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13 Ways to Decorate With Animal Prints

Sustainable style is on trend with animal-friendly prints, patterns and shapes.

By Rebecca L. Rhoades

Animal motifs have long been incorporated into interior design, from furs and taxidermy to wildlife prints and patterns. Once considered a symbol of wealth and status, real pelts were highly sought after by the world’s most fashionable homeowners. These exotic accents remain popular today, with their graphic forms and prints lending an element of sophistication, energy or fantasy. But, over the past century, advancements in technology and manufacturing have virtually eliminated the use of genuine wildlife products in favor of high-quality replicas that can fool the eye and touch.

To celebrate the diversity of species around the globe and raise awareness for their protection, the United National General Assembly proclaimed March 3 as World Wildlife Day. You can honor these noble creatures by incorporating their beauty and spirit into your home with a selection of cruelty-free furnishings and accessories.

Seeing Spots

Building on its iconic Zebras motif, which has graced the world’s most elegant homes since the 1940s, Scalamandré introduces the Leaping Cheetah wallpaper. Featuring graphic silhouettes of wild cats frolicking against a backdrop of vivid color, this new take on a timeless classic is available to the trade in six hues and in 52″-wide yard-long increments (shown: Evergreen). To the trade. (palavelahome.com)

Feather Your Nest

Featuring a cloudlike canopy of ethically sourced genuine ostrich feathers, the Josephine chandelier softly filters an even layer of illumination, imbuing any room with a romantic ambience. A gilded frame underlines the fixture’s sumptuous statement. 22.5″H by 37.25″ in diameter. $1,375 (reginaandrew.com)

Call of the Wild

Phoenix-based artist April Howland is known for her paintings of domestic and wild creatures. Her love of color and eye for composition allow her to create unique works of art that capture each animal’s true spirit. Shown here is “Bighorn,” giclee, 30″H by 40″W. $450 (howlandstudios.com)

Metallic Menagerie

Solid cast brass wall hooks lend a touch of whimsy to your entryway, bathroom or child’s bedroom. Hang a single hook for a pop of fun functionality, or mix and match your choice of five woodland creatures. Sizes range from 6.75″-8.75″H by 3″W by 3″D. $79 each. (rejuvenation.com)

Animal Magnetism

Shine a light on your playful side with the cheerful cotton slub Midnight Jasmine lamp shade. Recalling the works of Picasso and Chagall, the expressionistic rainforest pattern by artist Emily Isabella teems with electric blue leopards, proud peacocks and blooming branches. Three sizes are available, ranging from 8″H by 10″ in diameter to 10″H by 16″ in diameter. $68-$98 (anthropologie.com)

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright

Take a walk on the wild side with the Feroz rug by designer Justina Blakeney. Hooked of 100% wool pile, this contemporary spin on a flayed tiger pelt echoes the bold hues, strong lines and abstracted composition of antique Tibetan designs. 7.6’L by 5’W. $500 (zgallerie.com)

Wild Kingdom

Inspired by the 14th-century panoramic frescoes in Pope Clement VI’s private chambers in France’s Palais des Papes, Cheetah’s Game wallpaper mural by designer Jennifer Shorto transforms any room into an exotic jungle. Four 55″-wide trompe l’oeil panels unfold in a continuous landscape filled with stylized cheetahs, parrots and flora. Choose from 9.8′ or 16.3’H. To the trade. (debdesignsource.com)

Perfect Plumage

The rounded edges and muted shades of the feather-shaped Cocotte bath mat lend an organic touch to the bathroom or any area of the home. Made from 100% Egyptian cotton, it’s not only ultra-absorbent, but also extraordinarily soft. 47″L by 25″W. $375 (thelinentree.com)

Raising the Bar

Your fine bourbons and whiskeys deserve to be displayed in vessels that match their quality, such as this Sterling Silver Stag crystal decanter. Its stunning silver deer head stopper with elaborate antlers and enameled eyes and nose, which sits atop a crystal glass container, will be the centerpiece of your home bar. 11.5″H by 3.625″ square; holds 21 ounces. $1,275 (scullyandscully.com)

Shades of Gray

The thick coat of the mighty timber wolf has been coveted by humans for centuries. The Grey Wolf faux fur bed blanket (92″L by 80″W, $299) and matching down-filled pillows (19″ square, $89) offer the warmth and luxuriousness of Canis lupus without the guilt of real fur. They’re perfect for cuddling on the couch or adding fierce style to a master suite. (arhaus.com)

Serving with Style

The late French painter Robert Dallet was renowned for his hyper-realistic portraits of jaguars, leopards, toucans, spider monkeys and more. These intricate images, originally rendered in gouaches, watercolors, Chinese ink and pencil, now grace Hermès’ Carnets d’Equateur porcelain dinnerware collection. Shown is the Tarte Platter, 12.6″ in diameter. $495 (maindishaz.com)

Wild at Heart

Rich handcarved hardwood and understated traditional lines exude worldly sophistication when paired with a striking neutral-toned zebra print on the Blanche exposed wood chair by Sam Moore. Rooted in tradition and global influence, the Serengeti-inspired design complements all decors, from modern to colonial. 37.5″H by 30″W by 32″D. $1,419 (thomasvilleaz.com)

Bird of Paradise

Perched on a branch with its train proudly trailing behind it, the Pavo side table’s brass peacock base supports a glass top that’s the perfect size for beverages, candles or snacks. Highly polished, its eye-catching shape will be the focus of conversation at your next cocktail party. 23″H by 24.5″W by 20″D. $398 (anthropologie.com)

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