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 <b>crisp</b> <b>, clean and cl</b> <b>assical</b> <b>ly chic</b> , 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. <b><br/>Stripes can go on walls, cushions, furniture or rugs</b> - 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: <b>block brights</b> . 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, <strong>Crate & Barrel's classic wide-striped cushions</strong> (left, ) will give even a simple chair or bench an instant update. <b> <b>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: </b></b>