Why You Should Refresh Your Bedroom With Stripes

A close-up of a green striped bed. On top sits matching pillows and two accent cushions. Next to the bed is a wooden side table with a vase of dried flowers and a cup of tea.A close-up of a green striped bed. On top sits matching pillows and two accent cushions. Next to the bed is a wooden side table with a vase of dried flowers and a cup of tea.

Pinstripes, candy stripes, awning stripes, the classic French Breton stripe. Horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, Fine Line — whoops, that last one is a Harry Styles album. 

When it comes to this classic pattern (that can be dated back to ancient times), it’s a perennial favourite across fashion, design, interiors and of course, bedding.

Why Are Stripes So Popular For The Bedroom?

For a pattern with such popularity, it may surprise you that stripes didn’t have what we’d call the nicest of origins. Think convicts, prison uniforms, the like. Even in the 1850s, when they became the official uniform of French sailors, it was because they argued that the 21 blue and white stripes were easier to spot if a man fell into the sea. 

Over the years — well, centuries really — you’ll find they’ve had a complete overhaul, and are constantly in vogue (and no, we’re not just talking about the magazine). 

Nowadays, you’ll see them in every second fashion show, in spreads in magazines (like Vogue), and on any seaside vacation — think striped deckchairs by a hotel pool, a striped swimsuit, striped umbrellas on an Italian beach.

So it’s no wonder that striped bedding is in style, no matter the season. It’s a timeless trend that isn’t going anywhere, no matter what other fads may emerge. They’ll look good today, tomorrow, a year from now, five years from now. 

Why Should I Style Stripes in my Bedroom?

First off, they’re versatile. You can mix and match them; adding just one striped pillowcase to your bed can make an impact. And when you incorporate striped sheets, accessories or a quilt cover, it can make for an easy refresh.

Stripes are easy to style, layer, remix — if you’ve ever questioned what design goes well with a striped bed, the answer is endless. Well, the possibilities are endless, anyway. So it turns out stripes are also good value for your money, while you can still make them feel like your own… a reflection of you.

And who doesn’t want that?

Secondly, nowadays stripes aren’t just the classic black and white, or navy and white of old. Across both fashion and interiors, stripes are getting an energetic, punchy update — saturated, bright colourways.

Like our Reilly Stripe collection, in the shade snow pea. A refreshing mix of green and white, it’s an optimistic shade to revamp your space. And on our popular cotton chambray fabrication, it’s the same favourite feel of your (or your partner’s) lived-in shirt.

#1: A Touch of Stripes

An image of a green striped bed sitting in a white bedroom. A large, colourful painted mural hangs on the wall.An image of a green striped bed sitting in a white bedroom. A large, colourful painted mural hangs on the wall.

Make like Harry Styles and just go with some fine lines. Because of their simplicity, stripes can be used to complement your already existing bedroom aesthetic, regardless of if it's contemporary, minimalist, beachy, boho, vintage-inspired or something else entirely.

For one of three striped bedding ideas, in this case, styling stripes in your bedroom is as simple as adding a pair of striped pillowcases — like our Reilly Stripe Pillowcase Pair. Adorned with crisp vertical stripes, it adds graphic impact to the bedroom.

#2: Stripes on Stripes (on Stripes)

You can never have too much of a good thing — and stripes definitely fall under the category of “good thing”. And in a colour like snow pea, it also takes it into the territory of dopamine dressing — where you elevate your interior with colour, in order to enhance happiness and self-care.

With Reilly Stripe, these pieces epitomise fun and abundance through colour and pattern. So, the easiest way to style striped bedding is to keep layering on stripes. So get that striped quilt cover out, and pair it with striped sheeting and pillowcases.

A close-up of a green striped bed. An open book and a tube of hand lotion sit on top of the tousled sheets.A close-up of a green striped bed. An open book and a tube of hand lotion sit on top of the tousled sheets.

#3: Pattern Play

White wooden shelves holding a collection of mismatched vases and books, as well as three printed cushions in shades of green and pink.White wooden shelves holding a collection of mismatched vases and books, as well as three printed cushions in shades of green and pink.

If you’re a fan of mixing patterns already, then you’ll love this next suggestion. A design that goes well with stripes happens to be…any pattern, really.

With so many stripes, you can bring in a supplementary pattern. And the best (easiest, and least overwhelming on the eye) way to do so is with cushions and blankets.

There’s a cushion bundle, like our Poetic Geometry Bundle that brings in geometric shapes, oversized plaid and some colour blocking for good measure. We also recommend bringing in a cushion like Dustan, which features a reversible, dual-toned design in complementary shades.

Bonus Round: Continuing Your Colours

A pink bathroom with colourful diamond floor tiles. A green towel is draped over the side of the bathtub.A pink bathroom with colourful diamond floor tiles. A green towel is draped over the side of the bathtub.
A pink bathroom with a large mirror and marble countertop. A green towel hangs on the wall and a pile of white towels sit on the counter.A pink bathroom with a large mirror and marble countertop. A green towel hangs on the wall and a pile of white towels sit on the counter.

Now, this isn’t strictly stripes (or bedding, for that matter), but we just can’t help ourselves when it comes to a styling journey. Now that you’ve built your gorgeous snow pea bedroom, continue this palette into the bathroom for maximum coordination.

Our Aven Australian Cotton collection is available in a range of gorgeous shades, but we can’t go past snow pea for coordinating back with our striped bedding ensemble. Carrying this hero colour from room-to-room brings a cohesive, premium feel to your space.

7 months ago