Stripes, Checks, & Polka Dots
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I’ve always had a thing for checks, polka dots, and stripes. Yesterday, I went back through my photos and found many of these fun patterns that I’ve used to decorate various homes.
The other images I found on Pinterest. Bright, colorful photos that look so cheerful and full of spirit.
Checks feel grounded, whether it’s a soft gingham on a kitchen curtain or a bold plaid draped across a chair. They bring a sense of order, of things neatly aligned.
I feel like each individual pattern, checks, polka dots, and stripes, carry their own personality. They’re remind me of maps or eye charts.
Checks often feel a little nostalgic, too. Think tablecloths, picnic blankets, or cloth napkins. I have checked cloth napkins in a drawer that I pull out to use from time to time.
Polka-Dots:
Polka dots, on the other hand, are playful and move your eye around. A scattering of dots adds a touch of whimsy to any room. There’s something almost happy and joyful about this pattern.
You probably remember the polka-dotted mugs and plates I used to have. One of you readers really loved them, and I said you could have them. You traveled all the way to Tulsa to pick them up. I sure hope you’ve enjoyed them.
Polka dots feel spontaneous and cheerful, softening a space that might otherwise feel too serious. Small dots can read almost like texture, while larger dots become focal points.
They’re perfect for accent pillows, wallpaper in a reading nook, or even a painted piece of furniture.
Stripes, Checks, & Polka Dot Patterns:
Stripes bring structure and direction. They guide the eye, leading it up, across, and all around. Vertical stripes can feel tall and airy, while horizontal ones create a sense of openness.
Depending on their width and spacing, stripes can be bold and modern or soft and subtle. They’re versatile, giving shape and rhythm wherever they appear, whether on wallpaper or curtains.
Cottage Style:
The cottage decorating style is chock-full of checks, polka dots, and stripes. It lends an easy air to any room, especially the kitchen. These patterns are always easy to decorate with.
When sewing curtains, I’ve always preferred a checked material so I can be lazy and just follow the seam lines.
Once I sewed checked/gingham curtains for every window in a room, each one a different color. And I think I smiled every time I looked at them.
It was one of my favorite rooms in all of my decorating history. Red, yellow, blue, and green checked cafe curtains were hung in each window.
Stripes, checks, and polka dots go together like a “hand in glove.” They are harmonious and imply that things work together perfectly.
Gingham checks, symbolizing comfort and timeless style, are often paired with themes of simple, cozy living.
The best part is that they look great with other patterns, like toile, never looking too busy or chaotic. A striped pillow, for instance, will look fantastic next to toile curtains.
Depending on their scale and color, stripes can feel coastal and breezy, tailored and classic, or bold and modern.
These patterns, whether the crossing of checks, the roundness of polka dots, or the order of stripes, bring balance to a room. You can mix all the patterns together and they will look great in a room.
Are Checks & Gingham the Same Thing?
No, gingham is not exactly the same as checks, but it is a specific type of check. Gingham is defined by small, uniform, white-and-colored alternating checks, typically on cotton fabric.
While all gingham is a check pattern, not all checks (like buffalo, windowpane, or tattersall) are gingham. Gingham typically uses smaller, consistent checks, unlike “buffalo check,” which features large, bold blocks of color.
The Key is Balance:
When used together, these patterns create a layered conversation. The key is balance:
- Vary the scale (large checks, medium stripes, small dots) so they don’t compete
- Keep a cohesive color palette to tie everything together
- Let one pattern lead, while the others support
The result is a space that feels collected rather than matched. A room with these patterns will look lived-in, personal, and quietly dynamic. It’s not about perfection, but about rhythm and contrast, where structure meets playfulness and comfort.
Those plates are exactly how I found your blog. And then I saw the sun in the garden. You were blogging my style :).
I no longer have the dishes, but I loved them. I chose to share them with a reader who longed for them.
These pictures are so pretty. I remember some of them, but not all of them. I love the colorful polka dots dishes! They make me smile! I didn’t know the difference between regular checks and gingham. Thank you for clarifying that.
I didn’t either until I looked it up.
Such happy pictures, these patterns always make me smile..thanks for posting
They make me smile, too. They are such cheerful dishes.
I’ve always especially loved stripes and polka dots. You offer some great ideas for decorating with these patterns (and checks) and beautiful photos, as well.
Thanks, Melanie!
How funny, I have been searching for gingham in blue – not navy, not baby blue to no avail. Exactly the color in that blue gingham and lace pillow you showed. No one seems to delineate gingham from buffalo check. As you said they are not the same. Now I see “mini gingham”. Sorry, that’s a double intender. Then I see buffalo check. No that’s not gingham. It has been driving me absolutely batty. I guess it’s like hair now. The pixie cut used to be very short. Now it’s long pixie, or short pixie. A long pixie isn’t a pixie. Makes absolutely no sense. It’s been a huge search peeve for me this week, especially when trying to find something and stores no longer carry anything. So I continue my search for gingham. Real gingham. I have oak cabinets and a light countertop, and checks always seem to counter-balance the heaviness of the oak vs the countertop. Gingham gives the indication almost as a solid color, but not. I love it! Buffalo check too big and busy for my window. Thanks for the rant and thank you for knowing what gingham actually is 😉 I have a love for gingham and polka dots. Do you miss that from your apartment? I do love that style. It’s so kitcheny – cottagey. That one kitchen with the towel in the sink has many “moods.” I’ve seen it everywhere with different decor schemes – same style, just different. It’s very cute. I love cottage country!
I do sometimes miss those polka dots and checks. But I chose to give them away years ago.
Oh this was a treat to see today. Good tutorial too, I find myself coming back to view your pictures when I feel like decorating. A great source.
Elizabeth has a great idea for you to publish a decorating book.
I’m glad I helped!
Brenda, that was a great trip down memory lane. I remember those pretty plates and mugs you had. You’ve always had such a way of decorating. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures.
I had to go WAY back in my media photos to find them!
You know, Brenda, it seems to me using all these photos of things you have done in your homes, you could put together a kind of “how to” book and sell it. Your photos are very bright and clear and easy to figure out!!
I’ll ponder that idea. Thank you!
Beautiful, yes, especially the kitchen with all of the flowers and pretty colors in it. But practical, nope. Towel hanging in the sink – gone. Flower in the draining tray over the sink – gone. Stool with a stack of books with flowers on top in front of the corner cabinets (blocking access to both upper and lower cabinets) – gone. I love the patterns. I have some in my living room but all in black and white, no vivid colors other than teal blue for the spring and summer months. Small checked black and white wool throw blanket; made in Spain large Buffalo checked wool throw blanket. Each is folded and hangs over the back of wing chairs flanking the fireplace. One of my bedroom pillows is dressed in small black and white checked pillow case and sits on the sofa blending in with four throw pillows dressed in various black and white covers. The pillow is there as I get sleepy in the late morning/early afternoon and often take a nap on the sofa with soft music playing on the laptop. The drapes on the windows are black and white, the black in various patterns that include rows of dots, small stripes, various arrow shapes horizontal and vertical lines, no checks though, the closest is what I would call a thick black and white ladder pattern but it is horizontal. Amazing how much you see when you look around a room and are focused on specific patterns or colors!
You can go “dotty” looking at all the patterns!