Themed room decorating didn't die with Elvis. Whether you want to design a living room that reminds you of your lifelong dream of witnessing the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti, or if you just have a thing for zebra print, a safari-themed living room can be wild or subtle, depending upon your personality and color preferences.
Animal Print Accent Wall
Look at a photo of the animal while drawing the markings.
Select one wall in the living room to serve as an accent or focal wall. Pick an African animal you might see on safari with a coat pattern you like, such as the zebra, cheetah or giraffe. You may wish to test your animal print painting technique on a piece of scrap wood before tackling an entire wall. Lay down the base color first. Sketch the pattern lightly on top of the base color with pencil or very pale-colored paint. Paint the markings. As for the rest of the walls, almost any color can serve as a base color for a safari living room, but khaki and olive drab are classic choices.
Vintage Illustration Coffee Table
Transform an ordinary wooden coffee table into a one-of-a-kind safari showpiece with a selection of vintage illustrations of African savanna wildlife and vegetation, like acacia trees. Make high-quality photocopies of the illustrations if you don't feel right using the originals. Arrange them on the top of the coffee table, "mounted" on and framed by black acid-free card stock, until you are satisfied with the arrangement. Affix the illustrations to the table with several layers of decoupage paste. Smooth the top with a layer of clear varnish or sealant. Alternately, borrow a look from the article "A Home Makeover with Antique Decor," on the website "Country Living" (see Reference section), and paint the coffee table a bold color, like red or yellow, before applying the illustrations.
Accessories
Animal-print candles can add safari spice to a bland corner.
Sprinkle safari-style accessories throughout the room, taking inspiration from the article "Hollister & Porter's Williamsburg Safari House Tour" on the website "Apartment Therapy" (see Reference section). The article showcases a New York City apartment filled with vintage and reproduction items that combine to give the feel of a safari. Some items to look for include pith helmets, vintage safari photographs (or reproductions), antique books like Osa Johnson's "I Married Adventure," realistic stuffed animals and paintings of African landscapes.
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