Decorating Ideas for Striped Walls

Types of Stripes

• While thin vertical stripes are the variety most commonly found in homes, they're not the only option from which to choose. Wide stripes, or those that alternate between thick and thin, are possibilities as well. You can opt for horizontal or diagonal stripes to add interest and style to a room, or choose stripes with a wavy pattern or those that mimic animal prints like zebra or tiger stripes. Hang striped wallpaper, or paint your own stripes on one or more walls.

Solids

• You can complement your striped decor by adding additional items to the room in solid colors. Choosing colors that mimic those contained in the stripes on your walls is a safe way to ensure that your decor is in harmony. On the other hand, there's no reason not to throw a third color into the mix to set off your striped walls to perfection. Black and white stripes will benefit from the zing that's added to the room when you choose red carpeting and curtains. Mauve and pink stripes blend well with various shades of green, and tan and white stripes work well with any shade from the brown family.

Florals

• While you may have heard that stripes and floral patterns don't mix, that isn't necessarily the case. Dare to be brave, and mix the two in a way that makes your room the envy of the block. Whether you place a floral print sofa in the same room with your stripes or simply choose several floral-covered throw pillows for your couch and chairs, the important thing is to choose floral patterns that blend with the colors of your striped walls.

Other Patterns

• Just as you can combine stripes and floral prints, stripes do not preclude you from introducing any other pattern into your room either. Paint one wall with stripes, and apply fleur-de-lis wallpaper in a matching color to the other walls. Geometric shapes are another option that play well with striped walls. Opt for pillows with a pattern of circles in the same hues, a rug with a distinct cube pattern or a bedspread with a funky design that ties in well with your walls.