Everything You Need to Know About Cowhide Rugs
A cowhide rug is a classic design piece that is always in style. The luxury and elevated look that a cowhide rug lends a room is inimitable. Long-lasting and totally unique, a cowhide rug is not only a beautiful addition to your home, but it’s also an investment in a long-lasting rug.
If you want to learn more about cowhide rugs, how they’re made, how to style them, and browse our range of quality cowhide rugs both faux and real, keep reading.
What is a Cowhide Rug?
A cowhide rug consists of the skin and hair of a cow, which is referred to as its ‘hide’. Using either a vegetable tanning process or a chrome tanning method, the skin and hair of the cow are cured to create a soft rug that retains the cow’s unique markings.
A cowhide rug will also retain most of the intact condition of the hide, giving a distinctive curved shape that sets it apart from other rugs that just have animal patterning on standard shapes. It’s also incredibly soft and pleasing underfoot.
Faux Cowhide Rug vs Real Cowhide Rug
One of the main benefits of a real cowhide rug is its complete uniqueness. Just as every cow has its own distinct hide with its own distinct markings, so does every cowhide rug. Thus, when you buy a real cowhide rug, you get a truly individual design piece.
A real cowhide rug will also be exceptionally durable in the same way that genuine leather is. It will most likely last longer than any other rug you own. Any unpleasant natural odour will have been removed from the cowhide during the curing and tanning process.
Faux cowhide rugs, also called fake cowhide rugs, give you much of the aesthetic of real cowhide rugs but are considered by some to be less cruel. Cowhide rugs are taken from cows that are already in the meat production process, so while if you’re a vegetarian you will naturally object to this, the animals are not slaughtered specifically for their hides.
Faux cowhide rugs will still look beautiful and most likely come at a more affordable price. They do not need as much maintenance as natural cowhide rugs. When cowhide rugs get very wet, or are exposed to high heat, they will lose their suppleness and will need to be restored. Luckily, there are many steps you can take to maintain a real cowhide rug’s quality and ensure its longevity.
Cowhide Rug Sizes Explained
Because of the irregular curved outline of a cowhide rug, it can be difficult to measure. Of course, it also depends on the size of the cow that it comes from. Typically, a small cowhide rug will be about 1-2 square metres while a large cowhide rug can reach up to 4.5 square metres. Some rugs can be even larger, created by combining two or more cowhides together.
How to Choose Your Cowhide Rug Size and Placement
As with any rug, it’s best practice to measure the room you intend to place the rug in before you buy. If you buy a cowhide rug that is too large, it could risk overpowering the room with its eye-catching patterning.
Think about the purpose you want for your rug: is it going to be the centrepiece of the room? Is it one small focal point in a decorative corner? Choose the size depending on this.
The curved lines of a cowhide rug can be used to offset a room filled with straight, angular lines, creating a pleasing softening effect for these blunt edges. If you opt for a real cowhide rug, these will perform well in high traffic areas like hallways and landings due to the strength and durability of the material.
Can You Put a Cowhide Rug Over Carpet?
Simply put, yes! A cowhide rug over a carpet can look very aesthetically pleasing with the mixture of materials creating a soft texture. A small cowhide rug underneath a coffee table in your living room, for example, creates a neat focal point and won’t look too overcrowded if the colours are neutral. A cowhide rug can also work well in a bedroom, creating a really cosy, sumptuous vibe.
While many people do opt to put cowhide rugs on a hardwood floor to extend a rustic theme, a cowhide rug on a carpet is beautiful, too.
Cowhide Rug Care Advice
General Cowhide Rug Cleaning Tips
To maintain its longevity and quality, cleaning your cowhide rug needs to be done with care. This can even just consist of taking your rug outside to shake out the dust and dirt.
To prevent the build-up of dirt and grit in your cowhide rug, regular light vacuuming should do the trick. Use the brush attachment to ensure your vacuum cleaner can get deep into the fibres and make sure to move in the direction in which the fur fibres naturally run.
Sometimes a cowhide rug can be folded in transit and arrive with creases. If you want to flatten out your cowhide rug, you can iron the leather side of it. Do this carefully and always ensure that the iron is in continual movement as the rug can be damaged by too much exposure to heat in any one place.
Can You Dry Clean a Cowhide Rug?
You cannot dry clean a cowhide rug. The chemicals will damage your cowhide rug and ruin it. Never wash your cowhide rug in a washing machine and don’t leave it to soak, as this will disrupt the tanning materials.
Regular maintenance as detailed in the section above is all your cowhide rug should need. You can invest in a fabric protector to guard against stains before they happen.
If you do find that your cowhide rug has become quite dirty, however, you can use a steam cleaner once in a while. Remove stains and spillages with the method below.
What to Do If You Spill Something on Your Cowhide Rug
If you spill something, like red wine, on your cowhide rug, you should deal with this straight away.
Soak up the excess liquid with a paper towel and then put a little shampoo or gentle household soap on a damp cloth to blot the spillage. Be careful to never use alkaline cleaning soap as this can damage the rug.
If you then apply a little vinegar to the area, this should guard against staining. A great tip for removing grease stains is to use Eucalyptus oil.
What Should You Place Under a Cowhide Rug?
If your cowhide rug is in an area with very little foot traffic, you most likely don’t need any kind of carpet underlay or rug pad, as its position won’t be disturbed much and can easily be rectified if it is.
If you want to put your cowhide rug in a place where it may be walked over, a simple carpet underlay will provide the perfect anti-slip solution. At Rugs Direct, we sell underlay for rugs placed on smooth floors and rugs placed on carpets. Each can be customised to fit the size of your rug, just contact our professional team to discuss any bespoke needs.
Our Range of Cowhide Rugs: Real and Faux
We are one of the leading online suppliers of quality rugs in the UK, with a commitment to only stocking the best. We cater to all needs and styles and are proud of our real and faux cowhide rug options.
Here are our top picks:
Black and White Cowhide Rugs
Rodeo Cowhide Rug
This Rodeo Cowhide Rug from Asiatic is the real deal. Sourced from only the finest Brazilian and Argentinian cow skins, these rugs are worth every penny. The approximate size is 180×230 but this can also vary. Along with every marking being different, this cowhide rug is truly one in a million.
This stunning rug could provide a softening touch to an uber-modern home or fit seamlessly in a more cosy, traditional home. The classic black and white colour scheme manages to look both contemporary and traditional, completely depending on the way you style it.
Or, if you are more interested in a black and white faux cowhide rug, this option from Think Rugs provides an affordable cowhide rug option that will still look luxurious in your home. The 100% polyester material and 5mm pile height is durable and deluxe.
Brown and White Cowhide Rugs
A brown and white cowhide rug like this Texas Faux Chesnut Rug from Asiatic is a timeless beauty. The delicate earthy hues would make an attractive extension of a more country-themed interior design and the quality material exudes elegance.
White and Grey Cowhide Rugs
A white and grey cowhide rug can look truly unique in your home. Grey is a gorgeous colour that can pair wonderfully with other neutral colours and brighter ones too. This Faux Animal Print rug from Think Rugs would fit beautifully in a modern or traditional home.
We Offer Free Delivery on Our Entire Range of Quality Rugs
We are one of the most trusted providers of high-quality rugs in the UK. With a commitment to hassle-free shopping, free delivery, and exceptionally competitive prices, a purchase from Rugs Direct is a dream.
You can browse our impressively large range of rugs by room, colour, size and style to find the perfect one to transform your interior design. And if you’re looking for something bespoke, just get in contact with our friendly team who will be only too happy to help.