The 12 best animal print rugs - luxe pattern to give your home a subtle beauty

The 12 best animal print rugs have been chosen by the Livingetc team for their softness, serenity and sophisticated vibes

Ruggable, Kathy Kuo Home & Wayfair Animal Print Rugs
(Image credit: Ruggable, Kathy Kuo Home & Wayfair)

Look to the natural world for inspiration with an animal print rug. Rich and densely patterned animal prints have been part of interior decoration since the dawn of mankind and continue to be a reference point for designers today. Stripes, spots, or cow-prints, these patterns work well as rugs with their organic and natural coloring. They work with ease to lend warmth and intrigue to a room. 

Modern versions of animal print rugs vary, with some classics looking to mirror Mother Nature’s creations and others taking a more abstract and colorful approach. If you want to bring the appeal of animal print through the best rugs then we've done your hard work for you. We’ve searched high and low through the best home décor stores to find these fantastic floor pieces. 

Best Round Animal Rugs

Best Hide Animal Rugs

Best Neutral Animal Rugs

Best Outdoor Animal Rugs

Can you put an area rug on top of wall-to-wall carpeting?

Layering rugs continue to be a rising trend, with designers and homeowners mixing and matching carpets to create their personalized floor. When doing this on wall-to-wall carpeting, the key is to consider the pile height of your surface. “You can put an area rug on top of wall-to-wall carpeting as long as wall-to-wall is not a shag. I love layering rugs and it is a good way to save money because you don’t need such a big rug, but it adds dimension and texture,” says rug expert and fiber artist Rosemary Hallgarten. 

As Hallgarten mentions, shag is to be avoided, this is due to its high pile height which makes it harder to lay another rug on top of and creates a clash of textures. Lower-pile height wall-to-wall carpets will benefit from a denser area rug, allowing you to create zones for connection. This is a great idea for living rooms or bedrooms where you want to create more comfortable and intimate zones within the space. When choosing your area rug, consider the undertone of your carpet, you want the tones to complement one another to avoid a clash of colors and ensure your area rug flows seamlessly with the rest of the room.

Writer and design expert Faaizah Shah is the founder of The Interiors Consultancy. She has worked with designers such as Staffan Tollgard and design houses such as Sanderson to help them understand and communicate their narratives. She is known for crafting engaging stories and imaginative content, and understanding great decor from her years alongside some of the best creatives in the industry. She is also a contributor to Livingetc.