Every outdoorsy person has their outdoor sport or activity of choice. For some folks, that choice is hunting and turning successful hunts into trophies to be admired. Since you must take the time to properly preserve your trophies, the right thing to do would be to consider creating a space dedicated to your prized taxidermy mounts. This space is called a trophy room, and it will hold a bulk of your hunting trip memories for years to come. A well-designed trophy room can tell a story about your adventures—it’ll be a great conversation starter when you have family and friends over.
Your space should incorporate artistic design, home decor, proper lighting and a creative use of space. Here are four easy to understand tips for trophy room design to ensure your taxidermy mounts—and your achievements—are showcased in the right way:
- Assess the usable space: There’s no need to fill your trophy room from corner to corner and top to bottom with taxidermy mounts. The key to letting each piece pop is leaving enough space around each mount to separate it from neighboring mounts. This way, nothing is taken away from the taxidermy and admirers can view each trophy without having to look at a cluttered space.
- Place mounts strategically: The ideal way to place big game mounts is to face them toward the center of the room or a dedicated focal point within your trophy room. Avoid placing them in corners or facing completely toward another wall. Fish and waterfowl follow similar rules. Face these creatures in swimming or flying positions going toward the center of the room, and not into a corner. Whatever animal mount you are hanging, the goal is to draw the admirer’s eye to other elements in your trophy room.
- Mix it up: If you have a trophy room, chances are you’re a hunter who has had a number of trophies made over the years. To keep the look of the space interesting, don’t be afraid to mix up the style of your mounts. Take deer heads, for example—deer head forms range in style (positioning) from alert and upright to a slightly lowered head that’s stretched outward. Ultimately, the more trophies of any animal species you have, the more range of styles you should play around with so they don’t all look the same.
- Mount at the right height: The height at which you hang your trophies can make or break enjoyment. For instance, avoid hanging big game heads too low on a wall, because people may walk or bump into them. This may either hurt the person or knock the mount off the wall. Also, placing mounts higher keeps them out of the reach of children and pets. A good height for trophies with antlers is one that doesn’t allow the antlers to touch the ceiling.
If you are searching around for the best team to assist with your trophy room design, look no further than Nature’s Design Taxidermy. We can help with room design and taxidermy services, and will even ship your prized mount to you. Call us today!