Decorating Guides
Cowhide in Decorating a Home
Cowhide is making a comeback. It's not the traditional cowhide that you're used to seeing in a home. Instead, it's colorful cowhide mostly in the form of furnishings that is part of a larger design trend known as cowboy-chic.
This new form of cowhide might be the hottest thing in homes today. However, there is still value in traditional cowhide furnishings. Cowhide rugs, cowhide furniture and decor inspired by the cowhide look and feel are all options for the modern home.
Cowhide can add warmth, texture, luxury, patterns, color and a sense of fun to a room. A rich brown and white cowhide rug in front of a fireplace sends one message; a modern table upholstered in black and white cowhide sends another.
This isn't a design option for the shy but it's definitely one that's worth testing out in your home.
This new form of cowhide might be the hottest thing in homes today. However, there is still value in traditional cowhide furnishings. Cowhide rugs, cowhide furniture and decor inspired by the cowhide look and feel are all options for the modern home.
Cowhide can add warmth, texture, luxury, patterns, color and a sense of fun to a room. A rich brown and white cowhide rug in front of a fireplace sends one message; a modern table upholstered in black and white cowhide sends another.
This isn't a design option for the shy but it's definitely one that's worth testing out in your home.
The cowhide rug is the most common place that cowhide is used in the home. I love the way it's paired with the equally bold nature patterned wall to create a space that is unlike any other.
This is a great example of how the cowhide rug can complement the most eclectic of rooms. It's an interesting pattern but a fairly simplistic one so it doesn't compete with the rest of the attention-getting decor.
Here's a great example of how a brown and white cowhide rug can be a really rich addition to a totally lush room. This bedroom is done in browns and golds so that you notice the colors of the rug more than any type of print.
In contrast to the last image, it is the print of the cowhide rug that you notice in this bedroom. That's because the rest of the bedroom is so simple in design. The print adds to the texture of the space.
Design Within Reach - lounge
A cowhide rug doesn't have to be printed. I love this option that is more modern and upscale in appearance than some of the other cowboy-chic styles.
The cowhide rug is the most popular option but it doesn't have to be the only way that cowhide shows up in your house. I love the fun twist that this cowhide table puts on this neutral living room design.
Here's another look at that exact same cowhide table. Here we see how it can be paired with leather and wood decor to create a very solid masculine look for the home.
Cowhide can inspire your design without being the actual texture that you use. This cow print bathtub is a great example of that although the cow on the wall might be a bit much for most homes!
A cowhide rug would go great in this room where there are minimal cowboy-style influences scattered about. The cow's head on the wall and the Western-style rugs help to set the tone for a space where cowhide would work well.
The space behind your bed is an unusual choice for the placement of cowhide but it could be a good one. Consider hanging a large piece of cowhide here as a starting point for decorating the room.