There’s an elephant in the room – and we put it there! From lovable mammals to chirpy birds, fauna is fabulous again.
It’s a jungle in here. Can you really do tropical decor without introducing a fair share of animal-inspired accessories? Maybe you can, but throw in some flamingos and elephant to make a point. It’s been around for ages, but animal-inspired home decor is #trending again and every self-respecting interiors addict ought to join the herd. We show you how to invite the zoo into your home.
Dine with creature
Bring them to the table we say – get your morning cuppa from a blushing hand painted sheep mug on a handcrafted and happy elephant placemat from Eat and Sip. We bet your colleagues will love an old school three-tiered flamingo lunch box with tropical feels by Decoriia. For dinner parties, bring out these stoneware serving plates by Nook & Cranny. We still can’t get over the fine, accurate birds painted on them.
And check Kaleb the mongoose (picture on top), all dapper in a hat and suspenders. This hand painted ceramic plate by Fred Lives Here will great as wall plates, or propped upright in your bookshelf. Decordinary has some fun animal themed tableware too – we’re particularly loving the whimsical horse and rabbit head cake stand and monochrome cookie jars with a gold rabbit head topper.
Decorate with beasts
Animals and birds make spectacular housemates. Pets aside, bring home these feathered jewellery, trinkets and random stuff holders – pink parrot stoneware tray and mesh bird stand by 3 Little Picks and Nook and Cranny’s colourful owl jars.
Need a corner to pop? Leave that to Wandewoo’s many handcrafted and hand painted art sculptures shaped like your favourite animal. There are cows, cats, giraffes and puppies to pick from. We’re particularly heart-eyes for Decordinary’s collection of fanciful things like animal head shot glasses, balloon dog bookends, hedgehog canisters, bunny-eared photo frames and what not. Even dinosaucers come alive as T-rex cake plates and Triceratops salt and pepper shakers!
If you’re supremely committed to your crazy plant lady tropical decor, these mini green topiaries shaped like cute creatures by Born in Colour will fit right in. These small adorable head nodders by The Little Drom Store are complete yes-men and these minimalistic wooden birds from Bibleotek will chirp in.
Furnish with fauna
Go big with your beastly decor – we did! Walk into The Honeycombers HQ and you’ll be greeted by an orange Rabbit Chair from Journey East. This adorable adult-sized seater was made by Qeeboo, an Italian furniture brand that knows how to have fun. And they’ve got more – King Kong floor lamp, shark head umbrella holders and the aforementioned rabbit turned into an outdoor light.
Remember Moooi’s collection that gave us the giant stallion for a lamp and the pig for a coffee table? It’s still cool and available in at Space Furniture. And how can we talk about renowned European brands going animalistic without mentioning Magis? They’ve given us several contemporary and colourful favourites that can be found at Xtra – the instantly recognisable puppy and baby chick as well as the rocking dodo and cast iron mule.
Even Charles and Ray Eames, the power couple of design, brought friendly animal shapes home way back when. Their designs for Vitra featured the iconic elephant chair for kids and the simplistic wooden bird decorative, available in Singapore at Space Furniture and Grafunkt. Need something rattan in adorable pastels? Woot-woot’s Earth range has got kangaroo, elephant and duck baskets that’ll look great in and out of a toddler’s room.
Style with the wild
Leave it to Creatively Active Minds to bring tropical jungle creatures, birds and insects to spectacular soft furnishings. We’re also crushing on Fred and Bobo’s tea towels with single-coloured line drawings of cows, chickens and an oddly intense-looking giraffe. Everyone’s favourite mammal, the elephant, finds itself on a lovely tea towel by Singapore Trading Post. And sure Cuckoo Little Lifestyle might be for kiddie things, but that doesn’t stop us from loving these cute animal cushions – bambi, is that you?
Honorable mention
Made of natural beech wood and walnut, this lovely and unassuming elephant is actually a Bluetooth speaker from Kiyolo that’ll play music up to four hours. This might just be the most adorable portable speaker slash mobile stand we’ve ever seen.
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