We’re Wild for Animal Prints

They may not be new to fashion or furniture, but animal prints are as hot as ever. There’s something timeless about zebra stripes, cow hides, mock croc and leopard prints—they’re the original nature-inspired palette. And today’s designers are reinventing them with new directions in scale and color. Here’s a look at furnishings that show off animal prints in a big way.

One of the best examples of this look can be seen in the photo above in these hair-on-hide storage ottomans, poufs and cubes from the Seven Seas division of Bradington-Young. Mixing storage, seating and style, these pieces bring just the right amount of the outdoors inside.

The Cadence carved wood accent chair from Sam Moore takes zebra to new heights. The Cadence is stunning on two counts. First, it features a contemporary Cobalt Blue Painted Finish, one of  11 standard finishes offered by Sam Moore for its decorative chairs. The other stunner is Cadence’s  amazing upholstery fabric. Not only is this zebra pattern reinterpreted in cobalt blue and white, its pattern has also been enlarged and skewed to add visual interest. So it’s now a graphic interpretation of a zebra print.

In most cases, it’s wise to use animal prints judiciously. Too many prints in too many places will end up looking like a scene from a bad movie. For just a touch of wild, consider the Porter ottoman cube from Sam Moore.

Shown here in pairs in an animal print accented by an Emerald finish, they’re perfect for adding a bit of flavor to a room. The deep emerald green finish is in Pantone’s Color of the Year. The emerald on the base gives the ottomans an updated look, and when used as a pair they add balance to a space.

Animal prints don’t have to be contemporary, they can also be traditional as shown by the Ellie carved wood chair from Sam Moore.

The Ellie is a great choice for updating a room if your style is more refined and classic. Now if you want to catch people’s attention and get them talking, you’ll be interested in these zebra accent chests from the Melange Collection by Hooker Furniture.

The Zora Bombe Chest takes classic black and white zebra and pairs it with a curvy two-drawer chest with splayed legs. Conversely, the Kanya Zebra Chest has a soft gray palette, more muted zebra stripes and jewel-like hardware.

If leopard is your favorite print, there are lots of choices—including the exquisite Diva Leopard chest.

The perfect accent for an entry or hallway, The Diva has a graceful silhouette that balances its bold animal print. It’s the perfect piece to add just a bit of wild to a space without limiting your other fabric and finish options.

And no discussion of animal motifs is complete with mock croc. It’s one of today’s hottest patterns and can be found in everything from apparel to chairs and consoles.

This Red Croc Console from the Mélange Collection by Hooker Furniture takes style to the limit by adding nailhead trim to accentuate its curves. The nailhead trim adds a touch of refinement to an otherwise ‘wild’ piece.