Zebra print, without the hide

A zebra rug brings one of the boldest patterns in nature into a room: sweeping black and white stripes that make any floor look graphic and alive. Ours are printed edge to edge on soft velvet, not made from a hide, so no animal is involved, the stripes can be any colors you like and the whole rug goes in your washing machine. You can choose a classic rectangle, a round rug, or a shaped rug cut to the natural outline of a hide for that traditional look, in faux.

Why zebras have stripes

There are three species of zebra, the plains zebra, the mountain zebra and Grévy's zebra, which has the narrowest stripes of all and is now endangered. No two zebras have the same stripes; each pattern is as unique as a fingerprint. Scientists have long debated why zebras are striped, and one of the best-supported explanations today is that the stripes help keep biting flies away. Whatever the reason, the effect is striking, and designers have been borrowing it for nearly a century.

Zebra print in design

Zebra stripes became a symbol of glamour in the 1930s, when New York's El Morocco nightclub upholstered its banquettes in zebra stripes and every celebrity photographed there was framed by them. The pattern came back in the bold interiors of the 1970s, in the pink and black Y2K bedrooms of the early 2000s and, more recently, in calm, neutral rooms where a single zebra rug provides the one dramatic note. That range is what makes it so useful: it can be glamorous, playful or quietly sophisticated depending on the colors and the room.

Choosing the colors

Colors	The mood	Pairs with
Black and white	Classic, graphic, high contrast	White walls, black metal, glass, monochrome rooms
Brown and cream	Natural, warm, safari	Wood, leather, rattan, linen, plants
Grey and white	Soft, modern, understated	Grey sofas, pale wood, Scandinavian rooms
Pink and black or pink and white	Playful, Y2K, glam	Bedrooms, dorms, vanity corners, gold accents
Gold and black or gold and cream	Luxe, Hollywood Regency	Velvet furniture, mirrors, brass

Black and white is the classic zebra look, while pink and black suits a bedroom or a vanity corner.

Want a different pairing, such as navy and white or emerald and cream? Our custom rugs can print zebra stripes in any two colors.

Black and white

A black and white zebra rug is the classic and the most striking. In a monochrome living room, it becomes the focal point; in a room full of color, it grounds everything with a dose of contrast. It looks especially good with white walls, black picture frames, glass coffee tables and a single green plant. If pure black and white feels too strong, choose charcoal and off-white for a softer look.

Brown and natural

A brown and cream zebra rug reads as natural and warm, closer to the look of a traditional hide. It suits rooms with wood furniture, leather sofas, woven baskets, linen and plants, and it's a favorite for safari-inspired, boho and organic modern interiors. In a study or a den, it adds pattern without feeling loud.

Pink zebra

Pink zebra print, pink and black or soft pink and white, is a playful favorite for bedrooms, dorm rooms and dressing areas. It has a fun, early-2000s glam feel that pairs well with white furniture, gold accents, fairy lights and a vanity mirror. For more sweet, pastel designs, see our cute rugs.

Hide-shaped or rectangular

A hide-shaped zebra rug, cut to the irregular outline of a natural hide, is the traditional look, popular in living rooms, lodges and studies. Our shaped rugs come in sizes from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm), and because they're printed, you get the silhouette without an animal hide. A rectangular zebra rug is cleaner and more modern, and easier to place under furniture. Round zebra rugs, from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm), are an unexpected choice for a reading corner or under a round table. Our round rugs page shows each size in a room.

In the living room

Under a coffee table, a zebra area rug is a confident statement. A 5×7 ft rug is our largest standard size and suits most coffee table areas; a custom size up to 5′11″ × 10′ covers a longer seating area. Keep the rest of the room calm, a plain sofa, simple cushions, a few solid colors, and let the stripes do the work. One bold pattern is usually enough. For the softest feel underfoot, choose Premium, 7 mm plush velvet on a bamboo and cotton back, about 700 g/m². Our living room rugs page has more layouts.

In the bedroom

At the foot of a bed or beside it, a zebra rug adds instant personality. A 4×6 or 5×7 ft rug under the lower half of the bed frames it; a 2.6×3.9 ft rug beside it is the first thing your feet touch in the morning. Black and white suits a modern bedroom; brown suits a warm, boho one; pink suits a playful one. Our bedroom rugs page has more ideas.

