Rugs constitute just one category of products that can be produced from cowhides.
Other cowhide products include ottomans, placemats, jackets, purses, table runners, bags, pillows, etc.
Cowhide, like several other forms of hides, is a by-product of the animal industry derived by skinning killed animals and subjecting the skin through various processes, making them appropriate for human use.
One of the widest uses of cowhide is the production of cowhide rugs.
One vital production process is tanning which is aimed at softening the hide and making it less prone to moulting.
This ensures that the hide lasts longer, and so will the product that will be made from it.
Looking for great alternatives to carpets and traditional rugs? Cowhides will rock your world.
They are probably the most widely used types of rugs, looking expensive but at the same time feeling causal.
Cowskin rugs are trending nowadays so much that any modern interior decoration looks incomplete without at least one cowhide.
Most furniture and decor are inspired by the cowhide look and feel.
The texture of cowskin rugs adds up to the wide variety of colours and patterns to provide a fun-looking luxurious blend and safari experience to any living space.
The best quality hides are usually used in their natural colours and generally sourced form South America, while the lower quality ones are very thin and light weight.
You can now also buy really cool hides that have been dyed or painted to mimic the designs and colour patterns on animals like the tiger, jaguar, giraffe, zebra, etc.
These modifications give rise to three types of natural cowhide rugs; patchwork cowhide, dyed cowhide and printed cowhide rugs.
Patchwork rugs are usually made from patches of cowhide sewn together.
These patches are usually leftovers from whole hide after trimming.
The patches can be arranged and sewn to form any shape, the most common being the rectangle and the carousel.
Dyed cowhide rugs are cowhide rugs whose colours have been slightly modified via dyeing.
Printed cowhide rugs are very interesting in the sense that any animal or design can be printed or handcrafted on them.
For every owner, cleaning a cowhide rug is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly if he/she wants to preserve it and enjoy its beauty for a very long time.
It is imperative to routinely perform common cleaning tasks, the most common being gentle vacuuming with a soft-bristle brush add-on attached to the vacuum cleaner.
Occasionally, the method of vigorously shaking the rug outdoors should be applied.
An extra advantage of using this old-fashioned cleaning method is that it gives one the opportunity to also clean the underside of the rug.
More thorough and careful cleaning techniques should be employed in cases of spills.
Gentle stroking, following the grain of hair, with damp cloth and mild soap will allow the cloth pick up the spill.
The cloth should be constantly rinsed and the process repeated over and over until the soap is completely removed.
Air drying within 24 hours completes the cleaning process.
This is achieved by simply elevating the spill area to prevent direct contact with the floor and exposing it to constant air flow.
Since every cattle is unique in the distribution of colours and spots over its skin, natural cowhide rugs are also unique and no two can ever be the same.
This uniqueness gives the owner the feeling that their rug is not just another rug.
Creative decorators don't limit cowhide rugs to floors and walls only.
They also look great on doors, furniture like couches and tables, and even on ceilings.
With the right cowhide rug on the right spot, your living space can never be the same again.
A well decorated living space contributes greatly in reducing stress and helps you relax at length indoors.