Cowhide Rugs and Interior Decorating

If you have been considering remodeling the inside of your home, chances are that you have spent hours and hours looking through magazines and books dedicated to interior decoration options. You might have come across some pictures of a cabin or ranch decorated with animal heads and a large cowhide rug in front of a wood fireplace.

While that image is certainly warming and charming, cowhide rugs have much more flexibility than simply adorning the inside of hunting cabin somewhere in rural Montana. What used to be a staple of the ranching and hunting culture, is today quickly becoming one of the most sought after, versatile, and beautiful interior decorating options.

The Wide Range of Uses of Cowhide Rugs

Cowhides have been used for everything from cowboy pants to vehicle interiors, to couch cushions. The striking colors, patterns, and unique texture that comes with cowhides has made them appealing to a number of different people throughout the generations. The most commonly used application of cowhides, however, is for rugs.

Cowhide rugs are most commonly made from the hides of longhorn cattle, a breed of cows that are raised by the millions in the western part of the United States. While these cattle are generally raised for meat production, their hides have also been coveted for their wide range of uses.

Furthermore, if you have ever driven past a range of longhorn cattle, you have probably stopped to admire the gorgeous varieties of colors that adorn their coats. Because of the virtually unlimited amount of colors and patterns, each cowhide rug is essentially unique, just as each snowflake is unique and different from the rest.

Unlimited Varieties

When we think of cowhides, perhaps the most common image is that of a black and white speckled dairy cow that is the symbol of the family farm. While you can certainly find cowhide rugs with that color and pattern, there are a number of different color and pattern variants to choose from.

A few of the most common colors that you can choose from include tricolor, black, brown, grey, and speckled. In terms of patterns, you can choose from solid colors to even animal print patterns that differ from hide to hide. With this large variety of colors and patterns to choose from, you can rest assured that you will be able to find a cowhide rug that fits to your unique and specific interior decorating needs.

Where to Put Them?

Suppose that you have found a beautiful cowhide rug that is visually stimulating and soft to the touch. Where should put it in your home? Another quality that cowhide rugs possess is their extreme versatility when it comes to interior decoration. You can essentially put a cowhide rug anywhere in your home as they are easily adaptable to all sorts of home décor.

If you or someone in your family suffer from allergies, you might consider putting a cowhide rug in the entrance to your home. Cowhide rugs are naturally hypoallergenic. The dust, dirt, and other allergens that you track in to your home don´t stick to the fibers of the cowhide rug, but are rather easily vacuumed out or shaken out. You can thus effectively use a cowhide rug as a “barrier” to keep allergens from entering your home. Of course, this barrier will also be a beautiful addition that will be the first thing people see when they enter your home.

Cowhide rugs could also be placed in bedrooms, in living rooms, and even in kitchens. They are considered to be much more durable than synthetic rugs or carpets meaning that you can put them in high traffic areas in your home and not have to worry about them ruining in the short term. While fur rugs can become inconsistent as they lose fur in certain area, cowhide rugs, through a quality tanning process, will retain their hair evenly.

Lastly, you can even use cowhide rugs as a “throw” over your couch or recliner. If you have an empty wall in a room that needs some “livening up”, you can hang a cowhide rug on the wall as well for instant texture and depth to the room. Furthermore, if you have smaller cowhide rugs, you can use them as a backdrop for pictures, photographs, artwork, or other frames that adorn your walls. With a little bit of adaptation, you can even turn a cowhide rug into a bed covering or comforter.

A Cowhide Rug for Every Home

While it used to be considered that cowhide rugs were only suitable for western-style homes, cabins in the woods, or ranches, the versatility of cowhide rugs and their virtually endless uses make them a great addition to any home. If you want a striking and prominent element to your home décor, look no further than a quality cowhide rug.