The Checks and Stripes Forever

A salute to home décor crisscrossed with colorful lines and little squares

Is it my imagination, or are checks and stripes having their day in the sun?

I’m seeing stripes everywhere! What’s more, they’re making everything really cute. The same could easily be said about checks—especially gingham, to use a more countrified term. Stripes are an important design element in our country’s flag, and gingham is America’s favorite adopted fabric, so let’s call this an early 4th of July tribute.

Multi-stripe upholstered bed frame paired with velvet end-of-bed bench and a companionable checked armchair. (Photo: Andrew Howard Interior Design)

Stripes are associated with lots of cheery things, like cabanas and beach towels, rugby players and refs. They enjoyed renewed popularity in two distinctly troubling times— the Great Depression and, um, right now, purported to turn people’s minds from the dark and scary.

Despite their “in your face” reputation, stripes are surprisingly good playmates with other patterns and colors. A recent tribute to stripes in the New York Times included this comment from Katherine Finder, the chief merchandising officer for Anthropologie’s home division: “It’s a step up from a solid, but it’s a version of a solid.”

Striped Goods

Now that you’re thinking about them, my guess is you’ll start seeing some irresistible pieces to sprinkle around your own house. Here are a few striped goodies that got me smiling.

Hand-painted stripes adorn these generous-sized mugs with accompanying serving plates. Made by Jesabilsegundo. (Photo: Etsy)

Pembroke Stripe linen bedding shown here in Elderberry. (Photo: Piglet in Bed)

The French have a thing for stripes. In the south, you’ve got the bright seven-colored patterns of Basque as well as subtler “sunwashed” stripes of Provence. Brittany’s navy and white stripes up north go back to the Napoleonic era, each of the 21 stripes representing the battles he had won.

Smitten with these linen panels in a Provençale pattern of cherry-red stripes on natural background from Forest and Linen.

How about something more abstract and modern? When you really start looking you’ll notice that stripes form the basis for so many patterns, from plaid to grid to contrasting borders.

A sleek sculptural vase enhanced by crisp black and white stripes that expand with the contours of the vessel. (Photo: Wayfair)

Checks all the boxes

Did you know that gingham began its life as stripes? The pattern is attributed to Malaysian weavers in the 17th century, who called it “genggang,” which essentially translates to straight, or stripe. Somewhere along the way, via the Dutch and the British, these stripes morphed into a yarn-died reversible pattern that appears like basket weave. Intricate dark, light, and interwoven threads make it the modern gingham we know today.

Striped or checked? You could argue both ways on this handsome Berkshire rug from Scout and Nimble.

The sturdy cotton threads used in the early ginghams created a fabric that withstood wear and tear. Probably why it is strongly associated with farming and rural life (think Dorothy in Kansas).

Natural and indigo gingham tablecloth made from khadi (fabric woven by hand and using hand-spun yarn) from Auntie Oti.

Moving beyond gingham you have the checkerboard checked pattern. And you can’t mention the checkerboard pattern without including Mackenzie Childs. The bright, almost cartoonlike designs of this company have fervent followers.

Mackenzie Childs turns a simple checkerboard pattern into something extraordinary, from table lamps to bathroom accessories.

And for the grand finale, one of my favorite checked patterns: houndstooth. Although houndstooth has arguably been somewhat overused of late, it still has the power to delight when done right.

Houndstooth upholstery is a genius choice for a good piece of furniture in this stunning black and white bedroom. (Photo: Decor Pad)

Follow the trail to a new piece in your favorite striped or checked pattern, or highlight a piece you already have. See if it doesn’t put a smile on your face.