Is cow print the new leopard print? I certainly think so, and I've found plenty of interior designers who agree

Animal print lovers are having a very good year – animal prints are everywhere, and it would seem, all at once. These playful prints have long held their place in the style canon, from the glamour of leopard print to the bohemian stripes of zebra, but there's a new player on the scene ready to take center stage – cow print.

For years, leopard has been the go-to for those looking to decorate with animal print. Historically, this feline print had dominated interiors with its unmistakable it-girl energy – restless, loud, impossible to ignore.

But lately, it's been everywhere. In fashion, in interiors, on wallpaper, upholstery, and even kitchenware. It's become so ubiquitous, it's practically a neutral. And for some of us, frankly, overdone. Enter cow print. What was once the preserve of Western pastiche has been redefined by a new wave of designers and tastemakers, who are embracing the cowhide’s natural contrast and organic irregularity as a modern, textural alternative to leopard print. This isn’t novelty – it’s nuance. Cow print is quietly taking over as the next big interior design trend.

I’m convinced this print is here to outlast the seasonal trend cycle. Here, I take a closer look at cow print and explore why this offbeat, yet admittedly very handsome pattern has skyrocketed in recent months.

Animal print in interior design has always been polarizing; you either lean right in or steer well clear. But cow print is changing the conversation.

With soft, organic splotches in black or brown and creamy white, it feels like the laidback, cooler sister to leopard’s high-octane energy. Much of this easygoing feel is because we associate it heavily with open landscapes, rustic charm, and a sense of unbothered, untried cool. It’s less high fashion, more lived in, a way of making your interiors look effortless. This is to say, cow print looks like it is never trying too hard.

The rise of cow print can be traced directly to the broader cultural resurgence of Western influences over the past year. With figures like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé leading the charge (who hasn’t been embracing double-denim and suede jackets over the last year?), the ‘cowboy core’ western aesthetic has woven itself into our visual culture, and this has quickly become very apparent in interiors.

We have seen a resurgence of suede, leather, denim, and deep, earthy tones along with cow print. This proliferation of cow print has happened just as leopard print, once the it-girl of fashion and interiors, has taken a step back as a somewhat oversubscribed look.

Abigail Ahern, a renowned UK-based homeware designer and tastemaker, has embraced a plethora of cow print in recent collections. ‘We are totally obsessed with cowprint,’ says Abigail. ‘Infact, anything we cover in cow print sells out immediately.’

But what if this is a fleeting trend, and one we will all turn our noses up at within the blink of an eye? It would appear that cow print is not just a fleeting fashion, but a lasting feature that will continue to influence interiors for years to come.

‘This two-toned patchwork gives any interior a bit of polish and edge,’ Abigail explains. ‘Far subtler than its louder cousin, leopard, it works so well with any style, having long ago broken free of its wild west ranch roots. The trend shows no sign of slowing down, and we use it constantly as a fabulous accent to enliven interiors. If you are a full-on maximalist, you can of course clash your cowprints with stripes or bolder patterns.’

If, like me, you consider yourself more of a maximalist than a minimalist, take your cues from Abigail and intentionally clash the print with another. Mixing patterns in interiors is often more than checking that they ‘go together’; instead, try for ‘happy clashing’ as interior designer, Sophie Ashby, of Studio Ashby calls it. Floral prints with dots, animal pelts with stripes – the eclectic and ‘thrown together’ look is only achieved when you disregard the rulebook.

If that all sounds rather too cacophonous for your tastes, use cow print as an accent piece to enliven minimalist spaces.

‘There is a myriad of ways to style the print from cushions (fabulous on beds and sofas) to larger surfaces like upholstery on armchairs,’ notes Abigail. ‘Cow print is a pattern that creates such an interesting dimension. My secret to styling is as an accent in a toned-down room, as it pops and acts as the coolest focal point.’

What makes cow print especially appealing right now is its versatility across materials, particularly something worth bearing in mind when you are incorporating more texture in interior design.

No longer limited to faux hide rugs slung across rustic floors. The pattern can work on upholstered furniture, like sculptural armchairs or ottomans, hard finishes like tiles and lamp bases, and even wallpaper if you are so inclined.

I am currently sourcing a cowhide ottoman to sit in front of a well-worn kilim and velvet chair in my living room – a rustic decor idea that still feels tasteful and refined. There’s something effortlessly chic about the combination: lived-in, low-key, the kind of space that feels best experienced barefoot, coffee in hand.

It's not about themed decor or going full wild-west cosplay, it's about layering textures that feel grounded, natural, and a little bit unexpected. Cow print, in this context, is the star.

So, if you adore a pattern on pattern scheme, or just want to add a little fun and whimsy to a room, cow print is a fresh favorite, especially as a highly enviable upholstery fabric. All in all, the cow print renaissance is worth saddling up for, as it's here to stay.