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Left untamed, animal prints may conjure images of faraway jungles or club lounges, but when carefully styled, they can add chic detail to any room in your home.

“When used thoughtfully, animal prints can actually work as a super-versatile neutral,” says design expert and Houzz editor Gwendolyn Purdom, based in Palo Alto, Calif.

Take a room to the wild side with these tips from the design pros.

Keep Things Subtle

“I like using animal prints for accent pieces or accessories—but sparingly. Limit prints to one or, at the most, a set of accessories in the same motif. They should support the design of the room, not be the standout.

“Keep pieces in line with the color palette of the room and use them to create a layer of texture, not a bold accent.

“I prefer animal prints

that are neutral in color and not an overwhelming scale. They particularly work great as accessories, like a shagreen tray or python print throw. Using the same color motifs as the rest of the room creates a layered interior, and I like to design rooms that are tonal but with texture. When using animal prints in the same color they become textural rather than a focal point.”— Los Angeles and London-based designer Birgit Klein of Birgit Klein Interiors

Add a Neutral Touch

“Pairing something like a light-tan giraffe print with a more colorful piece of furniture and balancing that with a tan palette in the rest of the room both makes the bolder piece pop and reinforces the print’s role as a foundational element. Alternately, you might use an animal print to

serve as a statement piece itself when it’s in an unexpected color or surrounded by solids .... When used as a rug or repeated in multiple throw pillows throughout a room, animal prints can have a grounding effect.

“If you love the look of animal prints, there’s no reason to deprive yourself if you’re intentional with your choices.

“Multiple animal-print pieces can tie a room together and work well for mixing and matching. And if you opt to keep your spots and stripes to a minimum, additional animal-inspired accents like a metallic figurine or painting can be a fun way to bring a space full circle.”— Gwendolyn Purdom, Houzz editor and writer based in Palo Alto, Calif.

Pick Patterns Wisely

“I suggest mixing in animal prints in a subtler way. Choose one element to feature this pattern. If your print is more textural, it’s easier to blend in with other animal prints.

“I love using animal patterns on the floor. Zebra stripes woven into sisal are such a great unexpected surprise for a runner in a more traditional space.

“Vary the scale of the patterns you’re mixing. If your animal print is small and busy like leopard spots,

then pair it with large-scale patterns or textured solids. If you’re working around a larger zebra-striped rug, opt for small or medium prints so they won’t compete for attention. If the surroundings are clean and simple, consider adding a fur pelt for richness and dimension.

“Don’t be afraid of stepping outside neutrals. All you have to do is repeat one of the colors in the animal print in another element in the space. If you’re trying to make two colors work together, just add them elsewhere and your eye will naturally accept them.

“If the animal print is neutral, however, it will likely stand on its own. This gives you the freedom to add color elsewhere, like bold artwork, colorful fabrics, or bright pillows.” — Donna Mondi, founder and principal, Donna Mondi Interior Design in Chicago

Designer’s Corner How to make it look bold and stylish, not kitschyBy Jennifer Tzeses

Decorating With Animal Prints

Left, this traditional-style bathroom designed by Donna Mondi features an unexpected Zebra-striped sisal runner. Below, a cheetah print chair and ottoman read as neutral in this exotic style room.

A snakeskin-printed blanket adds texture to a glamorous bedroom designed by Birgit Klein.

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“Multiple animal-print pieces can tie a room together”

Gwendolyn Purdom, Houzz editor