Perhaps the recent craze around checkerboard patterns has something to do with the popular limited Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, watched by more than 62 million households within the first month of its debut in October 2020. According to the online marketplace 1stDibs, sales of chess sets and chess tables jumped 57% in 2020 compared to the previous year. But playing the game itself isn’t the only way people are drawing inspiration from the show. “The Queen’s Gambit had a stunning set design, but the real show-stealer for interiors is the black and white checkered pattern of the chess set,” says Barbara Fuller, vice president of marketing at home furnishings brand Arteriors. The checkerboard pattern trend dates back well before we’d ever heard of Beth Harmon, though. In fact, the simple, two-color checked motif has been used in interior design across the globe for centuries. Checkerboard flooring was particularly popular during the Renaissance period in Europe, with one of the most notable examples being the checked, black-and-white marble floor of the Grand Trianon at the Palace of Versailles in France. Fast forward a few centuries to the 1920s, when black-and-white linoleum or ceramic tile became a favorite flooring choice in kitchens and bathrooms in American homes. Today, the high-contrast pattern makes a striking statement on a wide variety of design elements, offering a look that’s both retro and traditional. For a high-end effect, Fuller suggests looking for pieces made with black and white marble or lacquer. To try the trend in a smaller way, accent solid-colored seating with checkered throw pillows. Here are a few of our favorite checkerboard-patterned accessories to help you nail this bold yet classic look at home.
