Mixing Animal Prints - Yes or No

Thursday, January 10, 2013

I think we can all agree that in most cases, a little animal print thrown into the mix is a good thing. I've shared my love of animal prints here and here.   My animal print du jour happens to be leopard

but I love a good zebra print too!

What I'm wondering is how far you would be willing to push it?  Would you consider using more than one animal print in your room, or do you think that exceeds the limits of good taste?  Here's some food for thought, in picture form.
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Jamie Drake's bedroom as seen in Elle Decor.
See that leopard rug layered on top of the zebra hide which is under the zebra bedskirt and headboard?  

Here Miles Redd mixes a leopard carpet with tiger pillows and layers on a fur throw.  But Miles has a way of pushing  things in a way that no one else can.

Image from Sadie and Stella
Antelope rug, leopard bench and fur pillow.  Too much for you?
Even with the zebra chair and leopard pillows together, I think this works because everything else is pretty quiet. 

Where do you stand on mixing animal prints?  One per room, or layer them on?

Need some help pulling your style together?  The Green Room Interiors can make your home a beautiful place to be!  Call Kim Lemmon at 423.653.3186 or email thegreenroominteriors@gmail.com









20 comments:

The Pink Pagoda said...

For me, a little goes a long way. I think one is enough. And leopard is my favorite, too!

Tiffany Leigh said...

I love the last image! I think it can be done right, but can also quickly be OVER done. Balance is key.

Unknown said...

i LOVE animals accents!!!

My Interior Life said...

I think it depends on the room and person. I've now ordered a leopard/spotted rug for my office but I'll have to wait and see if my tiger pillow will have to go. Might be too much. Or might be just perfect. You never know till you try!

Brooke @ Inside-Out Design said...

I would absolutely layer them together in one room, but just really carefully....Like in my living room I have zebra pillows on the couch, and then a spotted animal print on a lamp shade, but they're both so small it's not overwhelming. I love animal prints; they are so fab! But I definitely thing going overboard makes a room look cheap and trashy! I love all the examples you have here. These rooms look great to me.

Taylor Greenwalt said...

I like a little animal print..here and there...

Linda {Calling it Home} said...

Every room needs a little leopard!

StagerLinda said...

I think animal prints are the perfect neutral. BUT only in very small doses. Too much if Peg Bundy.

Karena said...

I love leopard prints especially. I think it takes a very fine eye to mix more than one animal print!

xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena

Unknown said...

hmmm... I tend to be less is more when it comes to animal prints. I think a little goes a long way though Hooper would disagree, probably depends on the space!
Happy New Year! ...-Ann

Interior Design Musings said...

A little goes a long way is my motto on animal prints. You want the print to say, "I'm daring!" not "I'm easy!" M.

Donna Benedetto said...

For me personally, I think if you are going to mix one can be stronger but the other must be subtle...almost like it is animal print but not.
You can take that good thing to far if you are not careful.
Donna
thebeneblog.com

Julie lorusso of MonkeyGrassHill said...

I agree with the other commenters-- a little bit is chic, too much looks like you've been on one too many safari hunting trips.

I just covered a little foot stool in a leopard print (sheep skin hide) It's a the same room with the zebra stool I did a couple years ago and I think it's ok.

Lisa @ Shine Your Light said...

I think a little dash brings a room some sass. A lot and it looks like a face with too much bright blue eyeshadow and bright red lipstick. A little goes a long way!

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

I love a leopard print rug or pillow. I have seen zebra and leopard of tiger go well together.
I love them all.
Happy Friday.
Teresa
xoxo

Brandy@MAKE+MODEL said...

I think you can have more than one but 3 or 4 different in one space is pushing it. - Brandy

Vanessa@decor happy said...

I think you can have more than one but you have to have design skills a la Miles! You're right, nobody can layer well like him.

Fran said...

I love both the leopard and zebra prints and would like to use both in my house somewhere (and even in the same room). I think you can push b/c they read more as neutrals. LIke in the one picture, you can barely tell that is an antelope rug.

Andrea said...

I LOOOOVE animal prints, but a little goes a long way. I also prefer one animal type per room, otherwise your guests may leave with the song "Welcome to the Junge!" stuck in their heads!

XOXO,
The Glam Pad

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

Hi Kim, Just catching up on reading -- I love the layering, as long as it's tasteful.. Read your post on etsy pillows -- gorgeous pairings. I am opening an etsy shop within the next two weeks, with designer pillows, all made by me. I had a workroom years ago, so my pillows will be up to custom standards. Hope you will check it out :) It will be called 6 Wilson. I will announce it on House and Home Defined. Have a great week!!