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Monday, May 7, 2012

FOOLING THE EYE WITH STRIPES

   
 CHALLENGE
With smaller homes there are some challenges. Space planning, storage, and how to make it look open, and more spacious.

SOLUTION

Today I thought we would talk about one of the tricks of the trade.......

Making a narrow room
look wider:

To add width to a room horizontal stripes can do the trick!

Choose the wall that you see farthest away from you, upon entering the room. 


You can tell upon entering this dining room that the door wall is farthest away.

I would take the drapery panels clear to the corners to make the room look larger. 

By stopping the panels mid wall it only accentuates the small size, but the stripes were a great choice.



The stripes used in this very small dining area, not only add interest, but widen the area making it appear larger, and more substantial than it really is.


Source: bhg.com via Britney on Pinterest

Horizontal stripes used in the short little entry make it seem a bit longer visually.


By wrapping the stripes around the corner, it visually makes the corner disappear, therefore making the hall, or narrow space seem wider.

Using Striped Rugs



Source: decorpad.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest








 






Sarah Richardson chose to use a neutral stripe to add depth to this small space.



By using the stripe vertically in this small entry hall it appears longer and not so small and short.




An all white with bold black stripes are used to add width to this space. I love the sharp contrast here.

STRIPES ARE A TRUE WORKHORSE IN DESIGN


Whether you choose a tone-on-tone look for your stripes, or maybe something a little bolder, it can make your space look visually wider, taller or longer!!! 
 "Enjoy the Process" Of:

Fooling the eye with stripes!

 

21 comments:

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Kathysue,
I love using stripes but never seem to use them horizontally. I love the inspiration photos. Thanks for the decorating tips, as always they are wonderful.

hugs
Sissie

The enchanted home said...

Interesting and good to know. You exhibited the point so well with so many beautiful examples.

crisangsteninteriors.com said...

I love stripes! In my first home, I very carefully painted vertical stripes in my living room to make the ceilings feel a little taller - the same color paint, just in two finishes, matte & satin. It was subtle but it worked!

Wendi @ Classic Chic Home said...

Great ideas on how to use stripes to trick the eye, Kathysue. I especially like the front entrance with the more subtle grey and white horizontal stripes.
Have a fantastic day,
Wendi

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Informative post, Kathysue. Amazing how vertical and horizontal stripes change things.
Happy Tuesday.
Teresa
xoxo

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Oh I love stripes. My daughter has stripes in the wall of her small visit bathroom and it gives it a larger, optical ilusion and it looks fabulous! I should do the same to mine, which is not big either. Great tips, all your images are wonderful.
FABBY

debra @ 5th and state said...

never ever would i have thought of this! but your explanation along with great images firmly cemented some ideas.
now i am looking around for what to stripe as i live in a cottage of a house
thanks dear kathysue!
xo
debra

Victoria said...

Some great ideas that I never thought about before. Thanks for the ideas and the lovely examples.
Best...Victoria

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Loved this post Kathysue...Maybe i need to consider these stripe in my teeny powder room!!

kim @ whitebarnbasics said...

Thank you so much Kathysue! I always love and appreciate your wonderful tips/techniques! I always liked horizonal stripes, never knew why, though. You are so talented and i enjoy your blog so much!

Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home} said...

great post Kathysue!Beautiful blog too!

Linda in AZ * said...

*** FAB pics of something I SOOO LOVE, & have been wanting to DO (well okay, "HAVE" someone "DO"!!!), for aaaaages, Ks!!!

Annnnd, what a "RED LETTER DAY" around OUR house today (well, for ME, anyway!... ACTUALLY, Jim DID take his partner's money on the golf course this a.m. so yes, I guess HE'S a happy camper too)...

ANYHOOOO, FIRRRST: Lisa Newsom's "THE HOUSES of VERANDA" arrived (I am SOOO EXCITED... it looks BREATHTAKING just from an initial "gotta peek"/thumb thru! Can't wait to start enjoying it tonight!!!)...

Thennnnn, when the mail came, the TORTOISE CUFF you showed a few days back was in it, and I MUST SAY, it is REEEALLY V*E*R*Y N*I*C*E~~~ cannot WAIT to enjoy it!!! (And boy! FAST DEL'Y, too!)...THANKS for sharing that in your blog~~~ knew the minute I saw it that I wanted it, but did NOT expect it to be sooooooo pretty (and am HAPPY it IS!)!!!

Hope your day goes as wonderful as mine is going, girlfriend!!!

Warmest and, as always, THANKS!!!

Linda in AZ *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net

Linda in AZ * said...

*** P.S. The cuff I*S wide... sassy n' chic, and shows off one's tan NICELY!!! THANKS again, Linda ***

Susie @ Maddie G Designs said...

Great post! I just did horizontal stripes (understated) in our family room and I think they are my favorite treatments in the home.

Stephanie said...

Love horizontal stripes, especially on drapery panels...just not on my body! haha!

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Great inspirations photos. I agree with you about taking the drapes to the corner. It would make the room look larger. Thanks for sharing.
Happy Mother's day week-end.

Julie Taylor and Danni Greenwalt said...

Great lesson and Iove stripes. Happy mothers Day..

helen tilston said...

Hi Kathysue

A very intersting and informative post.
Sarah Richardson is a wonderful desinger
My best for a glorious weekend

Helen

Mary Ann Pickett said...

Great information about widening the space when used horizontally ( I knew that about tile on the diagonal). I love stripes.

Unknown said...

I am a huge fan of the power of stripes in spaces. They can really lighten a space as well. Thanks for showing my striped drapes in the first one! :)

Babs said...

Great inspirational photos and suggestions. Thanks for the tips.
Babs