Versatile, stylish and sophisticated, stripes are currently seeing something of a resurgence in interior design, transforming luxury spaces into playful havens for the discerning eye
History shows that where fashion leads, interiors will follow. Or is it vice versa? Either way, it’s no surprise that as stripes in all shapes and sizes are dominating the catwalks for SS24 — see Marni, Victoria Beckham and Etro for starters — the playful print is also making something of a resurgence throughout the world’s most stylish homes, as interior designers make their mark with everything from bold and dynamic wallpaper to subtle and soft throw pillows. “For the past several years we have seen a lot of neutral interiors, mostly based on a combination of textures,” founder of Dubai-based Braginskaya & Architects Marina Braginskaya, who has worked on a number of homes throughout the Emirates, tells MOJEH. “It was only last year we started to see a sudden rise of interest in bold colours, and now we are exploring options with even more colour combinations. Stripes are one of the best ways to play with them — they can transform a space, give character to a room and be a perfect design accent.”
When it comes to stripes at home, 2024 is all about big and bold designs across hues, shapes and styles. What’s more, be it a tonal green stripe for a traditional kitchen in Arabian Ranches or a more industrial warehouse space in Al Quoz, stripes are suited to most environments and can be used on everything from walls and floors to within furniture and accessories — and even on the ceiling, should you wish. “Powder rooms are a good place to go bold, so try opting for all-over stripes in a fun colour via wallpaper,” advises US-based interior designer Zoe Feldman, who recently used striped wallpaper in a dining room project which extended to the ceiling to give a stunning jewel box effect. “We also love striped upholstery in chairs, ottomans, pillows — really anywhere in the living room.”
According to Zoe, bedrooms should feel like an oasis, so here she suggests keeping the stripes quiet and tonal. The same need not apply to children’s rooms, however, which can be louder and more playful. “We use stripes in kids’ rooms a lot,” agrees Marina. “These timeless patterns can be used on headboards, decorative pieces and across walls and ceilings. The pattern is playful yet not too childish, which allows use for different ages.” Elsewhere in kitchens and dining spaces, banquette benches lend themselves brilliantly to different styles of stripe, while Marina is also a huge fan of using them in bathrooms. “Even simple tiles used in an unusual pattern across the walls and floors can create a unique design look,” she explains.
One studio truly embracing stripes this season is Colours of Arley, which has recently expanded its portfolio with the launch of its debut wallpaper collection. Featuring signature stripes and available in a carefully curated collection of over 180 colours, this all-new collection is designed to enhance the studio’s existing offerings of timeless stripe fabrics, cushions and upholstery options. With four stripe sizes to choose from — skinny, midi, grand and jumbo — all wallpapers are entirely customisable too. “Patterns often see high and low tides of popularity, but stripes are our signature look,” explains founder Louisa Tratalos. “They add impact, tell a story and can introduce a new energy to a room. These days, people are being braver with interiors and mixing patterns and colours, and stripes are an obvious choice when it comes to combining designs.”
Another defining feature that attracts designers to stripes is their ability to give the illusion of space. For example, striped curtains add height to a room as they can elongate a wall while, on floors, they can be used along the length of the room to create a lengthening effect. Similarly, for smaller rooms or ones with a low ceiling, the addition of wallpaper with a vertical stripe will draw your eye upwards to help create the feeling of additional height. “As a rule of thumb, vertical stripes make a room appear taller, while horizontal stripes can make it seem wider,” adds Zoe.
While an increasing number of clients are wanting their homes to make a visual statement, there are those who simply want to nod to the trend without going all-out with wallpaper or paint. For this, accessories and upholstery are the perfect places to start. “We used a fabulous armchair by Gaetano Pesce in one project, and it immediately became the centre of attention,” explains Marina. “For a more classical setting, for example in a traditional majlis where we wanted to add a contemporary twist, we have also used striped fabrics to decorate the sofas.” Alternatively, look to little touches like scatter cushions or tablecloths to bring stripes into your home, while striped rugs can also make a perfect base for different groups of furniture. “Think of chairs, pillows, bed throws and ceramic vases,” she adds. “You can even try to use them in different scales of pattern but in the same colours — a set of black and white vases and trays can give an amazing styling effect.” The best bit? Stripes may currently be having a moment, but as a true interior classic, they will never go out of style.
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