Scalamandré Zebras Wallpaper: The Story Behind an Iconic Design

Few wallpapers are as instantly recognizable as Scalamandré Zebras wallpaper. With its leaping zebras, flying arrows, and bold background colors, this legendary pattern has become one of the most iconic designer wallcoverings in American interior design.

First introduced in 1945, Scalamandré Zebras has remained remarkably relevant for more than 80 years. Today, the pattern continues to appear in sophisticated powder rooms, entryways, dining rooms, bedrooms, and other interiors where a memorable statement is part of the design.

Explore Scalamandré wallpaper at The WorkRoom or browse our complete luxury wallpaper collection.

The History of Scalamandré Zebras Wallpaper

The story of Scalamandré Zebras began at Gino of Capri, the celebrated Italian restaurant on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Restaurant owner Gino Circiello envisioned a dramatic safari-inspired wall treatment featuring zebras and arrows. The distinctive design became closely associated with the restaurant and ultimately developed into one of Scalamandré's most famous patterns.

After the restaurant's walls were damaged by fire, Flora Scalamandré, wife of company founder Franco Scalamandré, hand-drew the zebra motif that evolved into the iconic Zebras wallpaper recognized today.

Over the decades, the pattern moved far beyond its restaurant origins and became an enduring symbol of the Scalamandré brand.

Why Scalamandré Zebras Became a Design Classic

Part of the appeal of Zebras wallpaper is the contrast between elegance and playfulness.

The repeated zebras create movement across the wall, while the arrows and expansive background give the design its distinctive graphic character. It feels whimsical without becoming juvenile and dramatic without losing its sophistication.

That balance makes Scalamandré zebra wallpaper particularly versatile. It can work beautifully in traditional interiors, eclectic rooms, maximalist spaces, and more contemporary settings that need an unexpected decorative element.

If you love bold designer wallcoverings, you can also explore The WorkRoom's complete selection of designer wallpapers.

Scalamandré Zebras Wallpaper Colors

While many people immediately associate the design with its famous red coloration, Zebras wallpaper is available in a broad range of colors.

Depending on the version and current Scalamandré collection, Zebras has been offered in dramatic reds and greens as well as black, gold, silver, blue, yellow, orange, neutrals, and other distinctive colorways.

This expanded palette makes it easier to incorporate Zebras into very different decorating schemes.

A saturated red or green can create an unapologetically dramatic room, while black, silver, charcoal, sandstone, or other quieter colorways can give the same famous motif a more restrained appearance.

Where to Use Zebras Wallpaper

Because Zebras is a large-scale, highly recognizable design, it works especially well in spaces where wallpaper is meant to become part of the room's identity.

A powder room is one of the most popular applications. The smaller scale of the room allows a dramatic wallpaper to create maximum impact without competing with too many other elements.

In an entryway or foyer, Zebras can establish a strong first impression and set the tone for the rest of the home.

A dining room offers enough wall space for the pattern to unfold while creating a sophisticated, slightly theatrical atmosphere.

Zebras can also bring personality to a bedroom, dressing room, home bar, library, or statement hallway.

For particularly bold interiors, the pattern can cover an entire room. In more restrained spaces, it can be used on selected walls or paired with quieter furnishings and textiles.

For more dramatic large-scale wallcoverings, browse our murals and panel wallpapers.

Decorating With Scalamandré Zebras

The easiest way to decorate around Zebras wallpaper is to allow the wallcovering to take the lead.

Solid upholstery, tailored drapery, natural textures, lacquered furnishings, and simple architectural details can all provide balance without competing with the pattern.

For a more layered interior, Zebras can also be combined with stripes, geometrics, animal motifs, or richly textured fabrics. The key is varying the scale of the surrounding patterns so the room feels intentionally collected rather than visually crowded.

Metallic finishes, dark woods, painted furniture, and natural materials can each create a very different interpretation of the design.

That flexibility is one reason Scalamandré Zebras wallpaper continues to work in both classic and contemporary interiors.

Scalamandré Zebras Fabric and Coordinating Trims

The iconic Scalamandré Zebras pattern extends beyond wallpaper, making it possible to carry the look throughout a room with coordinating textiles and decorative details.

Scalamandré Zebras fabric brings the same energetic zebra motif to upholstery, pillows, drapery, and other custom applications. Using the pattern in both wallcovering and fabric can create a bold, layered interior, while pairing Zebras wallpaper with more understated designer fabrics allows the walls to remain the focal point.

Explore our selection of designer fabrics to find complementary solids, textures, prints, and upholstery fabrics that work beautifully with Scalamandré wallcoverings.

Decorative trims, borders, cords, and passementerie can also help finish a Zebras-inspired room. A contrast welt on a pillow, a decorative tape on drapery, or a tailored trim on upholstery can tie together the wallpaper, fabrics, and furnishings without competing with the pattern.

Browse designer trims at The WorkRoom for braids, fringes, cords, tapes, and other decorative finishing details.

For a more coordinated approach, combining Scalamandré wallpaper, fabric, and trim creates a layered designer look while still allowing the Zebras pattern to remain the star of the room.

An American Design Icon

Scalamandré has been producing luxury fabrics and wallcoverings since 1929, and Zebras has become one of the patterns most closely associated with the house.

The original wallcovering was introduced in the 1940s, and Scalamandré has continued to reinterpret it through new colors and related applications.

Its longevity is unusual. Many decorative patterns belong strongly to one particular period, but Zebras has repeatedly found a place in new generations of interiors.

That is ultimately what separates an enduring design from a trend.

Shop Scalamandré Zebras Wallpaper at The WorkRoom

At The WorkRoom, you can shop a large selection of Scalamandré wallpaper alongside thousands of luxury wallcoverings from leading designer brands.

Because color can vary between screens and physical wallcovering, we recommend ordering a sample whenever available before making your final selection.

You can also browse our full wallpaper collection to compare colors, patterns, textures, and designer brands for your project.

Whether you are creating a dramatic powder room, an unforgettable entryway, or simply looking for one of the most recognizable luxury wallpapers ever produced, Scalamandré Zebras remains a true interior design classic.