The Rise of Animalcore: A Wild, Whimsical Homeware Trend

If you've been feeling an animalistic pull towards more expressive interiors lately, you're not alone. 2025 is all about embracing the wilder side of our personality, dynamic storytelling, and playful detail in our spaces - and the animalcore decor trend is leading the charge.

We’re never afraid of a little bit of maximalism, it’s a trend we’re more than ready to lean into and animalcore is just a natural extension of that. Let’s take a look at how to bring the animalcore spirit into your home the way the interior designers are doing it - with a mix of vintage charm, rich textures and a zoo of ceramic creatures, it's Always Sunday style.

What Is the Animalcore Decor Trend?

Animalcore is a maximalist decor trend rooted in nostalgia, fantasy, and a playful return to nature. Think more than just leopard prints - this is about roaring ceramic jaguars beside Staffordshire dogs, acid yellow leopard print cushions against snake print wallpaper and even a kitsch animal themed oven mitt or two in the kitchen.

Not just for kids bedrooms anymore, the animal decorating trend has grown up just a little (it’s got a sense of humour!). It’s not rustic, but it nods to the natural world in a way that says "I know exactly what I'm doing". In short: it’s interiors with confidence. The kind that sparks conversations, makes people smile, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It's VERY Always Sunday style.

How to Style Animalcore Home Decor

You don’t have to go full jungle mural or wall-to-wall leopard print. The new animalcore home decor trend is about weaving elegant and offbeat animal touches into your space in a way that feels curated and personal.

Here are a few ways we’re styling it this season:

1. Play With Animal Prints (But Make It Colourful)

Introduce a spot of animal print that doesn't immediately look like animal print. Our Acid Yellow & Red Leopard Print Cushion Collection nods to the trend but subverts expectation with colours that are more suited to Studio 54. For something more subtle, the Green Snakeskin Glitch Cushion Collection emanate an exotic feel without being so clearly animal print.

2. Adopt a Pair of Vintage Dogs

Our founder Lexi collects Vintage Staffordshire Dogs.These classic ceramics add personality to a shelf, fireplace or console table, with just the right blend of British tradition and eccentric flair. But in 2025 we're looking at ceramic animal figurines in a different light - under the kitchen spotlights with our Camel Handpainted Ceramic Salt & Pepper Shakers.

3. Decorate your Walls with Animal Heads

Go on the hunt for animal-themed wall decor that protects the environment with our solid recycled brass hardware including hooks, rails and drawer knobs shaped like Crocodiles from the Nile, Giraffes from the African Savannah and Rabbits from the Somerset countryside.

4. Light the Scene with Silk Pendant Lighting

Get that 'moonlight through the jungle canopy' feeling with silk lighting like The UFO Silk Lampshade in off-white and amber or the Round Putty Silk Lampshade that looks like a warm glowing moon. Our silk pendant lighting is handmade from the finest Vietnamese silk and iron giving it that ethereal whimsical feel.

5. Be a Little Extra (That’s the Point)

The new Animalcore may be elevated but it still doesn't take itself too serious, it's important to listen to your inner cheeky monkey and lean into the playful side. Forgo formal table settings for banana-shaped bowls, jungle-themed cushions and even mildly offensive kitchen tea towels like our Cute Little F*ckers tea towel complete with cute forest animal illustrations.

 

THE TOP BURNING QUESTIONS ABOUT ANIMALCORE:

What is animalcore in interior design?

It’s a playful blend of creature motifs, satisfyingly bold-yet-clashing nature illustrated textures, and unexpected styling choices. Think vintage dog figurines, recycled brass animal-shaped knob and hooks, and leopard print cushions in alternative colour combinations, layered against a jungle of other animal patterns.

How can I add animalcore to a grown-up home?

Find your starting line. Begin with one animal-themed item; a bright green zebra print cushion, a leopard plant pot or a snake illustrated tray - and build from there. Layer over time, pairing the more extroverted pieces with neutral elegant ones for balance.

Will animalcore work in neutral or minimalist spaces?

Yes absolutely! In fact, neutral spaces become the perfect backdrop to make animalcore pieces pop beautifully. Try a patterned cushion on a beige teddy boucle sofa, or sculptural brass animal decor on a white wall - They're guaranteed to shine.

Get your Animalcore fix at Always Sunday

At Always Sunday, we love pieces that are filled with joy and tell a story. Our Vintage Collection, Cushions, Home Accessories and Barware are all brimming with creature comforts.