Stripes never go out of style in interior design. Whether bold or subtle, vertical or horizontal, classic or whimsical, decorating with stripes adds instant personality to a space. In Everybody Loves Stripes: Decorating Between the Lines (Monacelli with Schumacher, 2024), authors Alexandra Morris Flint and Emma Bazilian remind us: “There’s no pattern, print, color, application, or style that doesn’t ‘go’ with stripes. Stripes remind us of childhood, of summer vacation, of candy canes and circus tents. Stripes make us happy.”

Their book explores the versatility of stripes in home design, showing how this timeless pattern can work everywhere—from over-the-top tented rooms to pared-back interiors where stripes play a subtle supporting role.

A Shepherd’s Hut Reimagined

One striking example is this colorful shepherd’s hut tucked away in the Sussex countryside. Once used during lambing season as a simple rural shelter—traditionally whitewashed inside and painted hunter green outside—shepherd’s huts are now being reimagined as charming garden retreats.

Here, textile designer Molly Mahon collaborated with the homeowners to create a jewel box of color and striped pattern. “My intention when decorating it was to let every surface sing with pattern, from the painted ceiling to the block-printed fabrics that wrap it in joy,” says Mahon.

Decorating with Stripes

Want to bring the same energy to your own home? Mahon’s philosophy is clear: decorating should always feel playful. Mix stripes with other patterns, combine colors freely, and let your imagination run wild. Whether you use striped wallpaper, block-printed fabrics, or a striped rug as a grounding element, stripes can energize even the smallest room.

By layering stripes with florals, geometrics, or solids, you can strike a balance that feels fresh, eclectic, and personal. In today’s interiors, stripes aren’t just a pattern—they’re a design philosophy.

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