How to decorate your home with animal print
February 7, 2020
From leopard print and snakeskin to cow hide and dalmation spots, animal-inspired patterns are a huge interiors trend.
Image: Quirky B carpet in Leopard Snow, Alternative Flooring
Leopard, snake, giraffe or tiger – when it comes to some of the most on-trend patterns in interiors right now, it really is a jungle out there!
Whichever animal print you’re personally drawn to, you may realise that they can be quite a dominant element to add into a decorating scheme. Get it right with our handy tips to get you started on pulling together a fun and design-forward animal print scheme.
Style with neutrals
Image: Explorer collection, Amara
For a more classic way to decorate with animal print, use it as part of a neutral colour palette. It lends itself well to this sort of scheme, as it’s naturally neutral itself.
However, you may need to be careful how much you use in combination when creating this decorating look – too much and your space can quickly turn from stylish to overly safari-lodge themed.
Go maximalist
Image: Quirky B Snake Mamba carpet, Alternative Flooring
Animal print lends itself to a more-is-more decorating scheme. Teaming these patterns with dark walls, rich fabrics and over-the-top decorating details actually helps to tone down the likes of leopard, snake and cow print, where in a more minimal scheme, they’d demand all of your attention.
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Change up the colour palette
Image: Leapin’ leopards bedding, Moozle
Animal prints are examples of classic patterns, but the standard colour palettes of beige, black and white aren’t for everyone. If you have a more colourful home style, look out for animal prints coloured in artificial hues for a fresh way to bring these patterns to your home.
Get creative with a paint brush
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7VPLCcHdtC/
We’re low-key obsessed with the creative brushwork of Soozi Danson – how brilliant does her wall feature look? However, with a little bit of patience and a steady hand, recreating this painted leopard print look isn’t out of the realms of possibility, even for the clumsiest of decorators.
Use character prints
Image: Amazonia digitally-printed tiles, Otto Tiles
Not only are animal prints a huge trend, so are animal motifs and they’re a great way to mix up the scale of pattern in your space. If you’re a leopard print lover, for example, how about a bathroom wall tiled with these fabulous digitally-printed tiles, which feel much more stylish than a leopard print tile ever could.
Are you animal-print obsessed? Let us know on social! Tweet us @goodhomesmag or post a comment on our Facebook page, or post a picture of your animal print interiors on Instagram using the hashtag #ThisGoodHome for your chance to be featured on our feed.
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A message from the editor:
Let us help you create the home of your dreams! Get ideas & inspiration from Good Homes every month, delivered direct to your door. Visit goodhomesmagazine.com/newsletter to sign up for the weekly Good Homes newsletter.
~ Karen Walker, Editor, Good Homes