A couple of days ago, Vitania from Verdigris Vie tweeted that she can’t do animal prints. Well, that inspired me to write this post, because I’ve decided that I’m going to do my best to convert Vitania to the wild side!!
*VERY IMPORTANT NOTE* I’m all about FAUX animal skins and animal prints. Yes, I do eat meat and yes, I do wear leather shoes. But I don’t condone using real animal skin or fur for decorating. So I’ve tried my best to find inspiration photos with FAUX animal prints. Although I think one or two real ones may have slipped in…
I can’t very well try to convince someone to use animal print in their home if I don’t have it in my own home!! This is my living room. I love how the zebra print bench and large plate on the coffee table temper the formality of the room. That’s what’s great about animal print accents here and there — they add some fun and whimsy to a room and make it feel less “serious”. By the way, there’s also a Black Lab print on the carpet in front of the sofa — that one’s real and still breathing!! ;-)
If you’re an animal print newbie like Vitania, try just one small accent in animal print. Sarah Richardson used a couple cheetah print cushions on the sectional in this office from Sarah’s House 1.
See that little bit of cheetah print poking out?!
And another cheetah print cushion at the opposite end of the sectional.
Sarah incorporated a couple of animal print cushions into this family room from Sarah’s House 2. I like the fact that the cheetah print cushion has a solid blue fabric on one side. If you get tired of the print, you can just flip the cushion over :-)
I think this is one is a real cow. Poor cow!! But see how it adds texture and pattern and a touch of funkiness to a glamourous bedroom?? It’s not in your face or over the top at all, and works well with the grey and white colour scheme.
Just like the black & white cow print in the bedroom above, the cream and brown zebra stripe cushions flow seamlessly with the colour scheme in this kitchen/seating area designed by Sarah.
New York City designer Amanda Nisbet designs wonderfully colourful rooms that are both comfortable and elegant. At first glance, the cheetah print chair stands out in this room. But take a look around and check out those amazing curtains!! They’re a stand-out in their own right :-) Which goes to show you that animal print doesn’t have to dominate a room — it can stand out but not deter from the other elements in a room.
I’m not sure what kind of animal print this is, but this small ottoman adds a modern touch to this elegant and traditional vignette.
One of Amanda’s bright & colourful rooms with a zebra stripe ottoman.
And a tan & cream round ottoman. Isn’t the dog print on the wall above the settee adorable?!
Vancouver Island designer Kimberly Williams creates absolutely stunning rooms. Wouldn’t you love to be sitting on this zebra print bench right now and looking out the windows at what no doubt is an awesome view…
Tobi Fairley designed this fun girl’s bedroom. Of course, I love all the purple :-) But doesn’t the zebra print inside the canopy look great??
Turquoise lamp with a touch of cheetah :-)
Isn’t this tiled floor cool?!
And while we’re on the topic of tiles, Sara Baldwin does amazing things with tiles. Check out these animal print mosaics she created…
I’m 100% absolutely certain that this is NOT a real zebra skin rug!! ;-)
These mosaics are called Tigress.
Sara collaborated with Charlotte Bunbury of Lotty B to create this amazing Leopard mosaic panel.
Charlotte hand-paints silk kaftans, dresses, sarongs, and scarves on the island of Mustique. This was the beautiful inspiration for the Leopard panel:
Fashion designer Monique Lhuillier has the most gorgeous home that includes some zebra print here and there. You’ll probably recognize this picture from Elle Decor because I’ve posted a couple of times before. But it’s so beautiful, I’m sure it’ll help sway Vitania to the animal print side!!
Another angle of Monique’s living room — do you see the little zebra bench tucked under the Lucite table in the back left corner of the room??
Here it is!! :-)
And a couple more zebra print cushions on the chaise…
I recently discovered Toronto interior designer Carol Reed. Her portfolio is filled with wonderful rooms, including these one with the zebra (hopefully print!) rugs.
Zebra stripe is probably the most common animal print…
I saved these pictures so long ago, I can’t remember where I found them. If you know the designer or the source, please let me know so I can link to them.
A sweet little brown & cream zebra stool looks great in this coastal-inspired living room. Proof that animal prints can work with just about any decorating style :-)
Who’s to say zebra stripes can’t be blue?!
What do you call a mirrored bed and lucite bench with cheetah print?? Sexy!!
Even though the black & white cushions on these chairs resemble zebra print, it’s the little bit of the giraffe print rug that caught my eye in this lovely room.
Now if these pictures haven’t convinced Vitania and all of you other animal print hold-outs to add some animal print to a room in your home, I don’t know what will!!
I really, really want rugs for my dining room and living room! 
The the pattern/design of the rug is a nice mix of traditional & contemporary style with a lovely and important touch of whimsy: perfect for the look I’m trying to achieve in my little house… and the colours are terrific, too.
