Hunting trophies are a great way to showcase the wildlife you’ve caught and tell a story to your home’s visitors. However, since they are such statement pieces, lining them up harmoniously as part of your home decor can be challenging.
Some enthusiasts create a hunting trophy room with a dedicated space for those relics. However, you can incorporate them into your living room and other common areas.
1. Look for Inspiration
Decorating plans always benefit from looking for inspirational pics to outline your goals. There were 522 million active Pinterest users worldwide during the second quarter of 2024, proving it’s still one of the best go-to sites. Search for hunting trophy room design and see what sparks your interest.
Most people prefer to be minimal by adding a select number of hunting trophies, while others make mount displays for the corner of the room. It serves as a tasteful amount of artwork.
2. Pick Your Best Trophies
After determining your style, it’s time to decide which hunting trophies you want on full display. Deer are often chosen as a focal point because their large and gorgeous antlers attract attention.
You can also pick trophies based on experience. Moose are aggressive toward humans, making them a feat to capture. Considering how it’s a great conversation starter, you can make these hunting trophies the focal point of your display.
3. Group and Display
The next step is to sort your hunting trophies. You could line up the same animals or group them by size and color. It makes the placement easier since you have a rough idea of what objects look good next to each other.
Hunting trophies usually look best mounted. Floating shelves support 40 to 50 pounds of items, so they’re not ideal for bigger structures. Mounts help you maximize your wall area. Hang them at the right height and space things out.
4. Declutter the Space
One underrated step in decorating a space is decluttering. There’s a difference between a maximalist approach and hoarding too many items. Remove hunting trophies and other items that don’t spark joy.
You can gift them to a loved one interested in hunting. You can sort and sell objects since hunting trophies are expensive, especially when you have a rare catch. Granted, you may not want to give away such collector items.
5. Install Wooden Decor
Wooden decor goes well with hunting trophies since it contributes to the outdoorsy ambience. Add a coffee table and seats to provide a space to lounge and admire your catches.
You can also invest in other materials, as interior design is all about contrast and complementary pieces. A vibrant Moroccan rug or an iron fireplace can enhance your interior design’s warm, campfire-like appearance.
6. Add More Hunting Elements
Don’t be afraid to add hunting elements to flesh out the space. For example, commission decorative pieces with animal hide or feathers. Antlers are also a good touch if most of your hunting trophies are from deer.
You can also go shed hunting and pick out these beauties from the wild. Wait until approximately 70% of bucks shed their antlers before looking for them. The peak period can shift depending on the habitat, climate, food availability and more.
7. Showcase Accessories
Hunting enthusiasts may also want to display the tools that helped them make the catch. For example, traps add plenty of visual interest. However, cruel trapping practices are highly discouraged.
You can divert to displaying firearms. Hunting bows are a nice touch for more old-fashioned hunting enthusiasts. Long arms benefit from bows with longer draw lengths, but you do have to consider the space it will require to hang them on a wall.
8. Consider Future Maintenance
Hunting trophies are large objects that accumulate plenty of dirt and dust, which dull their impact on your interior design. You should be vigilant in dusting them at least every week, especially displays with hair.
You can use a damp rag and wipe your mount after dusting, following the direction of the animal’s fur. Water should suffice, but add some drops of mild detergent if there’s extra dirt. Avoid suds to omit additional rinsing, as too much water exposure is bad for the hide.
9. Add Extra Photos
Photographs are a nice finishing touch to your hunting trophy display. As people look at your decor, you can discuss the many details or let the visuals speak for themselves. Photos create a more powerful emotional response than words.
You can print out pictures of the preparation and aftermath that led to you getting the hunting trophy. Little tidbits of a safari trip with friends or a plane ride in first class are also good ways to showcase your adventurous life.
Create Good Hunting Trophies
Decorating with hunting trophies requires a tasteful and methodical approach. Less is more when it comes to your collection. Thoughtful elements like accessories and photos can create a story for visitors and give context to your hobbies. Follow these tips to create an elegant display.
