This made me laugh pretty hard! But what a great question! I feel like this happens a lot to people. I have had clients that receive/ collect the strangest things (mangy deer heads from grandparents?).
These can be great conversation pieces, but I agree with not making it a focal point.
The idea of pairing it simple with artwork or picture frames up a staircase or down a hallway will make for an interesting statement without making a really big, fishy statement.

Good luck!

Hannah McCoy
hannahmccoyinteriors.com

Placing it on a wall where the door to the room is would keep it out of the way. You won't be able to see it from the hallway/adjacent rooms and you have to actually be in the room to see it.
And it will be a big surprise when your guests do see it!

Any suggestions for my husbands mounted deer head?

I grew up in Louisiana where there are LOTS of avid fishermen. Mounted fish (or fake ones) were pretty common. I've never encountered a situation that would fit into my decor. Do you HAVE to keep it? You could do a collection of photos of the fish somewhere to pay tribute to it, and then sell it to somone who will love it.

How about the kitchen and try a vertical mount a la guitars?

For deer mounts - depending on size and condition of the mount - please just resist the urge to hang it above the fireplace. I know it seems like just the "proper" place to put it. But it rarely is done right and proportions are usually off, making the mount look smaller and more strange.
Try putting it in an office or family room displayed on a wall of frames proportional to it's size. This will add interest but not make it the focal point of a room.

Hannah McCoy
hannahmccoyinteriors.com

Is one required to inherit a stuffed fish?

I think the bathroom one is my favorite. That or the blue headboard. Great post.

There is a reason that my boss's giant swordfish is hanging in our office. It's hard to decorate around.

However, I will say it looks great over his desk!

Okay, this is totally bad and shows just how addicted to spray paint I am but... I'd paint it a solid color. I like red, personally (a red herring, haha, get it?). Or chartreuse.

I'm really weird, though.

How about hanging it from the ceiling in the stairwell? Or if it's strong enough, you could put it in the bathroom and hang your bathrobe from the nose. Or hang it above your desk and stab your to do lists onto the nose.

My vote is for in the kitchen.

My fiancee's folks have one. Its pretty hilarious. They put theirs in their stairwell, where there is a landing, and it is surrounded by a gallery of sweet and funny photos from family trips- including photo of when the fish was caught. Its a nice place to pause and browse some memories, and since the fish isn't alone on the wall, its less, well, "giant fish on the wall."

Man cave? I can imagine a dark moddy room with book cases, fire place, dark leather chairs with nail head detail, and a 4' swordfish.

Do you really like the fish? If not, don't hang it anywhere! If you do like it, then I think the fact that you've found four places where it could go to be a very good sign. I personally think it looks great in all of those places. My favorite, though, is the bedroom, because it picks up the blue in your headboard.

Better a 4 ft swordfish than the huge deer head that was the bane of my existance for ~5 yrs (actually hub's trophy & a 'gift' from pa-in-law). That said, if you have a bent for the eclectic, I can totally see the vertical mount working in an informal dining area....accompanied by a *catch of the day* chalboard sign.

@ babyfishmouth: yes, it is a requirement

@ gypsymomma: One Christmas, I covered the deer's nose with red foil wrapping paper & hung ornaments from his antlers. When dh put the boxes of decor in the attic after the holiday, the deer head was mysteriously missing. Haven't seen it in years. I do notice tho, there's a box marked Christmas decor that dh never brings down from the attic each year. I don't ask.

eh...'chalkboard'

sell it

Inheritence or not, I am afraid I would take it to a thrift store (I have a hard time throwing stuff into garbage, always mindful of the fact that soomeone's garbage .... etc.). I would not be able to stand it in my house.

do you really want it?
I would hang in outside somewhere.

* it

Neighbor guy has a HUGE elk head mounted in the dining area of his duplex, near a fairly sizable window, where passersby such as myself can see it plainly.

It's an impressive trophy (if you go for that sort of thing), but it's just waaaay out of proportion for its place. For some reason I think I'd find a big ol' fish mounted in that spot considerably more likable, even if it were just about equally out of proportion with its placement.

Take it to your (or the deceased family member's) favorite bar. They would probably be thrilled to have it. Personally, I think it looks great in every photo but the bedroom is my fav!

