There is something quintessentially elegant about striped wallpaper. It has an uncanny capacity to make a room look stylish and sophisticated.
There is something quintessentially elegant about striped wallpaper. It has an uncanny capacity to make a room look stylish and sophisticated.
Striped wallpaper is a term that describes a geometric motif of parallel lines as a decorative finish. Ever since the industrialisation of the printing process perfected wallpaper manufacture the parallel lines motif (or stripes) has been widespread.
The simple stripe, used correctly, offers endless ways to customise different rooms in your home. There’s a reason why it has been a favoured motif down through the ages and will never be unfashionable. Keep reading to find out the best ways to successfully combine stripes in your décor throughout the home.
Skins Artenisa Pearl
Get the Look
Interior design is all about decorating your home to get the very most out of it. That’s one of the reasons for the current popularity of striped wallpaper.
Nowadays we have done away with the stuffy interior design rules of the past. That helps explain why striped wallpaper is back with a bang, because of its unmatched visual impact. Striped wallpaper is part of the trending wallpapers revolution that is transforming homes throughout the UK.
With line pattern wallpaper, we can add verve to bedrooms, make a good impression in an entrance hall and inspire creativity in kitchens.
Striped wallpaper is unique among decorative finishes thanks to its capacity to change the perception of your home décor. Similar to the way pinstripes help elongate the body in clothing, stripes on walls also affect the perception of the room. Additionally, the versatility of striped wallpaper means that stripes will add something to any chosen décor.
The following recommendations are tried and tested ways of using line-patterned wallpaper in the home:
Note: Don’t use striped wallpaper on uneven walls, the defects will be exaggerated, and the effect will be lost. Striped wallpaper works best on perfectly plumb surfaces.
One of the most common mistakes when choosing striped wallpaper is to get the width of the stripes wrong. Either the stripes are too narrow or too wide. The stripes should be, therefore, scaled correctly to the room. Larger rooms will take wider stripes.
Depending on the size and colour, striped wallpaper can create a neutral backdrop or an impacting feature wall. That explains why the light and the dimensions of a room must be taken into consideration. While a hall or a dressing room can be bold, aim for neutrality in a living room or a kitchen.
To make striped wallpaper visually legible, there must be a combination of colours, either contrasting or complementary tones. Just as we choose certain colours to create different ambiences in home décor, we can combine coloured stripes to great effect. As a rule, to create soft and neutral backgrounds choose colours within the same area of the spectrum. On the other hand, strongly contrasting colours draw attention to the visual effect.
Skins Windsor Taupe
Get the Look
Today, our home décor is more individual and creative than ever before, thanks to the number of available products and finishes. A good example is combining striped wallpaper with contrasting motifs, like florals or elaborate geometric patterns like chevron. Also, distressed stripes, ombre stripes or textured stripes can provide a feature wall around which an entire décor can be created. Different combinations work well, either as a complete look on all four walls of a room, or a feature wall.
To finish an entire room with striped wallpaper, however, a softer, more traditional and simpler design can provide the best results.
For the average size room, try a closely spaced, narrow stripe to elevate the ceiling. As a result, the closely spaced vertical lines will add dimension to the room.
Striped wallpaper is also highly recommended for rooms with architectural features such as dado and picture rails, cornices and other profiles. The stripes help draw attention to the room’s architecture and complement these features. Try these simple-to-follow ideas to bring another dimension to stripe motif wallpaper:
More is more with line-patterned wallpaper. It’s not for the faint-hearted. When used properly, its success depends on the way other elements in the room are handled.
Add patterned accessories to highlight your striped wallpaper choice. Fabrics, soft furnishings and artworks help to prevent ‘geometric overkill’ on a living room wall with striped wallpaper. Think about the overall décor before you choose a line-patterned wallpaper. The following tips will help:
Skins Artenisa Coal
We have explored the potential of striped wallpaper to add elegance, sophistication and style to any room in the home. We have also proven its potential to alter the perception of different spaces.
The subtleties of colour, proportions and motif, however, are not straightforward. We recommend using samples on walls before making any decision. Click here to arrange a consultation at your nearest Porcelanosa showroom where you will find advice and a selection of designs.
Book an appointment