How to decorate with animal print

Animal prints have made a huge comeback in interiors. No longer the trademark of a trashy 80s bedroom or Bet Lynch, animal prints now feature in some of the chicest homes in the world.

From leopard spots to tiger stripes, animal prints in the home now stretch to giraffe, paw prints and even fun and quirky pictures of animals. Don't be constrained by classic colours either: Animal prints in electric blues, muted greens and bright reds will add a modern feel to your home.

Add playful touches to your current decor to gently introduce this trend into your home. Soft furnishings in classic leopard print will help to add a glamorous feel to any room. Go for Leopard bolsters and cushions against bright block colour for a thoroughly modern look.

If you're feeling bold and want to overhaul your room, pick the new giraffe and zebra prints in unusual colours. Animal print wallpaper in green or blue with matching tones throughout is a cutting edge take on the trend. Team with plain fabrics or accessories to stop the animal print from overpowering your new design.

Animal print is fun and frivolous, so make sure you use your sense of humour when designing your new rooms. Mounting pictures of animals against a brightly coloured backdrop will add a touch of kitsch, personal style to your home.

Pair with simple accessories
Combining animal prints with pared-down accessories keeps this blue and white scheme calm.

1/9 The latest animal print designs to add to your decor now

The bespoke Giant Giraffe wallpaper is made to order from Digetex and the chair is from Magis at SCP, while the large plaster and resin vase is from Daylesford Organic. Find the oeil-de-bouef mirror at Atelier

2/9 Add a playful touch

Fabrics depicting smaller motifs in toning shades add a playful feel to bolsters.

The top left bolster is covered in Livingstone in Blue from Colefax and Fowler, while the top right bolster is covered in Paw Print from Soane. The bottom left bolster is covered in Durbar Leopard Epingle in Imperial by Lee Jofa at GP&J Baker, and the bottom right bolster is covered in Randolph Leopard Print in Indigo from Schumacher at Turnell & Gigon

3/9 Mix and match prints

Mixing an over-sized zebra print fabric with a smaller design creates a focal point.

The yellow sofa is from Soane and the red leopard cushions are from Alice Temperley at The Rug Company. Find the resin antler chandelier at Clock House Furniture

4/9 Add interest with tableware

Striking china, cutlery and a zebra-print tablecloth create impact at the table.

The linen tablecloth is made from Shadows in Granite from Threads at GP&J Baker and the tableware is all from Havilland at Lalique. Find the cutlery at Lapparra.

5/9 Use a bold background colour

Boldly-coloured paintwork as a backdrop to modern accessories such as these antler coat hooks keeps the look contemporary.

The white resin antlers are from Graham and Green and the animal print cashmere pashminas are from Me & Kash at Fenwick. The walls are painted in Autumn Fern 1 from Dulux, while the wishbone chair can be found at Aram

6/9 Add glamour

Create a glamorous scheme with leopard print fabrics on a gold background.

The Edwards footstool is from Ben Whistler and is covered in Karonger in Tiger Lily by Kirk Brummel at Brunschwig & Fils, while the leopard print cushions are from Ralph Lauren Home

7/9 Colour co-ordinate

Combine a multitude of patterns in tonal colours to create a cutting-edge look. Add in a few plain fabrics or accessories to make sure the look isn't overpowering.

The walls are covered in Ashanti on Paper in Chartreuse from Kirk Brummel at Brunschwig & Fils and the headboard is in Conga Line in Moss Aqua on Tinted Linen from China Seas at Tissus d'Hélène. The table lamp is by Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam

8/9 Opt for stylish storage

Box files covered in wallpaper offer chic storage.

The box files are all from Designers Guild and the ribbons can be found at V V Rouleaux

9/ 9 Create a unique display

A witty display of portraits of Dachshunds mounted on animal-print backgrounds provides unique, personal style.

The dog portraits are by Clare Ormerod and framed by John Jones and the walls are painted in Luna Landscape 2 from Dulux.

Were you inspired by these decorative design ideas? Take a look at our guide to decorating with dip-dye. Visit out dedicated ideas pages, or, for the latest from the team, follow us on Facebook and Twitter