Tips for Decorating with Animal Prints

French Cheetah Print Commode From Alibaba

Want your home décor to really make a statement? Whether your home is classic, contemporary, or somewhere in-between, incorporating animal prints into your décor is a fabulous way to do it. Zebra, leopard, cheetah, and tiger are just a few of the animal prints capable of making any room in your home pop--and featured for you here are some fun ways to use them.

Hint with Print

If you want to add just a few splashes of animal print to a room, you can do so with accents. A few pillows and a throw on the sofa, hand towels in the bathroom, or bedding and a unique animal printed lampshade in the bedroom can add some much-needed flair without going overboard. Picture frames and other trinkets bearing fun animal prints can also be used to incorporate a hint of print if you're going for subtlety.

Choose One Bold Piece

Animal print doesn't have to be limited to accent pieces. If you want to take it a step further, introduce one boldly patterned furnishing into the room. A sofa or chair upholstered in animal spots or stripes, a faux-painted armoire, or a wild area rug will not only command attention in the space--they'll bring it to life.

Pair Of French Gilded Louis XV Style Armchairs Little Paris Antiques

Entrance of a Manhattan apartment decorated by Miles Redd, a leopard-print stair runner adds a subtle graphic touch- Elle Decor Magazine

Italian Gilt Wood Chairs Seller Penny Long

Mix and Match Prints with Solids

While it's okay to use more than one animal print in the same room, mix and match them with some solid colors to avoid a look that's too busy. If you have a sofa upholstered in a zebra print, for example, accent it with some colorful pillows instead of ones in the exact same print. Solid colors mixed in with animal prints also give you some control over the level of boldness in the room. Neutral solids will tone down animal prints, while rich or bright colors can really spice things up.

Size It Up

Animal prints come in many different sizes, and in many cases a small print paired with a large print is quite complimentary. Smaller sized animal prints that tend to look a bit busier typically make better accent pieces, while larger prints that are more spread out work better for focal pieces such as furniture and floor coverings. Too much of the same-sized print will scream over-worked instead of effortless--and when you're decorating with a dominant pattern such as animal print, you want to avoid a look that says you're trying too hard.

Make the Room Roar

You can make animal print look larger than life by using it as a wall or floor covering in one of your favorite rooms. Walls can be faux-painted, wallpapered, or tiled with animal spots or stripes depending on the look you're after, while floors can either be painted or simply covered with a large area rug proudly displaying a wild and funky print. Accents pieces in animal print work well with walls and floors covered in the same, but be careful not to over-do it. Too many pieces that go beyond simple accents in a room that's already covered in an animal print will overwhelm the space in a hurry.

There are many ways in which animal prints can liven up a room--so don't be afraid to experiment with them in order to get just the right look. Versatile, easy-to-find, and just plain fun--animal prints in your décor will take you on a style safari that'll make you want to sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey writes for Area Rugs Online.

Zebra Louis XIV Chest Sultan Chic 110 Norwood Avenue Ekberon NJ

Raymond Waites -Zebra Chest From Former Furniture

Be Sociable, Share!

•