How to Decorate with Stripes

At times it is necessary to add a little flair in your design, whether on your walls, curtains, accessories and fabric choices. One way to add interest into your home is with the use of stripes. Whether horizontal or vertical stripes, whether on your walls or floors, as well as on your accessories and fabrics, they can add beauty and interest to your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paint (in assorted colors)
• Wallpaper with stripes
• Fabric with stripes
• Wood floors (two or three finishes)
• Area rug with stripes
• Paint brushes
• Leveler
• Blue painter's tape

1. 
    
   Horizontal stripes make this small bathroom seem bigger.

   Paint. You can paint your walls with vertical or horizontal stripes. Vertical stripes will give the illusion of height, while horizontal can give the illusion of width. Both can make a room seem more spacious as the eyes get drawn to the direction of the stripes. Add stripes by marking several grids with blue painter's tape. You can alternate several colors or just paint over your existing wall paint with a different or contrasting color so the stripes will be more evident. You can also add a smaller stripe to accent your bigger stripe in a different color.

2. 
    
   A wallpaper with words printed on stripes adds personality to this bedroom.

   Hang wallpaper with stripes, whether horizontal stripes or vertical stripes. Use them in confined and small places like a powder room or small children's room. Their effect can be regarded similar to the paint, however, wallpaper tends to be a little more difficult to apply and more difficult to change once you are tired with the design.

3. 
    
   A bedding with stripes that matches the stripes on the wall gives this room continuity.

   Use striped fabric to make your window curtains or roman shades. You can use striped fabric on your bedding and table runners. A common thing being done by experienced decorators is hanging striped window panels that align with the painted stripes on the wall. It makes the design more cohesive and continuous.
   
   To achieve this, you have to measure the height of the wall stripes then cut the same width with extra inch to fold when sewing on your fabric with the same color as your stripes on the wall. You will sew this on a contrasting colored fabric. Make sure to mark the height of the curtain rod and the total height of the fabric. Ensure that when you make the cut where you will sew the stripe will closely align with the stripe on the wall.
   
   With a little trial and error and readjusting you can perfect this skill in no time.

4. 
    
   A striped area rug is used to give this loft a clean and airy look.

   Add an area rug with stripes or install hardwood floors with alternating finishes to make them look like stripes. there are also striped floor boarders seen in Victorian homes.
   
   Laminate floors with stripe designs are great floor options to a more modern room. They come in different colors and finishes.

5. 
    
   A pair of striped decorative pillows makes this room look tailored.

   Add decorative pillows, artwork and frames with stripes to match your wall colors.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the wall stripes are even by using a leveler.
• Make sure that your paint job is not too sloppy.
• Do not overdo using stripes in a room for it may look too busy. Using stripes on wall, floors, accessories and curtains will no longer give your eyes a place to rest.

[timbobelmo]

on 1/29/2008 Another great way to decorate with stripes is on your windows! http://www.remlor.com has decorative window film and one of the products is a thin ribbon stripe, or thick ribbon stripe. Once applied to windows it can add style & design as well as privacy to any room. Also great for bathroom shower stalls, and glass partitions (but not many poeple have glass partitions in thier house!)