Get in line

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To say that stripes are on-trend is something of a misnomer. As far as we're concerned, they were never off. There's much to love about the common stripe. It's

crisp

, clean and cl

assical

ly chic

, but also a great way for the more conservative among us to introduce pattern into our homes. For those that are unwilling to commit to the more in-your-face motifs on offer, stripes are a perfect solution. They add interest, without taking over the show.

Stripes can go on walls, cushions, furniture or rugs

- although, for the sake of your eyes, we recommend confining them to just one of these elements within a single space. Despite its simplicity, there's an inherent versatility to the stripe; you can go narrow, wide, horizontal, vertical, monochrome, colourful, bright or subdued.

We love mixing this trend with another of the season's big looks:

block brights

. Stripes are also great for manipulating space. You can create the illusion of height with vertical stripes running up a wall, or use thick, horizontal stripes to widen up a narrow space.

For outdoors,

Crate & Barrel's classic wide-striped cushions

(left,

) will give even a simple chair or bench an instant update.

In this week's Six of the Best feature, we'll be sharing some more of our favourite striped accessories, all of which are available to buy now. Here's a sneak preview: