Crocodile And Alligator: Not Just In The Swamp Anymore

With the recent global movement concerning the environment and animals, it may be surprising to walk into a store and see items in an animal print pattern for sale. In many instances, the item is either faux fur or skin, thanks to efforts by animal rights groups like PETA and some groups that are raising global consciousness about the state of the environment as a whole. These groups have raised awareness about the way crocodiles and alligators are killed for their skins to be used in the clothing industry. But that has not stopped alligators and crocodiles from being displayed more admirably in fake skin prints. Crocodile print clothing and alligator print clothing can still be found in many stores in the forms of handbags, shoes, belts, and more.

A better way to display one's love of reptile skin might be to find furniture or small home decor pieces patterned after these large reptiles. Alligator posters and crocodile posters can be an easy way to incorporate one's love of these animals into their home environment, and posters can blend into any decor without a major overhaul of other items. A crocodile poster does not take up a lot of room either, just a few inches of wall space. An alligator poster or crocodile poster might be relatively easy to find and affordable as opposed to buying a crocodile print or an alligator print. Prints, especially limited edition ones, can be very costly pieces to add to one's decor. Posters can often be found at local stores witout any trouble but may be of a much lower quality than a print.

An alligator print, for example, might cost several hundred dollars as opposed to maybe thirty or forty dollars.

If you really like the reptile look and want to do more with your decor than just a picture on the wall, then consider redoing a whole room in the alligator or crocodile look. One of the attractions of reptile skin is that the look is subtle, more so than perhaps tiger print or zebra print, and a large piece of furniture may easily fit into an existing room without many changes. Reptile skin looks best when mixed with other dark natural shades. Alligator and reptile skins do not look the same and can be mixed together as their colors tend to be complementary. Other items that mix well with these patterns include items composed of glass, metal, stone, and wood. Mixing these items in a room can give a wild, tropical feel and make any room feel elegant.

Animal skins of this nature are more suitable for a den or study rather than a family room or cilrd's room. And, of course, you may still find a crocodile print or alligator print to put on the wall for accent.

If ones does buy an item made from animal skin, it may make the buyer feel better to do a little research about where the animal skin came from prior to purchasing it. Some companies who produce furniture pieces do so only from animals who have died or were harvested in an acceptable way, rather than poaching. Others may use completely synthetic materials and support a cause saving animals just because they do not believe in the way some companies choose to kill animals for the sake of making money. A consumer needs to decide what they can live with and then stick to their principles. If they feel strongly about animals not being killed, then they should find a source that supports their own beliefs.

Sometimes there's simply no way to know, such as an old chair or sofa sitting in a secondhand store or antiques shop. When in doubt, don't buy it. There are ways to decorate without compromising your beliefs. If you are not sure where to start looking for that newest addition to your home, be it a print or large piece of furniture, start looking online for it and then go from there. But the reptile look might be appreciated just as easily as a garment of clothing too.