Stripes are having a moment: A Guide to bold, beautiful stripes in interior design
- Abbie Downey
- Jun 2
- 5 min read
Stripes are one of those brilliant design tools that never really go out of fashion — they just reinvent themselves. Whether you’re a fan of soft, subtle elegance or you lean towards bold, playful maximalism, there’s a stripe style for everyone. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use stripes in interior design—whether you’re after timeless charm, a modern edge, or something completely unique.
We'll take a look at the history of stripes, why they're currently having a resurgence, and how you can use them in your home to create height, width, rhythm, and personality.
A (Quick!) History of Stripes in Interior Design
Stripes in home décor can be traced back centuries. In 18th-century Europe, they were commonly used in textiles for mattresses and upholstery. Ticking stripes were the most popular option of the time — originally designed for practical purposes, but eventually finding their way into elegant interiors, especially in French country and rustic English cottage styles.
As interior design evolved into the 20th century, stripes became a hallmark of the Art Deco movement. Typically seen in bold black and white, they added drama and atmosphere to a space — a striking contrast to their more vibrant and psychedelic counterparts of the 1960s and ’70s. In those decades, stripes were often soft-edged or wavy, with bold, playful colours.
In the 1980s and ’90s, stripes returned to a more traditional look: narrower in style and more formal in colour, often reserved for dining rooms, home offices, or coastal design schemes.
More recently, stripes have experienced a huge resurgence in line with the rise of maximalist interiors. They’re now embraced in all colours, scales, and placements — from wallpaper and furniture to fabrics and accessories. Stripes are being paired boldly with other patterns like florals, checks, geometrics, and even more stripes! This layered, playful approach offers a fresh, modern take on a timeless design feature.
How to Use Stripes in Your Interior Design
Want to make your room feel bigger?
Use horizontal stripes in fresh, lighter colours and run them continuously around the room.
Design idea: Wallpaper all four walls of a child’s bedroom with a horizontal stripe, then panel the lower half of the walls. Pick a colour from the wallpaper to paint the panelled area to create continuity and visual flow or a contrasting colour for statement and impact.
Want to add height to a room?
Go vertical! Choose the stripe thickness based on your room size — wider stripes can make a small room feel more open and tall.
Design tip: Pair vertical stripes with tall furniture, ceiling-mounted curtains, or long mirrors to layer in that feeling of height.
Want to create a designated zone in your space?
Stripes can help create distinct zones in open-plan layouts, whether through wallpaper, panelling, or upholstered panels.
Design idea: Create a cosy eating nook in a kitchen-diner by using striped upholstered wall panels behind a banquette seating area.
Want to try diagonal stripes but not sure where?
Hallways are ideal. Go bold on the floor or ceiling — and if you’re using a bright pattern, keep the colour palette muted for balance.
Interior Design Tips for Working with Stripes
Colour schemes
Bold stripes = contrast, drama, and energy.
Muted stripes = calm, textural interest.
Try to tie your stripe colours into your wider design — for example, if your walls feature a green and peach stripe, echo those colours in your art, cushions, or accessories to create harmony.
Monochrome stripes are also a great option for drama without using colour. They're perfect for creating a classic 1920s or more regal feel.
Pattern mixing
Stripes don’t need to stand alone — mix them with florals, checks, geometrics, animal prints, or even more stripes.
The key to success is:
Consistent colour palette: Use at least one common colour across patterns.
Varied scale: Pair large stripes with small florals or detailed prints to keep things balanced.
Add stripes through accessories
New to maximalism or nervous about going bold? Start with smaller striped elements — cushions, throws, curtains, artwork, or rugs.
Want something bolder? Use striped wallpaper, paint stripes on walls or ceilings, or up-cycle furniture with bold striped patterns. Even laying flooring in a chevron pattern is a great way to bring stripes into your space.
If you're a DIY enthusiast, stripes are a fun and approachable way to play with scale, direction, and colour — often with nothing more than a tin of paint.
Real Home Inspiration: How to Use Stripes in Interior Design for Your Home
Living room:
This is an excellent example of using stripes to unify your colour palette. The green and red in the wallpaper are incorporated into the chairs and rug.
Dining room:
A delightful showcase of pattern mixing with striking statement stripe wallpaper, diamond flooring and botanical fabric.
Master bedroom:
Combining stripes in multiple directions and at different scales and sizes is a highly effective way to layer patterns and textures.
Kids bedroom:
Stripes on stripes- a great way to showcase how to go bodl with stripes in a pastel colour palette.
Bathroom:
Incorporating stripes into a bathroom provides a timeless yet bold approach to your tile arrangement.
Office:
Combining thin stripes with antique furniture and art brings a rustic French charm to your home office.
Need more striped inspo in your life, check out my stripetastic Pinterest board HERE.
Final Thoughts on Stripes — Let’s Add Some Stripe Magic to Your Space
Whether you're all-in on maximalism or just looking to bring a bit more personality to your home, stripes are endlessly versatile. They're not just a trend but a timeless design staple that can dramatically shift how a space feels. From soft and subtle to bold and playful, stripes can add structure, rhythm, and a real sense of identity to your interiors.
Play with scale, orientation, and colour to find a style that suits your space — and don't be afraid to mix things up. Stripes are brilliant at helping you reshape a room visually, and there really is a stripe style for everyone.
If you’re feeling inspired but not sure where to start, I’d love to help. Whether you need advice on colours, layout, or making bold design choices feel personal and liveable, get in touch to chat about how we can bring your space to life.
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