Opinion

Pia’s Picks: how to incorporate stripy, circus-style furniture into your home

19.3.2024

Translation: Katherine Martin

These design pieces are inspired by circus tents. Not only are they striped and curvy (two of my favourite features), they also come in punchy colours.

No matter where I come across them, circus tents magically draw my gaze. Maybe it’s because they’re as big as football pitches. But maybe it’s also because they look so good. They’re often circular, brightly coloured and decorated with attention-grabbing patterns. All characteristics that’d make any another object catch my eye. Scrolling through the Galaxus range, I was taken back to see so many circus-style accessories and pieces of furniture that’d be easy to incorporate into a home.

There’s Alessi’s Circus line, for example, which juggles numerous visual characteristics of the circus world. Meanwhile, the Oyoy brand takes inspiration from typical circus-tent stripes, using them to decorate its Toppu porcelain collection.

The Toppu collection will amaze you with its graphic, stylish design.
Source: Oyoy

Plates

Alessi Circus

1 x

OYOY Living Toppu Clay Mini (Ø 12.5 x 10 cm)

Decorative bowls

CHF35.90

OYOY Living Toppu Clay Mini

Ø 12.5 x 10 cm

Decorative objects

CHF40.90

OYOY Living Toppu

14 x 14 x 17 cm

Vases

CHF96.90

OYOY Living Toppu

1 x, 20 x 20 x 34 cm, 13.60 l

Stripes have become the visual trademark of circus tents – although, there’s no one we can officially credit for making that happen. Extending from the top of the tent to the ground, they get increasingly wider as your eye’s drawn down. The advantages of the stripes? They’re timeless and extravagant at the same time. In contrast to nautical stripes, which thrive on their blue and white simplicity, circus-tent stripes have an irregular thickness, and tend to be red instead of blue. The shape injects some variety into the look, while the colour catches the eye. Both of these characteristics can successfully set accents on furniture.

Circus-tent stripes turn even the simplest of stools into a showstopper. While the grey and white combinations used in Normann Copenhagen’s Circus line look formal and elegant, the pairing of red and beige on Bloomingville’s Kimberly pouf screams spring. Depending on which colours you choose, circus-ready design pieces can steal the show in any room.

Whether you’re using it as a couch extension or a decorative accessory, the stripes on the Circus stool ensure it always stands out.
Source: Normann Copenhagen

The Kimberly basket will look good in the kids’ bedroom and in the living room. — Whether you’re using it as a couch extension or a decorative accessory, the stripes on the Circus stool ensure it always stands out.
Source: Normann Copenhagen

A classic pattern paired with artistic wickerwork – what’s not to like?
Source: Woood

Stool

CHF559.–

Normann Copenhagen Circus

Stool

Bloomingville Mini Charoline

Pendant lamps

Woood Strip

E27

Storage baskets

Beliani Kimberley

1 x, 50 x 50 x 58 cm

Toy storage

CHF127.–

OYOY Mini Circus

In my «Pia’s Picks» series, I regularly showcase my favourite finds – things I might not need, but definitely want.

Header image: Oyoy

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Pia Seidel

Senior Editor

Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.ch

Like a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.

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Opinion

This is a subjective opinion of the editorial team. It doesn't necessarily reflect the position of the company.