Don’t Be Afraid of: Zebra

Not to toot our own horns, but sometimes we just hit the nail on the head. We’re still swooning over every single detail in this gorgeous bedroom featured in our Spring catalog, so much so that we thought it it served as the perfect example to prove why zebra print has stolen our hearts and why you should make it a part of your home.

1. In a subtle tone-on-tone color palette, zebra can be soft and feminine.

When it comes to home design, most people usually think of zebra as a pattern that is bold, busy, and not something they’re ready to add to their bedroom. But as evidenced by this soothing space, we protest! When presented in a gorgeous tone-on-tone gray, like our Kenya Gray fabric, zebra print can feel quite relaxed and neutral. The gray-and-white colors give this feisty fabric a more sophisticated appeal, and we’re loving the way it mixes with our feminine Hailey Ruffled Bedding.

2. Mixed with lots of neutrals, zebra feels relaxed and unfussy

In this bedroom, we blended our zebra print fabric with large planes of airy whites, like sheer linen drapes, which create a canopy around our Louisa bed, and luxurious all-white bedding. These airy whites and a soft gray wall color leave this bedroom feel polished and perfectly inviting.

3. A pair of stools in zebra aren’t too much

It’s easy to think when you’re picking upholstery that each furniture piece in a room should be a different fabric. As evidenced by this gorgeous space, not so! We could have gone with a simple cream or gray fabric on the pair of Lacquer Louis Stools at the foot of the bed, but by using the Kenya Gray fabric twice, we’ve turned the zebra print into a neutral. Using one fabric in several places in a room, the effect is really quite tailored. Plus, you can apply this rule to just about any pattern.

4. Let your accessories take a back seat

When you’re working with a bolder print, incorporate accessories with a more restrained style. For example, we chose accessories in mostly white and creams. None of our accessories compete with the zebra print, instead they complement it. We also opted for our Bradley Task Lamp in Aged Silver as it closely matches the frame of our Louisa Canopy Bed. While we’re usually fans of mixing metal finishes together, in a bedroom where you want to create a relaxing space, the matched metals play to that tailored look.

Find more inspirational bedrooms on our Bedrooms Pinterest Board, or browse our Bedrooms Photo Gallery.