by Lieke van Dam – August 21, 2026
Animal art on the wall: which animal suits your interior?
An animal print works in almost any interior, provided you choose the animal for its character and not just because it looks good. A deer or horse brings calm and class to a living room, a leopard or bull gives nerve to a mancave or hallway, and a bird or rabbit suits a bedroom or child's room. More important than the animal itself is how it is treated: realistic, graphic or botanical decides whether the piece soothes or becomes the focal point. Below you'll read, per animal, style and room, how to choose – and which material and size fit that choice.Why animal art works so well on a wallArt with animals does something abstract art does not: something looks back. Your eye automatically searches for eyes and posture, which is why an animal portrait always catches attention. That makes it an efficient focal point – you only need one piece to finish an empty wall. And that is exactly where the pitfall sits: two or three strong animal portraits in the same room compete for attention. So choose one lead piece and keep the rest of the wall decor quieter.The second reason it works: animals are more colour-neutral than you'd think. A deer in ochre and green tones, or a geometric white horse, adds shape without upending your colour scheme. In the animal wall decor collection you'll find both those restrained pieces and the outspoken statements.Which animal suits which mood? Animal Character Works well in Combines with Deer Calm, stately, warm Living room, dining room, hallway Wood, wool, earth tones Horse Elegant, powerful, timeless Living room, study, stairwell Black and white, leather, steel Bird Light, poetic, soft Bedroom, bathroom, hallway Botanical, linen, pastel Leopard, tiger, bull Bold, statement, high contrast Mancave, hallway, study Dark wall, metal, industrial Giraffe, elephant Playful but chic Living room, child's room Rattan, green, soft linen Rabbit, fawn, farm animals Soft and friendly Child's room, nursery Pastel, pale wood, white Fish, koi, sea turtle Calm, flowing Bathroom, bedroom, kitchen Blue-green, glass, acrylic glass Does your interior lean more towards landscape than portrait? Then nature art is often the better route: the same calm, less of a direct focal point.Three styles of animal art, and when to choose whichRealistic and photographicA realistic animal print or animal photo art shows fur, eyes and light in detail. That calls for a material that holds detail: aluminium and acrylic glass bring out sharpness and contrast best. Realism works strongly in a clean, modern interior, but can become heavy in a busy room. In that case choose a piece with plenty of quiet background around the animal, such as the giraffe on a plain background.Graphic and modernIn modern animal art the animal is reduced to planes, lines or a single colour accent. This is the safest choice if you're unsure: graphic work adds shape without steering the interior. It also combines effortlessly with abstract wall decor and graphic art on a gallery wall.Botanical and fairy-taleAnimals with flower crowns, leaves or a soft quality of light – like the Majestic Floral Stag Portrait – sit between animal art and botanical art. This style is warm and romantic and suits Japandi, country and boho interiors. On canvas this work takes on the softest, most painterly look.Room by room: what goes where?Living room. This is where your largest animal piece belongs. Above the sofa the rule of thumb is that the art covers 50 to 75 per cent of the sofa width; that calculation is in the guide on the right size above the sofa. A deer, horse or giraffe at 120×80 cm or 150×100 cm usually hits the mark here. See also the living room collection.Bedroom. Choose soft and calm: birds, a fawn, a sea turtle. Avoid bright, directly staring eyes above the bed. The bedroom collection holds pieces that take this into account.Child's room. Friendly animals at the child's eye level, not at adult eye level. Sizes of 60×40 or 70×50 cm are ample here. Have a look at the kids collection.Kitchen and dining room. Fish, lobster and poultry connect to the room's subject and work well next to food and drink wall decor. Do choose a material that can handle grease and moisture; more on that below. See also the kitchen collection.Hallway and mancave. Here it may be daring. A leopard, bull or dark horse portrait in black and white gives instant character. See the mancave collection and the wall decor for the hallway.In a hallway an animal portrait hangs at eye level, with quiet styling around it. Pictured: Majestic Floral Stag Portrait.Material: what does it do to an animal portrait?Every material does something different with the same image. For animal art these are the practical differences: Canvas – warm and painterly, a matte surface without reflection. Ideal for botanical and painted animals; fine fur detail becomes slightly softer. See canvas wall decor. Aluminium – sleek and razor-sharp, holds detail and contrast. The best choice for realistic animal photo art. See aluminium wall decor. Acrylic glass – maximum depth and gloss, colours come across more intensely. Beautiful for water and fur, but it reflects in bright backlight. See acrylic glass wall decor. Poster – the lightest and most affordable option, good for a gallery wall with several animals. See posters and prints. Acoustic felt – a soft material that dampens echo. Interesting in an open-plan kitchen or a high-ceilinged room; the image is slightly less sharp than on aluminium. See acoustic panels and the explanation of whether acoustic panels really work. Torn between materials? The full comparison is in the comparison of canvas, aluminium, acrylic glass and poster.Size and frameAnimal portraits carry large formats better than most other art, because the subject stays recognisable. Every piece is available from 60×40 cm to 150×100 cm. For a portrait at eye level in a hallway, 70×50 or 90×60 cm is usually enough; above a 220 cm sofa you move towards 120×80 or 150×100 cm.A frame reinforces the mood. Black makes an animal portrait more graphic and sharper, pale wood makes it warmer and more natural, wenge gives class to darker pieces, and white works well in children's rooms. If you want the work to look as large as possible, go without a frame. More on this in which frame suits your poster.Honestly: when is animal art not the right choice?Two situations in which you're better off choosing something else. First, a room already full of pattern and colour: an animal portrait demands attention, and in a busy interior that turns cluttered. Choose calm nature art or a monochrome piece instead. Second, a narrow corridor with little viewing distance. A realistic animal portrait needs distance to land; at 80 cm viewing distance, graphic or abstract works better.Frequently asked questionsWhich animal print works best in a living room?A deer, horse or giraffe in muted tones is the safest living room choice: stately enough to be a focal point, calm enough to look at for years. Go for a size of at least half the sofa width, which in practice usually means 120×80 cm or larger.What is the difference between animal art and animal photo art?Animal photo art starts from a photographic image with realistic detail. Animal art is broader and also covers painted, graphic and botanical interpretations. Photo art comes into its own on aluminium or acrylic glass, painted animal art on canvas.Which material should I choose for an animal print in the kitchen?Aluminium or acrylic glass. Both are smooth, moisture-resistant and can be wiped clean with a cloth. Canvas is less practical in a kitchen, because the weave holds on to grease.Can I combine several animals on one wall?Yes, as long as you keep to one style and make one piece dominant. For example, combine one large portrait with two smaller works in the same treatment and colour range. How to build such a wall is explained in the guide on making a gallery wall.Is animal art suitable for a child's room?Certainly. Choose friendly, gentle animals such as rabbits, fawns or farm animals and hang them at the child's eye level. A size of 60×40 or 70×50 cm is generally enough.