Image sources (from left to right): Flickr Creative Commons, StockSnap
Candy canes and zebras: what do they have in common?
Stripes.
Although often associated with the fashion industry – like the nautical trend or anything that’s supposed to suggest French elegance – stripes are an incredibly versatile pattern to incorporate into an interior environment. Adding striped accents to your home can liven up a tired or dull space, and can be as subtle or as bold as you fancy. Here are a few simple ways you can easily work this trend in any room of the house.
Let’s start with…
The bathroom
Image source: Flickr Creative Commons
If you’re unsure how stripes will work in your home, experiment with the trend in your bathroom. It’s not as prominent a room in the house as, say, the living room or the kitchen, so it’s a good space to play with. Try getting a striped shower curtain, a striped towel or two, and some matching striped soap dispensers (like this set from House of Fraser).
The hallway/stairway
Image source: Fishpools
It’s easy to overlook the hallway (or staircase, if you have one) since it’s not a place where one typically goes to spend time. It’s normally just a ‘passing-through’ area, but this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deserve a makeover. A beautiful piece, like this Regatta striped carpet from Fishpools, can completely transform the look and feel of an area. An added bonus? It’s a great way to cover up worn stairs or unfortunate floor stains!
The living areas
Image source: Flickr Creative Commons
One of the reasons why stripes are such a popular pattern has to do with their ability to play with the viewer’s perception. Stripes have the power to visually elongate their surroundings – a valuable asset to take advantage of, especially if you want to suggest an expansiveness atmosphere.
Add some striped wallpaper in your living or bedroom to give an added illusion of height. Browse Little Greene’s striped wallpaper selection here for some inspiration.
Image source: Flickr Creative Commons
Not ready to go quite that bold? Accent pieces are a refined way to experiment with the trend without overwhelming the room. Try some striped curtains to compliment the colours in your room.
The kitchen
Image source: Flickr Creative Commons
If your kitchen is lacking that certain something, try stripes: it’s a simple, affordable design solution. You can paint stripes or add striped wallpaper to the ceiling (pictured) or – if you’re feeling especially crafty – remove a set of cabinet doors and add a striped curtain. Here’s an example (and another, and one last one) if you need some ideas.
With the ability to blend seamlessly into any interior environment, stripes are the perfect element to breathe new life into an overly-familiar room. From cushions to curtains, stripes pave the way to a classy, contemporary home.
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