Striped throw pillows are the easiest pattern to decorate with because they go with almost everything. A stripe acts like a neutral with structure: it settles a busy floral, sharpens a plain sofa or bed, and ties two unrelated colors together. If you are unsure what your pillow mix is missing, it is usually a stripe.
These are the rules designers use to choose and place striped pillow covers.
1. Use the stripe as your bridge pattern
In a mix of three pillows, the stripe is the connector. Choose one whose colors appear in both of the other pillows. A neutral and white stripe, for example, links a cream bouclé to a rust velvet because it shares something with each.
2. Match stripe width to the job
| Stripe type | How it reads | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Pinstripe or ticking | Quiet, almost a texture | Beside a large floral or bold print |
| Medium stripe | Classic and balanced | The all-purpose choice for sofas and beds |
| Wide or grain sack stripe | Graphic and relaxed | With solids and textures; farmhouse, coastal, and modern rooms |
| Multi-width or woven stripe | Collected and handmade | As the lead pattern with solid companions |
Shop the look: three stripes that do the job
- Ojai Stripe in Neutral + White — the bridge stripe. Soft woven look that links warm and cool neutrals.
- Grain Sack Stripe — the wide, relaxed classic for farmhouse and coastal rooms.
- Black and White Farmhouse Stripe — the graphic stripe that grounds a light room.
Every one is sewn in the USA and ships within days. See all striped pillow covers. Mix and match any 3 covers and save 10%, with free U.S. shipping at $125.
3. Vary the scale of everything around it
Pattern mixing works when scales differ. Put a small stripe with a large floral, or a wide stripe with a small check. Two patterns of the same scale blur together.
4. You can mix two stripes
Yes, if the widths are clearly different and the colors relate. A wide grain sack stripe on a 22 inch square with a fine ticking stripe on a lumbar looks deliberate. Two medium stripes side by side look like a mistake.
5. Mind the direction
Vertical stripes make a pillow look taller and feel more tailored. Horizontal stripes feel relaxed and widen a lumbar nicely. On a pair of matching pillows, keep the direction the same on both.
6. Start with a striped lumbar pillow
If you only add one striped pillow, make it a lumbar. A striped lumbar pillow sits in front of your larger squares, so its lines are always visible, and the horizontal shape makes stripes read as relaxed rather than formal. It also works everywhere: centered on a sofa, across the front of a bed, or alone on a bench or accent chair.
Sizing is simple. A 14x20 lumbar suits a chair or a small loveseat, a 14x36 lumbar pillow cover is the standard for a sofa or a queen bed, and a 12x48 lumbar spans a king bed or a long sectional. Our Black and White Farmhouse Stripe comes in lumbar sizes and works in nearly any room.
7. Place stripes toward the front
On a sofa or bed, the back layer is usually a larger solid or texture. The stripe belongs in the middle or front, on a 20 x 20 square or a lumbar, where its lines can be seen. For full layouts by furniture size, see our pillow size guide and our guide to how many pillows to put on a sectional.
Fill it properly
Stripes show every wrinkle, so a full insert matters more here than on any other pattern. Choose an insert two inches larger than the cover: a 22 x 22 insert for a 20 x 20 cover. Our down alternative pillow inserts keep the lines straight and the corners crisp, and they are hypoallergenic. Find every size in the pillow insert collection.
What goes with striped pillows?
- Florals: the classic partner. See how to style floral throw pillows.
- Solid velvet: rich texture against crisp lines. Browse velvet pillow covers.
- Checks and plaids: keep one small and one large.
- Textured neutrals: bouclé, linen, and woven solids from our neutral pillow covers.
Striped pillow covers we love
All from our own collection: sewn in the USA, in stock, and ready to ship.
- Ojai Stripe in Neutral + White: a soft, woven-look stripe that bridges warm and cool neutrals.
- Grain Sack Stripe: the French farmhouse classic.
- Acadia Stripe: relaxed and coastal without being themed.
- Black and Tan Stripe: graphic cotton stripe that grounds a light room.
- Blue and Cream Farmhouse Stripe: crisp and fresh with white slipcovers and natural wood.
- Black and White Farmhouse Stripe: works in nearly any room.
Shop the full stripe pillow cover collection, or let us do the pairing with the Ojai Pillow Set and our other designer pillow sets. Mix and match any 3 covers and save 10% at checkout.
Striped pillow FAQ
Do striped pillows go with floral pillows? Yes. It is the most dependable pattern pairing there is. Keep the scales different and share at least one color.
Can you mix two striped pillows? Yes, when one stripe is clearly wider than the other and the colors relate.
Should stripes run vertical or horizontal? Either. Vertical looks tailored, horizontal looks relaxed. Keep matching pairs running the same way.
What size is a striped lumbar pillow? 14x20 for a chair, 14x36 for a sofa or queen bed, 12x48 for a king bed or sectional. Size the insert up two inches on each side.
What size insert do I need? Two inches larger than the cover so the stripes stay smooth: a 22 x 22 insert for a 20 x 20 cover.
