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Short answer
Stripes and checks add structure to a room without the busyness of a floral. Vertical stripes make a ceiling look higher; wide horizontal stripes make a window look wider. Choose the scale to suit the window: small checks and fine stripes for small rooms, bolder ones for large windows. Because they are regular, stripes and checks must be matched across joins and hems, so allow extra fabric and check which way the stripe runs before railroading an extra-wide fabric.
What stripes and checks do to a room
| Pattern | Effect | Works well in |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical stripe | Draws the eye up; the ceiling looks higher | Rooms with low ceilings, tall narrow windows |
| Horizontal stripe | Draws the eye across; the window looks wider | Short, wide windows; modern rooms |
| Fine stripe or pinstripe | Reads almost as a texture from a distance | Bedrooms, small rooms, offices |
| Small check or gingham | Fresh and casual | Kitchens, children's rooms, cottage styles |
| Large check or plaid | Warm, classic and bold | Living rooms, studies, large windows |
| Grid or windowpane | Clean, architectural lines | Modern and Japandi rooms |
Choosing the scale
Pattern scale should suit both the window and how far away the curtain is usually seen. A small check on a wall-to-wall curtain can blur into a texture; a very large plaid on a small window can look crowded, with only one or two repeats showing.
Tip
Stand back to where you would normally sit and look at a large sample hung up, not lying flat. Curtains are made at 2 to 2.5 times fullness, so gather the sample to see how the pattern reads in folds.
Matching the pattern
- Across joins. Where widths are sewn together, stripes and checks must line up, which needs extra fabric for the pattern repeat.
- Across a pair. Both curtains should start the pattern at the same height, so the lines meet when the curtains close.
- At the hem. On checks, finish at a complete line, not halfway through a square. Plan the drop with your curtain maker.
- On S-fold and pleats. Folds hide part of every stripe. Regular stripes can line up with the folds for a striking effect, or fall randomly; ask to see a gathered sample.
Watch out
Check which way the stripe runs before railroading an extra-wide fabric. Railroading turns the fabric sideways, so a stripe that runs along the roll becomes horizontal on the curtain.
Mixing pattern with plain
- One pattern, many plains. Let the curtain be the pattern, and pick the sofa, cushions or walls in one of its colours.
- Stripe with check. They pair well when they share a colour and differ in scale.
- Sheer behind. A plain sheer on a double track calms a strong check in daylight.
- Repeat the pattern once. A cushion or bed runner in the curtain fabric ties the room together.
See Curtain Design Ideas for more on colour and pattern.
Stripes and checks in the JOTEX range
Striped fabrics
Striped collections, updated from the catalogue.
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Check, plaid and grid fabrics
Check, plaid and grid collections, updated from the catalogue.
Browse all collections →
Frequently asked questions
Do vertical striped curtains make a room look taller?
Yes. Vertical stripes draw the eye upwards, so the ceiling looks higher, especially with the track mounted on the ceiling and curtains to the floor.
Are check curtains still in style?
Yes. Checks and plaids are classic, and softer colourways and grid patterns suit modern and Japandi rooms as well as traditional ones.
Do striped curtains need extra fabric?
Usually. Stripes and checks must be matched across joins and between a pair, which takes extra fabric for the pattern repeat. Your curtain maker will allow for it.
Can I mix stripes and checks in one room?
Yes, when they share at least one colour and differ in scale, such as a fine stripe with a larger check. Keep the walls and large furniture plain.
What happens to stripes when fabric is railroaded?
Railroading turns the fabric sideways, so a stripe that runs along the roll becomes horizontal on the curtain. Check the stripe direction before choosing an extra-wide fabric.
What colour sofa goes with check curtains?
A plain sofa in one of the check's colours, usually the darkest or the most neutral, so the curtain stays the feature.
Curtain maker, upholsterer or designer?
Specifications are public on every collection page. JOTEX dealers can log in for live stock and pricing, and our team can send samples or open a dealer account.