Bold, repeating lines in colors that could be pulled straight from a birthday hat are bringing a bit of joy to homes across the country.
Last year, optimistic-looking stripes flooded an American home decor market that for decades had focused on minimal effort and solid beige, white and gray tones. For many, the introduction of these thick stripes represents a gradual return to the world of colors and patterns. And they cover everything from the ceiling to the switch plate.
“It gives you a dopamine feeling,” said Katherine Finder, chief merchandising officer of Anthropologie's home division. “It’s a step up from a solid, but it’s a version of a solid.” The retailer has invested heavily in colorful and cheerful striped products as part of its wider offering. The only other decor motif that performs equally strongly is products depicting dogs, Ms. Finder said.
Melissa McCray, owner of online boutique Two Webster based in Osterville, Massachusetts, said she has trouble knowing exactly how many striped products she has in stock because they often sell out. “It feels approachable,” she said of her line, which includes bins ($60) and hand-painted dinner plates ($44).
These products are two of many currently available on the market. Many of them feature thick stripes of cheerful-looking colors in eccentric combinations.
Stripes have recently become very popular, and not just in American households. At the White House, the marigold-white striped parasols are a special feature of the renovated rose garden. They are based on similar outdoor furniture at President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Beach towels at the Grand Cayman Resort Palm Heights feature an almost identical stripe to the White House umbrellas. The $70 Turkish bedding is currently sold out on the resort's website, but has become a status symbol in certain parts of the fashion and art worlds and can be spotted on social media feeds, draped around the torsos of celebrities and influencers visiting the tropical destination.
While some homeowners crave small pops of color and pattern, others cover living rooms or breakfast nooks with matching ottomans, wallpaper, and sometimes even accent pillows for a look known as “stripe drenching.”
“It almost has a cabana feel that's playful and modern,” said Grand Rapids, Michigan-based designer Sarah Sherman Samuel of the stripe-infused look, which she executed in a repeating pattern of sunny yellow and cream. London-based brand Colors of Arley specializes in infusing stripes and sells bespoke accessories and wall decor available in hundreds of color combinations.
The introduction of houses with striped accents could be read as a sign of our times. The popularity of the motif is growing at a time when the nationwide cost of living is constantly rising. Two Webster's Ms. McCray suspects that stripes appeal to people who want to modernize their living spaces without having to spend the budget required for a major renovation.
The last time stripes were so prevalent in American homes was during a time of economic uncertainty. According to Catherine Futter, senior curator of decorative arts at the Brooklyn Museum, a growing middle class in the suburbs in the 1920s and 1930s gravitated toward stripes and sought to bring joy to their homes even in difficult times.
Last year, Ms. Futter became a member of the stripe club herself by purchasing numerous sets of striped sheets from textile company Brooklinen (starting at $169).
It's the first pair of printed sheets Ms. Futter has owned since she was a child, when her parents had a linen closet full of floral prints.
Aside from their cheerful look, the striped sheets have another benefit: “You know how to smooth them out, the stripes keep you on a grid,” she said.
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