Design Query: What Do You Think about Decorating with a Dog Theme?
We love decorating, obviously. We also love dogs, with all of their loyal, sweet, snuggly cuteness. We can’t quite decide, though, about how we feel about mixing the two. Decorating with dogs: is it a do or is it a don’t?
To be clear: we’re talking decorating using dog prints and such, not decorating in houses where dogs live (of course we think that’s a do!). Plus, we know there are a lot of approaches to dog-themed decorating. We’re thinking more along the lines of scotty prints than dogs-playing-poker (though the latter has some kitsch value that could work in a man room, maybe).
We took a look around the internet to see how other people are using doggies in their design. Here’s what we found:
Traditional
Decorator and writer Ann Pyne (interviewed here by New York Social Diary) loves dogs both as companions and as part of decor. In her library, chairs are covered with a discontinued dog-print fabric by Brunschwig & Fils. Throughout her apartment, tiny dog statuettes and even stuffed dogs dot the rooms. It’s a look that’s undeniably old-school – certainly not one that’s going to pop up in the latest issue of Dwell - but it has a traditional charm that draws us in.
Mod
On the other side of the coin, there are some very stylish and modern doggie designs out there – Etsy is a an absolute treasure trove. We think this silhouetted schnauzer wall decal is pretty stylish:
We’re partial to this sweet pillow, too:
Actually, we could probably spend hours on Etsy, just browsing the dog-themed pillows!
Kids
Many doggie prints and accessories are geared towards kids. Like both of these, which we found via Etsy (here and here):
Both the poster and the growth chart wall decals manage to make kids’ decor cool – they’re cute, but not overly childish. We like that!
Kitsch
As we mentioned, we think there might be a place in a certain type of room for a cheesy, funny poster of dogs playing poker. Using dog accessories in a kitschy way can be kind of charming – when it’s done right (think: small and limited, not floor-to-ceiling and creepy). These great dane salt and pepper shakers are a funny example – regal and charming and silly all at once:
So that brings us back to our original question: doggie decorating, hot or not? Where does it work and where doesn’t it? And what are its limitations?
Please share your thoughts in the comments!
When she’s not mopping up juice spills, Kit throws way-too-big parties, cooks complicated dinner, and decorates (and redecorates) her house. Plus, she writes about all of it – both the fabulous and the disastrous – for Examiner.com, Baltimore Magazine, Houzz.com and on her personal blog, Mango & Ginger.
