cover image: Alice Palmer & Co
Stripes had a moment this summer, but it was less of an emergence and more a modern day revival of a timeless trend.
From the red and white of a big top tent to masterful, masculine monochromes, orderly soldier-straight pinstripes, and space-widening horizontals – the pattern of the year is plain to see for those with an eye for interiors.
After a moment in time when interior design favoured muted shades and rustic textures in polished plaster and Bauwerk paint – largely the outcome of us seeking serenity in a chaotic post-pandemic world – the pendulum has swung back to bold. Not just bold, but the bolder the better.
Stripes have always had their place, but the most modern interpretation of them combine pattern with colour in ways we haven’t so often seen before. Pinks and reds sit shoulder to shoulder on cushions, peach and cobalt jostle for attention on rugs, and horizontal stripes in similar shades hang proudly on curtains, stretching window spaces and rooms in a trick of the eye. Monochromes haven’t disappeared entirely, but in 2024 they aren’t just a side piece; they are the main event. Downstairs loos are decked head to toe – ceiling at times included – with humbug stripes of black and white. Striped tiles make bathtime fun again and deckchair stripes in candied almond shades bring seaside sophistication to bedrooms. A favourite example of ours displaying the versatility of stripes in every room is @thehouseondolphinstreet. A master with a paintbrush, he has decorated his Georgian property on the deal seafront from floor to ceiling, and boy, is every room a source of inspiration.
The versatility of these orderly lines can’t be overstated. Overstated is the name of the game; stripes in 2024 are sitting unapologetically beside wild florals and regal colours; vases, lampshades and picture frames heavy with the print shouldering in on the action on behalf of accessories.
Introducing stripes into your interiors can be an all-at-once or a softly-softly kind of approach. Let bright stripes command attention through cushions, before dipping a toe into fuller coverage with curtains. Don’t be afraid to mix it up – stripes and a scalloped edge are a match made in interiors heaven, and chintzy floral prints are given a new lease of life when juxtaposed with a statement stripe. On the contrary, stripes can be subtle too – shades of sage green and terracotta are more Cinque Terre than circus tent when used on soft furnishings.
