Get the look

Get the look: Classic stripes

How to decorate your home with classic stripes

With the ability to transform the look and feel of a room, stripes can be used to make a room feel more spacious by using clever tricks of the eye. Whether you lean towards a traditional style or a more modern look, there are a plethora of designs available.

Vertical vs horizontal stripes

One of the first things to consider is the direction of the stripes. Verticals are more traditional and using a vertical striped wallpaper or curtain fabric can help a room look bigger by creating an illusion of height. Horizontal stripes can make a narrow space seem wider and create a more modern look.

Cole & Son Croquet Sripe wallpaper, Missoni Home Riga Multicolour Orizzontale wallpaper, Thibaut Nola Stripe wallpaper

Top styling ideas for stripes

Whether you opt for a striped theme throughout or an accent feature there are a number of different ways to style stripes in your home.

One of the most traditional ways is through a nautical theme. One of our favourite choices for curtains and upholstery is a classic French-striped linen, like Designers Guild's Brera Nastro, which will lend a loch of coastal chic to your room. Pair with limewashed wooden furniture, painted floorboards and a nautical themed wallpaper to complete the look.

For something bolder, Engblad & Co’s Stripe M is a modern vertical stripe which creates a modern monochrome look.

Depending on your preference, stripes can work beautifully in combination with other patterns or against a neutral backdrop. Choosing softer tones will give a subtler stripe, perfect for a more pared-back space. Sandberg’s Estelle is a lovely choice for a narrower stripe, while Borastapeter’s Falsterbo Stripe is slightly wider and is wonderful for retaining a sense of light and space. Whereas Missoni’s Riga (available in both vertical and horizontal styles) combines a fine stripe and a multicoloured palette for something really striking.

'If choosing a striped wallcovering for all four walls, consider using a dado or picture rail to break up the expanse and add a balancing, plain element.'

Jane Clayton Style Team

Top tips

Start small: If you haven’t decorated with stripes before then start by adding small accents into a design like a striped rug. Or choose a smaller room in your home like a bathroom to go big and bold.

Combine textures and materials: Too many stripes can become overpowering so add art to walls and different textures and materials to your space to get the perfect balance.

Importance of measuring: To create a crisp straight finish to stripes invest time into measuring before you start - see our wallpapering guide for more information. If walls are not straight, particularly if you live in a period home consider using striped fabric instead of wallpaper.

Stripes are one of the easiest designs to incorporate into your home, with so much choice available. They can be used to brilliant effect in all styles of décor, from Scandi to traditional, and by varying the width and direction of the stripe you can create an effect that is completely unique to you and your home.

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