Who doesn’t love stripes? Whether they’re wide or pinstripes, they can look at home in any décor, spicing things up without making a room look too busy. Stripes can be used on the walls to break up the monotony of a sea of solids, on the ceiling to add pizazz to an otherwise neutral room, or in a combination of accessories and fabrics to bring aesthetic interest to a space.
Abode Love has a striped pattern on her wall that isn’t overwhelming to the eye, thanks to the similarity between the colors. That also ensures that they work well with the bright accent shades, so the room gets the best of both worlds—visual interest on the wall and a color scheme that branches out well beyond the neutral palette.
Stripes offer the perfect backdrop for other patterns and portraits as well. These play well off of the rich florals of the drapes without creating a cacophonous appearance.
The ceiling probably isn’t the first place most people would think to put stripes, but they do offer an unexpected twist to a room without overwhelming a delicate, romantic space. The blues and greens play off of the wash of white underneath, just barely disturbing the tranquil vibe of the rest of the room.
Use brighter colors in a limited area, like above a bed (even as a faux headboard), and vary the sizes of the stripes to create a focal point in any room.
Don’t shy away from striped furniture or other accents. This chest would work well in a room with other patterns on the floor or walls because the stripes here are subtle.
Stripes are classic and can work with any type of décor without giving a room a distinct feminine or masculine feel. That makes them ideal in shared spaces for couples, or for a single man or woman interested in mixing things up in their home.
Photo credit: Abode Love, Sherril Canet, Elle Decor, Better Homes and Gardens, and Daybed Deals
