“Stripe Drenching” Is the Bold Trend Taking Over Every Room — Here’s How to Do It Right

We've scoured markets and feeds to spot the standout looks shaping home style next year. From "Covecore" to bold colors, stripes, and DIY projects, see every trend we're calling in our full New/Next List.

Home decor trends don’t emerge in a vacuum. More often than not, there’s a rinse-and-repeat situation going on with some tweak or evolution of a concept that has some design precedent. You’ve probably heard how cyclical fashion and home decor can be. 

Personally, I’m OK with history repeating itself when it comes to interior design. Because this trajectory has brought us the resurgence of things I’ve loved — from patterned wallpaper and skirted furniture to Tiffany lamps, to name a few. And now what’s next is something striking and oh-so energetic that’s going to be all over your feeds soon, if it isn’t already: stripe drenching.

If you’ve heard of color drenching and wood drenching, then meet the latest iteration of the internet’s favorite room design technique: stripe drenching, which involves peppering a single room with stripes on stripes on stripes for dramatic effect (think: wallpaper, furniture upholstery, accessories, and more). It’s a version of pattern drenching, another close cousin, but the focus is just on stripe prints.

While drenching of any kind leans maximalist, stripe drenching can take a few different directions. It all depends on how you choose to go after the look. 

You can dial back the intensity a bit by going tonal and selecting curtains, wallpaper, and maybe, say, a chair with the same exact stripe patterning. This creates an illusion of visual continuity, and although the room will still be busy, the overall feel can be very calm and soothing still. You can also tone the look down with neutral colors and more subtle striping (as shown at top). 

The other option? High-contrast, baby! Turn a room into a total riot of color and pattern with stripes of different widths (narrow vs. wide), multiple hues, and even various types of stripes (pinstripes vs. cabana stripes vs. hand-drawn, painterly stripes, for example). This will amp up the drama and leave your space with an electric, circus-meets-carnival kind of vibe. 

Let your imagination and personal preferences be your guide. No matter which way you choose, the overall look will be playful, cheery, and more versatile than you may think.

It’s clear that stripe drenching evolved from color, wood, and pattern drenching, but the look definitely first started popping up on social media and in the collections of brands. For example, Lulu and Georgia showcased designer Sarah Sherman Samuel’s striped wallpaper and textile collection styled together in a single room a few seasons ago (as shown here), and still stocks these offerings today.

Stripes aren’t anything new, though. Designers have been using them for centuries. Designer Dorothy Draper was known for her iconic striped wallpaper, which she used at The Greenbrier, while designer David Hicks relied heavily on them for some of his interiors as well. The difference is that now stripes are being used almost as if they were neutrals — they’re being mixed together to either visually harmonize or intentionally clash.

To achieve a color drenched look, you’d typically paint the trim and ceiling the same color as the walls. With stripe drenching, though, the trim and ceiling don’t have to be covered in stripes (although this could be accomplished by an avid DIYer who is skilled with a paint brush and painter’s tape — or maybe peel-and-stick wallpaper application). Stripe drenching relies more on furniture and textile touches, including upholstered pieces, wall coverings, and accessories like fabric pillows and curtains.

You can go as bold or as subtle with this trend as you want to, and you can try different directions with your stripes as well — horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or a mix of any of the three. No matter where you choose to try this look, just know that it can offer a bit of design magic, too. 

Vertical stripes are known to visually elongate a space, so stripe drenching could make an awkward nook or tiny room look just a little more regal. Bands of color will also add movement and depth to anywhere you put them, so it’s hard to find a stripe drenched room that falls flat or feels unfinished. 

Of course, there’s trial and error involved in any decorating trend, but the nice thing about stripes is that they’re always in style, and as a pattern they toe the line between traditional and modern beautifully. 

If stripe drenching is speaking to you, you’re in luck. I selected a few standout striped items to get you started in your drenching journey. You can embrace this trend from floor-to-ceiling, or just decide to try an accent or two. The effect will be different, but hopefully you’ll have a little fun in the process all the same.