Dinosaurs aren’t a new home trend. They’ve been appearing on nursery wallpaper, pyjamas and in the shape of soft and wooden toys for a very long time. Just recently, though, we’ve noticed that these cunning reptiles have been escaping the children’s rooms and running riot in the rest of the house. The dinosaur motif is instantly recognisable and perfect for adding a witty to touch to anything from lamps to wallpaper. Go for understated colours and stylised -rather than realistic – shapes, and dinosaurs will feel right at home in an adult environment. Go for subtle, neutral colours as anything in bright, primary colours could risk looking a little young. We’ve picked out a few of our favourite finds to get you started on your new Jurassic theme.
‘So fierce’ dinosaur print, Mint & May
Embrace the sassy with this So Fierce dinosaur print. The humour comes from the contrast between a realistic portrayal of a 40-foot tall reptile and this neon pink, cartoon-like character swinging a handbag. This high-quality risograph piece has been printed on 240gsm uncoated paper, sourced from sustainable forests. Sold unframed for £14.95, available from Mint & May.
Jurassic Park Life Dinosaur lampshade, Mountain & Molehill
This lampshade is a perfect example of the ‘dinosaurs for adults’ genre. The shade with its monochrome colour scheme and touch of gold will suit most decors from the ultra modern to the vintage collector. Using a mix of Victorian illustrations this quirky shade is hand finished to ensure that no two are the same. It’s printed to order on fine art paper and finished off with a hand-applied gold detail. £65, available from Mountain & Molehill.
Dinosaurs cushion, Sophie Allport
This cushion is actually aimed at children, but with its monochrome colour scheme we think it would be equally at home downstairs! It features a steaming volcano and the word ‘Roar!’ is written in Sophie’s handwriting. It comes complete with a duck feather inner. Was £27.50, now £23.37, available from Sophie Allport.
Time for Tea-Rex mug, Dinosaurs Doing Stuff
This mug is a collaboration between Dinosaurs Doing Stuff and Jinny Ngui Design. The illustration is on both sides of the mug, and the text ‘Time for Tea-Rex’ features to the left of the image. Each mug is made of bone china and is decorated by hand and then fired at 820°C. The design is fully fired into the glaze so is suitable to be used in the dishwasher. £15, available from And So To Shop.
‘D’ya-think-e-saurus’ white wallpaper, Paperboy
This wallpaper is available in several different colourways, but we like this muted silver and white. It’s made with eco friendly water based inks and FSC approved paper and there are also matching fabric, lampshade and cushions in the range. We think it would be perfect for a downstairs loo, or make a great feature wall for a study. £60 per roll, available from Paperboy.
‘Fleurassic Park’ wallpaper, Bobo 1325
Just the name of this wallpaper has captured us completely! We love this vibrant, tongue-in-cheek design with dinosaurs wandering in and out of a floral fantasy forest. It’s not cheap at £160 a roll, but it would make a fabulous talking point in almost any room and is perfect for a feature wall. Available in different designs from Bobo 1325.
Main image: Pixabay (c) 2021