big, bold patterns like the banana leaf wallpaper seen here? If toning down prints and patterns isn’t part of your vocabulary, consider using a simple wide stripe in black and white as a moderating partner for your bolder decorating moves.
Wide stripes can stand up to the wildest prints without taking your space over the top.
Find striped curtains
8. Striped Textiles
“Stripes are a classic and almost always make it into the mix,” Stephens says. If you’re still wondering where to add stripes, go for something easy — like striped napkins, tablecloths or towels. Stacked up in the bath or draped from a hook in the kitchen, thin-stripe towels make a foolproof finishing touch.
And if you’re looking for something just a bit different, Stephens recommends branching out to a subtle variation on stripes. “I’ve seen some beautiful fabrics with a randomized dash print that is less structured but still geometric,” she says.
Tell us: How are you using stripes in a fresh way this year? Please show us in the Comments.
More
How to Paint Stripes on Your Floor
Houzz TV: How to Paint Perfect Wall Stripes
“Stripes are a classic and almost always make it into the mix,” Stephens says. If you’re still wondering where to add stripes, go for something easy — like striped napkins, tablecloths or towels. Stacked up in the bath or draped from a hook in the kitchen, thin-stripe towels make a foolproof finishing touch.
And if you’re looking for something just a bit different, Stephens recommends branching out to a subtle variation on stripes. “I’ve seen some beautiful fabrics with a randomized dash print that is less structured but still geometric,” she says.
Tell us: How are you using stripes in a fresh way this year? Please show us in the Comments.
More
How to Paint Stripes on Your Floor
Houzz TV: How to Paint Perfect Wall Stripes
Rolling out a striped rug is one of the easiest ways to bring stripes into your space. To take things up a notch, Margolis, principal interior designer at Shapeside, loves combining a mix of stripes in a shared color palette. Here, she paired a blue-and-white striped rug with a subtle horizontal-striped wallcovering.
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