HomeStyle: animal prints come out of the closet

You love them on your shoes, bags, scarves, and even bras, but animal prints in your living room?

Absolutely!

According to StyleHive, animal prints are one of the hottest things going in interior design today. And if leopard-print chairs and zebra rugs conjure up images of 70s-era bordellos, the key is not to go too ... well, wild.

1. Keep it subtle. If you use more than one animal print in a room, don't make them compete with each other. Think proportion.
2. An animal print rug is an ideal way to pull a room together, especially if you use a lot of neutrals: think zebra with black-and-white or cheetah with earthtones.

So the next time you go décor shopping, trust your animal instinct!

(Dolce & Gabbana Mademoiselle Chair, $950 at allmodern.com)