I'm having a huge moment with leopard prints. I recently have added these flats (similar) and this sweater to my wardrobe, and I've been wearing a Premier Designs necklace that has acrylic leopard links probably too much. Then, I came across a picture on Pinterest of a home with leopard print carpet, and out of boredom I typed in "leopard print home decor" in the search box... yikes! Leopard print can look elegant or a little gaudy in the home, and there seems to be a fine line. So today I am sharing my tips on how to add animal print accents to your home, the right way.
Consider animal print carpet. Whether it's a hallway runner or an accent on your stairs, adding animal print in carpeting or rugs can be a very nice touch. I wouldn't place it throughout your entire house, but a well-placed runner can add a lot of style to a hallway, for example. Keep the animal print more tone-on-tone if you are nervous it will be too much.
Less is more. Think of animal prints as accents, not the "theme" of your space. A well-placed pillow or two is far more sophisticated than animal prints here, there, and everywhere. This sentiment is true with most anything in life, trust me.
Don't put a large scale print in a small space. When you put a large and eye-catching print in a small space, it can seem overwhelming and make the space seem even smaller. Instead, pick a print with a smaller scale to it, or try more tone-on-tone to make the print less obvious. If you do opt for a large, bold print, then keep everything else simple in the space.
Mixing animal prints should be done with care. A leopard pillow paired with a giraffe pillow gives off a completely different look than a giraffe pillow on a leopard print couch. Unless we are talking about your child's room, then you probably don't want a space that look like a zoo.
Avoid tacky. Think about the items you pick that have the print on them. Toilet seat? Please don't. Satin leopard bedsheets? Probably not the look or vibe you want. (And yes, a leopard toilet seat did come up in my search!) You want the space to look elegant and playful, not tacky, and the pieces or materials you select for the animal print can have a huge effect on the feel or vibe of the space.
Some great home decor picks in a variety of animal prints...
Would you add animal prints to your decor? Do you have any tips to share?
--Caroline
