Decorating with Ticking Stripe
Back in my early twenties I was a huge fan of Asian-influenced decorating. My first rental home was decorated in traditional style with heavy influences of the Orient. Then my older sister showed me an issue of Country Living magazine and everything changed. I fell in love with casual country style and never looked back. A tried and true staple of country decor is ticking stripe and today I’m sharing various ways to use its subtle beauty throughout the home.
You’ll typically find ticking stripe fabric in blue and red, but it’s also available in khaki, black, yellow, and even green. Ticking is a tightly woven, durable cotton or linen textile. Traditionally found on mattresses and pillows, it’s moved beyond the realm of utilitarian objects.
It’s a sure-fire way to add homespun style to a bedroom. Used on bedding, pillows, or as curtains, you simply can’t go wrong with its timeless appeal.
Used in the dining room, a blue ticking stripe chair is pleasingly paired with a large buffalo check pillow in red.
Add country flair to a dining nook with quaint ticking curtains. Purchase them pre-made or buy the fabric and make the yourself!
Ticking is a highly durable fabric, perfect for re-upholstering dining chairs. Mix and match the fabrics for a custom look, as featured in this French country dining room.
Ticking stripes aren’t always thin. Roman shades include thick and thin stripes on ticking fabric.
Photo by Mitchell Wall Architecture & Design
Ticking stripe doesn’t have to be relegated to fabric. Here, a country striped wallpaper lends a charming touch.
A classic Chesterfield sofa is upholstered in blue stripes to give it a casual vibe.
One thing you can be assured of – ticking won’t go out of fashion. It looks great in a variety of decorating styles, from country to classic to transitional … even modern!
Photo by Lisa Gabrielson Design
If you’re not a huge fan of stripes, consider adding a couple of ticking pillows.
Photo by jonathan gooch photography
Less common green ticking stripe looks great in outdoor spaces.
Photo by Lake Country Builders
As I write this, I realize I have both red and blue ticking stripe fabrics sitting in a drawer, waiting to be used in some way shape or form. Maybe I’ll make some family room pillows for the summer season.
Do you have any ticking stripe in your home?
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Yes, have always loved ticking! I’m sure glad your sister straightened you out 😆
I had ticking stripe in my home many years ago when the style was “early american” – which fortunately didn’t last too long and probably was one of the early forerunners of the current farmhouse decor. I do love the look of ticking for different styles and in your post, my favorite is the upholstered Chesterfield sofa. I would never have thought to use ticking for that style of sofa and it’s wonderful. I may have to reconsider the fabric I’ve chosen to recover my dining chair seats. Ticking would be pretty perfect.
I just adore ticking stripes, I’d love to have some upholstered pieces, but most of mine are decor pillows and tablerunners. Indigo stripe is my all time fave, and I use it as a “neutral” design fabric. Love your pics showing how versatile it really is.
Wow, I loved every single picture. Can we have too much ticking stripe? Nope! Thanks as always for putting this together.
I think that I have used ticking every way possible; pillows, cushions, curtains, yes even wallpaper. Of course, all in blue and white! Great post. I really have been thinking about recovering our antique bedroom chair in blue/white ticking. You may have given me the push that I need! You’re amazing!
I do like the ticking. I have a pair of pants in the blue stripes. The fabric is as strong as most upholstery fabric and is very fashionable. A brave piece of fabric. It has made it way from the mattress to the French Living Area.
I love ticking, as well. You have given some excellent examples. The picture with the blue painted hutch has given me some ideas. And, i absolutely love the dining room with the wainscoting and light gray walls.
I have found that ticking stripes are the perfect companion fabric to go with toile fabrics.
Lovely – thank you for sharing 🙂
Yes i do have some ticking stripe in my home, i have some curtains i made and some pillow covers,i love it and find pieces at estate sales lots of times. I loved that wall paper, Thanks Jennifer i always watch for you even though i am painting my kitchen, cause you always have special things to show and keep my head full of ideas, lol!!!
I like having some ticking in my house, such as pillowcase and bed sheets, I just can’t get my eyes off the bed in 3rd pic, I have never seen anything like that! Love that bed.
You can never have enough ticking stripes or ship lap!