I know! I know! Let's all pretend like killing beautiful creatures and calling it "sport" ISN'T barbaric! Cool!

I'll take it ! For some reason even though I'm a city dweller, I regret not spending $200 on a mounted swordfish. I was going to hang it in my stairwell at the top of the entryway stairs. I suggest above a fireplace or guest bed...

I like it above the bed. Another option would be to suspend it in a net above a hallway, or suspend it and other small fishlike items like those glass buoy things from fishing line heheh (well so it's more invisible looking, as if it's swimming through the air). If I inherited a fish like that I'd keep it just for the absurdity factor. I'd probably put a Santa hat on it at Christmas too. Or give it a pipe.

that first picture is of a sailfish, not a swordfish!! :)

the sailfish and marlin pictured here are likely "replica" mounts of released fish, not actual fish (which is actually discouraged in sport fishing) ... and they're not cheap! check out http://www.kingsailfishmounts.com/saltwater-fish-mounts-sailfish-atlantic-c-1_67.html

personally, i wouldn't keep it.
BUT: i love the idea from sherrieakin... taking some photos of it before you say goodbye! you could make them really fun and silly. or they could be special, where you pose with the fish in one hand and a picture of the person who caught it in the other. that would be so cute! or you could even set up a little scene for fishy with a tarp for water.... be creative!

also, the idea from itpk... taking it to the family member's favorite bar/restaurant... i find that so very sweet.

My brother and I inherited our father's. He was an avid fisherman and we loved him. But we left the dish when we sold the apartment. Interestingly, the buyer displays it.

The meaning of this would be even starker if you saw my brother's apartment. I've still has the 1970s wall aper that came with the place - and he's NOT being ironic or retro. even HE didn't want the fish!

bathroom or hallway, but PLEASE not over the bed. that just scares me.

Speaking as a professional organizer, any item that can be placed on a wall and not on your floor creates a feeling of spaciousness. Great example of well used space! http://www.tipsforyourhome.com

I just saw one mounted over a bathtub - like you open up the shower curtain and see it. Awesomeness!

Keep us posted!! Great fish story.

Garage.

Our very cool neighbors have a hammerhead in their living room. They've got some vintage maps and a gorgeous screen printed sonic youth poster. It's a bit rock and roll, and not classic design, but it suits their style and house. I find it charming. And it doesn't look at all "Boca" or beach house.

I like the over the toilet one. My in-laws have two deer heads in their family room. They decorate them for Christmas too with lights in the antlers. My FIL hunts for food and ate the rest of the deer so not every trophy is killed just "for sport".

A side point: How many animals died and lost their homes so soy bean fields could be planted? Just because someone doesn't eat meat doesn't mean they aren't contributing to the desiccation of the earth.

If you love it, you will find the perfect spot. If there is a spot in your residence, anyhow.

If you don't love it, and I mean LOVE it, get rid of it. Pass it to another family member, sell it on Carigslist, whatever -- but don't keep something so large and difficult to live with just because somebody ELSE in your family loved it, if you do not.

The right place is the BIN.

I find it very easy to imagine a place where a giant swordfish would be awesome and fun and add a great pop of color (can't believe how boring/unimaginative a lot of the commenters here have managed to sound), but successfully integrating that into a room originally decorated totally independent of it's existence sounds like it could be rrrreally tough. I guess I'm with the person recommending hanging it over a door somewhere if you can, that seems like the only way to keep it from grabbing the attention of anyone entering the room.

I would mount it through a wall. Like tail in one room and the head poking through above a bath or toilet(above head and falling-over-and-stabbing-height of course)
I also like the paint it idea, although I'd wallpaper it and put in on a wall with the same wallpaper. Kind of like the Banksy elephant in the room thing.

I would not want a fish over my bed. I can see it in the kitchen, but wouldn't it get greasy after awhile? Personally I don't want to see any animal carcasses in my home or places that I visit - real or not real. I would freecycle it if I were you.

Ok... the last photo is intriguing... I absolutely LOVE!!!!! the blue satin headboard... I almost had an org.... when i saw it. And then the gorgeous cobalt marlin (which is cute, but I'm not a marine person).... the thing is... what will happen if it falls from the wall while you are sleeping....hehehehe.... Interesting outcome!

I actually really like it over the fireplace.

And in any case, if you want to keep it, then keep it.