Nautical stripes in faded blue combine with neutrals and naturals for a room that's modern and inviting. The daybed's large pillows began as throw rugs that cost $3 each (really!) and were stitched into shape with a carpet needle.

White painted stripes give these hurricane lanterns the look of etched glass.

 

Buy decorative accessories or even office supplies in two colors, and -- voila! -- instant stripes. Here, we alternated storage boxes and envelopes for a graphic look.

Plain tags from an office-supply store become bright and cheerful with the addition of stripes. Just wrap the tags with lengths of washi tape, a kind of Japanese masking tape (often sold in packs with several colors). The speedy, goof-proof process makes this a great project to do with kids.

This daybed's coverlet is a simple length of linen artists' canvas.

Like magic, humble cotton cord meant for Venetian blinds becomes a basket with natural appeal and chic style. All you need is a little time and some glue. Wind the cord (Venetian blind cord, by Librett Durables, jamaliagarden.com) around a plastic flowerpot, gluing as you go and changing cord colors to make stripes. Use the baskets for bread, fruit, or potted plants, or create a set of desk accessories.

A pair of white-and-blue pendant lamps brighten this eclectic kitchen -- with its 19th-century farmhouse table and retro-style chairs -- in more ways than one. Wrapping cotton cord around aluminum shades gives them a softer look, while the silvery interiors maintain their industrial edge.

Ice cream cake brings out the kid in all of us. To make these striped slices, bake an angel food cake in a sheet pan, cut it in half, and layer peach and raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and blueberry jam between two pieces. Cut into 36 "sandwiches" -- there's no cooler way to treat a crowd.

Don't wait until you hear the jingle of the ice cream truck. Make your own ice pops with fresh, healthy ingredients. By layering juices, purees, and yogurt, you can pack several deliciously harmonious flavors into each pop.

These chunky, cheerful bangles are so simple, you can wear them the day you make them. Use a basic decoupage process to add bright tissue-paper stripes to inexpensive wooden bracelets.

Find the bangle how-to in the July issue of Martha Stewart Living magazine.

Mix and match butter and cocoa cookies, blueberry filling, white icing, and coatings of powdered sugar. Line them up for a platter of striped sweets.

It's stripes on stripes: Paint shelves with chalkboard paint in a color different from the wall for a linear look. These shelves have chalk-drawn lines along the edges. Displaying white items emphasizes the graphic effect. Learn how to make chalkboard paint.

Here's an easy way to give new life to old terra-cotta pots you have around the shed: Paint them to create coordinating stripes. Using masking tape in various widths, mark a simple striped design on the pot. In a well-ventilated area, spray the exterior and the rim (and any accompanying saucers) with weatherproof spray paint; let dry completely. Peel off tape.

Flea-market finds and dollar-a-glass specials can be transformed with monograms, stripes, and whimsical polka dots. All you need is etching cream (available at art-supply and crafts stores), masking tape, and a steady hand to cut a template.

Painting a floor can give form to a room where everything is function, offset the formality of a living room, and restore life to a tired stairway. It is a bit of trompe l'oeil underfoot -- a visual pun that plays to an entire room.

A burst of pink applied to a picnic basket matches the cheerful setting. Mark off a stripe with painters' tape. Prime with a latex primer, and let dry. Then paint the area with two coats of semigloss paint.

Dress a serving tray or two in jaunty stripes. All-purpose galvanized trays from garden centers make great candidates for outdoor entertaining -- they're inexpensive and sturdy enough to withstand years of use.

Set the table for a whole season of festive cookouts by giving it a new summer coat. The wooden slats of a classic picnic table provide a ready-made outline for stripes.

These patriotic votive holders are a great addition to a Fourth of July table.

Inexpensive and ubiquitous, store-bought sheers will save you precious time and money by serving as the canvas for your creative additions. Turn organza ribbon into soft stripes on cotton-voile sheers.

Pay tribute to the stars and stripes (emphasis on the stripes). Red, white, and blue bands of sand dress up votive candles to make flickering lights that are cheerful and fun.

Use lobster-red and sail-white hues on these festive flag streamers.

A painted staircase "runner" can bring bold color to a small space.

Try a shade that links the upstairs and downstairs, or consider a combination of tones that packs a visual punch, such as these stripes. (On a practical front, dark hues will cover any dings.) Use painters' tape to ensure a clean line, and primer and oil-based enamel paint to withstand the traffic.

Find decorating inspiration and easy projects.

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• Painting Ideas & Projects
• Painting Prep & Basics