Stripe-drenching is summer’s hottest interiors trend
Stripes make a statement – but how should you style them in your own home? We ask the experts
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Stripes have long been a cornerstone of colourful interiors, but this summer has seen the somewhat Marmite trend turned up a notch. We ask the experts why stripes are making a comeback this season, as well as how to incorporate them into your home – subtly or in a maximalist fashion – and our favourite stripe interiors pieces to shop now.
Why is stripe-drenching becoming popular?
Images: La Manufacture Cogolin
The simple answer: ease. A surefire way to add a dose of colour and pattern without needing to restrict the room to a theme – for example, stripes have long been featured in nautical homes or in trends like cottage core – stripy wallpapers or accessories add a touch of joie de vivre without overwhelming a space. Courtney Brannan, principal of Champalimaud Design, explains: “Stripes are classic. They are both youthful and tailored, fun yet timeless. In [recent] projects we layered different stripes within the same room to elevate that whimsical, lived-in feel. Stripes can help build a light-hearted energy in the room without becoming trendy or exaggerated.”
How to incorporate stripes into your own home
For David Harris, creative director at global design house Andrew Martin, stripes have always been a supreme choice. “Stripes continue to reign, and I love how versatile they’ve become. We’re seeing stripes evolve through bolder colour combinations, varying widths and layered textures.”
So, why should we be hopping on the stripe-drenching trend? “Stripes are great to bring structure to more eclectic schemes – they ground a space while adding a sense of energy. I particularly enjoy using wide stripes on upholstery to make a strong statement or finer pinstripes on wallpaper to elongate a room and draw the eye upwards. Stripes have this incredible ability to feel both timeless and fresh depending on how you use them, and that’s exactly what makes them a favourite this year.”
Luxury interior designer Katharine Pooley says that while stripes rarely creep into her work, she loves the effect they bring into a home. “It is not often that I am asked to weave stripes into a client’s interior, yet on the rare occasion I am, the results are invariably joyful. Stripes, whether subtly introduced or fully embraced through stripe drenching, bring a spirited layer of character to a room and can transform an otherwise understated space into something memorable.
“One might choose the gentlest approach, adorning only the walls or perhaps a quiet reading nook, where pattern adds charm. Alternatively, a bolder approach may extend the stripes across the ceiling, enveloping an area – perhaps the powder room – in a striking, conversational finish.
“Colour is key. Vivid hues have their place; in a child’s bedroom or playroom as they lend themselves to vitality and a sense of fun, but I find equal beauty in a softer palette. Tonal shades of nudes, buttery yellow or the palest blush can create a space that feels calm, refined and infinitely elegant.”
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