Hallways and runners

A zebra runner turns a long, plain hallway into something memorable, and the stripes make a narrow space feel more dynamic. Our standard sizes are rectangular, but a custom size lets you order a long, narrow zebra rug up to 10 ft long to fit your hallway exactly. Choose Standard there: 5 mm crushed velvet on a non-slip faux leather back, about 500 g/m², which stays put as people walk by.

A nursery idea

Newborns see strong contrast more easily than soft colors, which is why black and white patterns are so common in baby books and toys. A black and white zebra rug in a nursery, perhaps with a few safari animal prints on the walls, is both stylish and engaging for a baby on the floor. Choose Premium for tummy time, and Standard's non-slip back once your child starts walking on a smooth floor. Our kids and nursery rugs have more ideas.

About 8×10 rugs

Many people search for an 8×10 zebra rug for a large living room. To be clear, we don't make 8×10 rugs. Our largest standard size is 5×7 ft, and custom sizes go up to 5′11″ × 10′. For a very large room, a hide-shaped zebra rug layered over a larger plain rug is a classic designer trick that looks intentional and covers more floor.

Layering

A hide-shaped zebra rug layered at an angle over a larger neutral rug, jute, plain cream or a soft solid color, is a classic way to use the pattern. It adds drama without covering the whole floor in stripes. A 3.9 to 5.2 ft (120 to 160 cm) shaped rug works well for layering in a living room or a bedroom.

Mixing with other prints

Zebra stripes pair surprisingly well with other animal prints, especially leopard, as long as the colors are related, and with simple geometric patterns and solid colors. For more animal designs, see our leopard rugs, tiger rugs, cow print rugs and the full range of animal print rugs. For other bold black and white patterns, our checkered rugs and art deco rugs are good companions.

Printed versus hide

Traditional zebra rugs are made from real hides, which are expensive, can't be washed and raise questions many people would rather not deal with. A printed velvet zebra rug gives you the same bold look with none of that: it's soft underfoot, machine washable, available in any color and any of our sizes, and no animal is involved. The trade-off is that it doesn't have the texture of real hair. If you love the pattern and want something practical for a real home, printed velvet is the better fit.

Standard or Premium

Standard is best for hallways, entryways, kitchens, under desk chairs and anywhere with a hard or slippery floor, because its non-slip back stays put. Premium is softer and warmer, best in living rooms and bedrooms where you walk barefoot or sit on the floor. Both are printed the same way, so the stripes stay crisp, and both go in the washing machine.

Sizes

Rectangles come in 2×3, 2.6×3.9, 3.3×5, 4×6 and 5×7 ft. Round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across. Hide-shaped rugs come from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm). Custom sizes go up to 5′11″ × 10′, including long, narrow runners.

Shipping and returns

Every rug is printed to order in 1–3 business days and ships from Turkey; US delivery usually takes 2–5 business days after that. Unused rugs can be returned within 30 days on US orders. Custom colors and sizes are made just for you and can't be returned.

Care

Machine wash on a gentle, cold cycle and let it air dry flat. Vacuum on a low setting between washes, and blot spills with cold water right away. The design is printed into the fibers, so the stripes stay sharp and the whites stay bright, wash after wash, long after a real hide would have needed a professional cleaner.

Three species of zebra

There are three living species of zebra, and each has its own stripes. The plains zebra, the most common, has broad stripes that often fade into lighter shadow stripes on its hindquarters. Grévy's zebra, the largest, lives in Kenya and Ethiopia and has narrow, closely spaced stripes, a white belly and large, rounded ears. The mountain zebra, from southern Africa, has a small dewlap under its throat and a distinctive gridiron pattern of stripes across its rump.

A fourth form, the quagga, a type of plains zebra with stripes only on its head and neck and a brown back, was hunted to extinction in the late 1800s. A project in South Africa has been breeding plains zebras to bring back its look.

Those differences make zebra print rugs more interesting. A Grévy's pattern, fine and dense, looks sophisticated and graphic in a modern living room. A plains zebra print with soft shadow stripes feels warmer and more natural for a bedroom, and a quagga-inspired design, stripes fading into warm brown, is an unusual, elegant choice for a study or a dressing room.

For a wildlife lover, a rug that identifies the species by its stripes adds a story to the pattern, and it's a fun way to show guests that no two zebras are quite the same.