The hype about stripes, – but don't go mad

There is something undeniably cheery about stripes. Whenever I see striped clothes, furniture or accessories, it raises a smile.

If you want to introduce something striped to your home, the key thing to keep in mind is the old adage "less is more".

After all, you don't want your interior design to become a psychedelic joke.

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You should also beware of inadvertently turning a room into something that resembles a circus. Taking inspiration for your interiors from jesters or clowns only really works in children's playrooms or bedrooms.

Being equally sparing with nautical-style stripes is also a good idea. With the right colours, it can create a fresh, bright and airy feel. But you can easily overdo it by introducing too many stripes – the end result being a seasick sensation.

So, to get it right, you need to think about which colour to go for, how many striped items to have and where. Look at the colours already in a room and choose something that will tone in.

Or, if you are looking for a statement piece with bolder colours, ensure other items in the room are plain rather than patterned. You might also want to consider having a more neutral colour palette for walls, curtains and carpets.

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For example, the Dolce Vita two-drawer chest is a stand alone piece with its bold, bohemian style. As is the Trafalgar sofa in bright lime and deep purple stripes. Both are available from your local Barker and Stonehouse store or www.barkerand stonehouse. co.uk

Striped carpets can work really well, too, especially on a staircase. The Mississippi Stripe carpet comes in a range of bold as well as more neutral tones.An even bolder move would be to introduce an Audrey carpet in a larger room. With its wide stripes, it isn't for the faint hearted, but it does give a modern twist to a retro style. In this case, the carpet is the statement feature – nothing else should even try to compete.

Having such a bold coloured stripe on such a large scale might be a bit daunting. If that's the case, there are plenty of other ways to introduce stripes using accessories. For example, look out for striped crockery for your kitchen or place a striped throw or cushions in a spare bedroom to create a more cheerful and welcoming feel.

YP MAG 11/9/10

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