Animal prints cycle in and out of popularity, whether it’s apparel or pet supplies or home decor. In the past decade, however, animal prints have come to be regarded as more of a classic style that shows a sense of care for nature, even with something as seemingly small as a leopard pillow.
Interior designers who prefer the “less is more” approach to using animal prints highly approve of a leopard print pillow to add a dash of nature to a ho-hum home scheme. The idea is that just a touch of a print like leopard will enliven a room, while an entire theme room can look too much like an amusement park.
Revel In Jungle Dreams With A Leopard Pillow
At the same time, there are home decorators for whom there’s no such thing as too many leopard prints. They like its bold, eye-catching design and feel it’s worth repeating – provided it’s the genuine article in an animal print. An authentic leopard pillow will have a pattern of dark brown or black rosettes closely spaced together without any black in the center. A pattern with black in the center is that of a jaguar, a leopard’s close cousin whom too many manufacturers confuse with a real leopard. It’s a crucial distinction for those who want accuracy in their decorating scheme.
Many decorators like using animal prints in bedrooms, something that’s easier today with so many animal print bed linens available. Even with “bed-in-a-bag” bedding sets, however, decorative pillows that finish off the scheme are usually sold separately. If possible, get the pillows from the same maker as the bed linens in hopes of matching the print accurately. One way to accessorize a set like this is to use solid-colored sheets in complementary colors and reserve the animal print for the bedspread or comforter and a matching pillow. This scheme works beautifully with beds made of wood, bamboo or wrought iron. If there’s room for a side chair in the bedroom, a darkly upholstered chair with a leopard pillow is a great way to tie everything together.
Many designers find the Contemporary style of decorating an ideal setting for a leopard print pillow. The sleek lines of the furniture stand up well to the impact of pillows, a throw or a blanket in animal print. If the room is large enough, as with a bedroom, the same side-chair-and-pillow grouping also serves to give the room a sense of unity. Because of the warm golden yellow center to their rosettes, leopard prints work especially well with warmer neutral combinations, especially those in cream to chocolate brown ranges.
For those with a real wild streak, it’s possible to find a leopard pillow with pink, green or even purple background. These pillows are ideal for a jungle safari theme for a child’s room. In this instance the authenticity of the animal print may not be as crucial, but try to look for it all the same. Kids learn from everything in their environment, so if you’re going to the trouble of setting up a nature theme for them, why not make at least a little bit like real life?
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