How to Refresh Your Bedroom With Stripes
Pinstripes, candy stripes, awning stripes, the classic French Breton stripe. Horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines — you get the idea.
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 Club Stripe collection, in the shade blue grass. A tranquil mix of blue and ochre, it’s a complementary combo that's perfect for revamping 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
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 touch of stripes through accessories like cushions or pillowcases — our Reilly Club Stripe European Pillowcase makes for a perfect starting point. Adorned with bold horizontal 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 blue grass, 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.
The easiest way to style striped bedding is to keep layering on stripes. The Reilly Club Stripe quilt cover set includes two pillowcases as well as (of course) the quilt cover, so you're already well on your way to stripes on stripes goodness.
For major impact, try throwing in a Reilly Stripe cushion or pillowcase, which feature a smaller vertical stripe (and that same soft fabrication). This pop of contrast will add a dynamic feel to your bedding. In fact, the entire Reilly Collection — stripe, club stripe, and plain dye alike — have all been designed to style back with one another, so you can have fun mixing and matching colour and pattern to your heart's content.
#3: Pattern Play
Speaking of mixing pattern, that brings us to 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 Shore Break bundle that blends stripes, checks, and some colour blocking for good measure. We also recommend bringing in a cushion like Britten or Neo, both of which features a subtle twill weave.
