Score with the safari style...

We all want our homes to be comfortable, safe sanctuaries but occasionally it's good to go a little wild!

You could take inspiration from South Africa - the host nation for this year's football World Cup - and hunt down safari style for rooms.

Bag 'big game' - by featuring animal print homeware, zebra and tiger stripes or leopard spots - and complement it with richly grained, dark wood furniture and colourful tribal print fabrics to conjure a desirable off-the-beaten-track atmosphere.

And take satisfaction from being ahead of the herd trend-wise as designers are predicting this 'natural and exotic' look is already gaining such popularity that it's guaranteed to star in the Autumn home collections.

"Everyone is going wild for rooms inspired by the great outdoors and this is an extension of that. A really popular look for both fashion and interiors currently is tribal or global style which embraces world-wide influences," says Claire Hornby, creative stylist at Barker & Stonehouse.

"Animal prints look best in a natural, ethnic background but don't worry if your home doesn't resemble something from 'Out of Africa' because any kind of dark, chunky wooden furniture will work."

African Safari Design originates back to the late 1800s when Britain colonised Africa.

The jungle's lush natural resources and a multitude of tribal designs inspired a fusion of British Colonial and African traditions which have translated into today's sophisticated African Safari decor.

The secret to decorating successfully with animal print is to use contrast in textures - leather, silks, linens and wools - and layer colour shades which can range from light neutrals through to sludgy browns, dusky tan and oranges.

All you have to beware of is looking like a 'trophy hunter' with too many animal prints 'roaming' your rooms.

Follow the 'less is more' rule and feature a maximum of two elements such as a cow skin rug in soft browns and creams on a wooden floor, and subtly enhance the effect with a scattering of zebra print cushions.

We've sourced a menagerie of products that won't bite, need feeding or even trigger allergies!

So make sure you win on the home front and create a perfect sultry setting for watching those World Cup matches no matter what your location.

With this look you can mix bold pattern and strong colour for a fitting backdrop, and end up with a relaxing room that's perfect for summer.

"Begin by painting walls dark beige or brown. You can leave it at that, or if you have time you could embellish them by creating your own tribal pattern on the wall," suggests Claire.

"Experiment with a few designs on paper and ideally cut a stencil. Use tester paint pots to colour it in. Black, dark brown, green and orange perhaps mimicking the shape of tropical foliage will look great against the lighter background."