Decorating
Decorating: Why it’s Time to Invite Some Owls into Your Home
They can be cute and folksy, happily Harry Potterish or menacing and striking – owls are both beautiful and versatile
Owls have featured in our lives for millennia. The ancient Egyptians used a hieroglyph showing an owl in profile to represent our consonant M, and owls remain much drawn and modelled today. Perhaps it’s due to their abundance: although solitary, owls populate the globe, with species found in every region except Antarctica.
Their flat faces and forward-facing eyes make them easy to draw and mould, too, which may be another reason for them cropping up in our homes on everything from rugs to ceramics. So whether you favour the owl in its wild state or reinvented as something more cuddly, there are plenty of ways to bring this beautiful bird into your home.
Their flat faces and forward-facing eyes make them easy to draw and mould, too, which may be another reason for them cropping up in our homes on everything from rugs to ceramics. So whether you favour the owl in its wild state or reinvented as something more cuddly, there are plenty of ways to bring this beautiful bird into your home.
Find a photo
Despite often being drawn or designed as a rather cute motif, owls in real life look striking, even menacing. They are birds of prey, after all, with sharp talons and powerful beaks. So channel the owl’s true nature with a photographic rendering that reveals all its intense beauty.
Despite often being drawn or designed as a rather cute motif, owls in real life look striking, even menacing. They are birds of prey, after all, with sharp talons and powerful beaks. So channel the owl’s true nature with a photographic rendering that reveals all its intense beauty.
Repeat the tweet
Why stick to a single owl design? This wallpaper features a whole collection of owls with different feathers and features. The soft grey and white colour scheme helps them all to sit harmoniously together, and creates a pleasing pattern.
Why stick to a single owl design? This wallpaper features a whole collection of owls with different feathers and features. The soft grey and white colour scheme helps them all to sit harmoniously together, and creates a pleasing pattern.
Go large
Children’s stories, from Winnie the Pooh to Harry Potter, are full of owls and they make a lovely bold motif for a playroom or nursery. For maximum impact, look for a large-scale owl on a rug or artwork.
Children’s stories, from Winnie the Pooh to Harry Potter, are full of owls and they make a lovely bold motif for a playroom or nursery. For maximum impact, look for a large-scale owl on a rug or artwork.
Source a sculpture
A ceramic or wood sculpture of an owl can really draw attention to its huge eyes and beautiful plumage. The owl’s naturally squat, compact shape also makes it the ideal tactile ornament.
A ceramic or wood sculpture of an owl can really draw attention to its huge eyes and beautiful plumage. The owl’s naturally squat, compact shape also makes it the ideal tactile ornament.
Stay soft
Owl soft toys can easily be made from fabric remnants, by cutting a simple owl shape, stitching it together and stuffing it. This cute example made from striped material looks plump and appealing.
Owl soft toys can easily be made from fabric remnants, by cutting a simple owl shape, stitching it together and stuffing it. This cute example made from striped material looks plump and appealing.
Stick them up
Owl wall stickers have transformed this simple white bathroom into a fun family space. Notice how they perch on the border that tops off the tiled wall!
Owl wall stickers have transformed this simple white bathroom into a fun family space. Notice how they perch on the border that tops off the tiled wall!
Hang a painting
Dogs? Too cute. Horses? A bit grand. Owls? Perfect! This beautiful bird is so universally admired that a painting featuring one makes a striking but gorgeous addition to a living space.
Dogs? Too cute. Horses? A bit grand. Owls? Perfect! This beautiful bird is so universally admired that a painting featuring one makes a striking but gorgeous addition to a living space.
Work the woodland look
What better accompaniment to curtains with a bold tree design than cushions with folky owls on them? It’s a match made in retro-style heaven.
TELL US…
Are you fond of owls? Have these beautiful birds flapped their way into your home? Tell us in the Comments below.
What better accompaniment to curtains with a bold tree design than cushions with folky owls on them? It’s a match made in retro-style heaven.
TELL US…
Are you fond of owls? Have these beautiful birds flapped their way into your home? Tell us in the Comments below.
A chunky ceramic owl in a decidedly folksy orange makes a striking and fun ornament.