Choosing animal wallpaper — playful scenes and grown-up designs

Animals are one of the most-loved themes in wall design, and they cover an enormous range. At one end are playful scenes for children — a jungle full of safari animals, a woodland of foxes and deer. At the other are sophisticated, grown-up designs — elegant birds, a bold animal print, a striking farmyard portrait. Whatever the room, there is an animal design to suit it. Here are the main styles and where each works best.

Animal wallpaper styles

Safari and jungle animals bring elephants, lions, giraffes and zebras into a lush, leafy scene — bold or gently illustrated, and a favourite for children's rooms.

Woodland animals — foxes, deer, rabbits and bears among the trees — are soft and charming, ideal for nurseries and calmer children's rooms.

Animal print, from leopard and zebra to cheetah, is the grown-up, fashion-led take — a bold, high-impact pattern for a statement feature wall.

Birds bring elegance and movement, especially in the classic chinoiserie style of birds among blossom branches (see our dedicated bird wallpaper guide).

Farmyard and country animals, like a characterful highland cow, suit a rustic or country-style home.

Dinosaurs are the perennial kids' favourite, in cute or illustrated styles (see our dinosaur wallpaper guide).

Playful or grown-up

Animal wallpaper really splits into two worlds. For children's rooms, illustrated safari, jungle and woodland scenes bring fun and character, and the softer, more painterly the style, the longer it lasts as they grow. For grown-up rooms, animal print and elegant bird designs make a sophisticated statement — bold, stylish and anything but childish. Deciding which world you are in makes the rest of the choice easy.

Colours for an animal theme

Green is the natural fit for jungle, safari and woodland scenes, tying into the foliage. Neutral and earthy tones suit animal print and country designs, keeping them chic rather than loud. Soft, muted palettes are more restful for a child's room and date less than bright primaries.

Which material to choose

Every animal design is a made-to-measure mural on a choice of four materials — two paste-the-wall and two peel-and-stick. Peel-and-stick is ideal for a child's room, going up mess-free and peeling away cleanly, and our papers are FSC-approved and PVC-free, with PFAS-approved peel-and-stick. For busier or damp rooms, the water-resistant and waterproof materials wipe clean. You choose your material, and see the price for your exact wall size, on each product page.