Dare To Layer Cowhide Rugs For Rich Living Room Texture

Adding texture and dimension to a living room helps create an inviting, layered look. An easy way to bring in natural texture is with cowhide rugs. Known for their durable yet cozy texture, cowhides make ideal living room rugs that stand up well to foot traffic while upping the style quotient.

By layering cowhide rugs over more subtle sisal or jute rugs, you can define sitting areas with eye-catching organic texture. The contrast and interplay between sleek and natural textures is bold yet comfortable. Dare to double up your living room rugs and bring in rich, customizable texture with a cowhide rug layer.

Cowhide Rug Basics

Before layering them, let's understand what cowhide rugs are and their key traits that make them work layered in living rooms.

What is a Cowhide Rug

Cowhide rugs are made from the tanned skins and hides of cows. They display the unique patterning and markings of the animal's hide. Cowhides come in both genuine leather as well as faux polyester materials.

Genuine leather cowhides offer an organic, natural texture that faux materials have difficulty replicating. The hides come in a range of colors like black, brown, grey and cream. Consider sourcing ethically harvested hides.

Key Characteristics

Cowhide rugs are defined by certain characteristics that make them suitable for layering:

• Dimensions: Come in a range of sizes from smaller throws to 8 x 10 full rug hides
• Texture: Natural rough texture from the hide's leather
• Patterns: Display the skin's unique markings and color variations
• Colors: Range from black to brown to grey and white hides

These traits give cowhide rugs visual interest and textural appeal. Their organic patterns and neutral color ranges help them complement both rustic and polished rooms.

Sourcing Genuine Cowhides

Genuine leather cowhide rugs come from tanning cow skins harvested from ranches and farms. Selecting ethically and sustainably harvested hides ensures cows are treated humanely and not harmed simply for their skin.

The cowhide is professionally tanned or cured to prevent decaying. Quality tanning also helps retain the hide's inherent suppleness and texture, preventing stiffness over time.

Layering Rug Technique

Layering rugs involves placing one rug atop another to create more visual interest and texture. Typically a foundational neutral rug is topped with a rug that makes a style statement, like a cowhide.

What Layering Involves

Rug layering simply means using one rug as a base layer and topping it with a second contrasting rug as the focal point. This allows each layer to stand out individually.

Base Layer Rug Options

Good base layer rugs for cowhide tops include:

• Jute: Natural woven texture
• Sisal: Understated and durable
• Flatweave: Simple, muted patterns
• Shag: Plush solids to contrast the cowhide

These affordable and neutral foundation rugs allow the cowhide texture to take center stage when layered above them.

Top Layer Possibilities

As a rustic yet versatile top layer over more basic rugs, cowhide rugs add styling flair through:

• Natural texture
• Inherently durable leather
• Unique patterning

Cowhides steal focus as a top rug layer. Other materials like wool or cotton work too but lack cowhide's hardwearing texture.

Arranging Tips and Tricks

A few simple techniques create a seamless layered rug look:

• Use a pad under the base rug for stability
• Size top cowhide slightly smaller than bottom rug
• Align patterns symmetrically for visual balance

Well-arranged layered rugs appear almost as one integrated piece. Clever proportioning and positioning makes all the difference.

Layered Cowhide Living Room Inspiration

Seeing model spaces showcasing cowhide rugs layered over foundational jute or sisal rugs provides plenty of decorator inspiration. Observe how the textural contrast makes a statement.

Boho Glam Texture

Global style cowhide patterns offer plenty of bohemian flavor layered over flatweave rugs. Pair with sheepskins and linen textures for an earthy glam living room.

Defining A Sitting Area

Placing cowhide rugs inset atop larger jute rugs outlines a cozy conversational area within a larger living space. This area rug effect defines specific functions.

Contrasting Textures

Mixing sleek glass and metal furnishings with the organic cowhide rug textures makes layers stand out boldly. The interplay is striking and warm despite the contrasts.

High Traffic Durability

Cowhides stand up to heavy foot traffic well, making them suitable for high movement living rooms or entryways. Kids and pets won't easily damage these hardy hides.

Luxurious Style Pop

Inject a luxurious style element into even minimalist spaces by layering cowhides over wool or sisal rug bases. The hides add texture without overpowering.

Customized To Your Style

Whether your living room is traditional, modern, eclectic or industrial, layering a textural cowhide rug inserts customizable character. Match any existing room style effortlessly.

Tips For Styling Layered Cowhide Living Rooms

Some simple decor tips will help pull layered cowhide living rooms together stylishly.

What to Combine With Hides

Complement cowhide textures using natural linen, cotton and sheepskin accents. Wood furniture also offsets the hides attractively. Let the patterns shine.

Complementary Accents

Tie everything together through pillows and poufs picking out colors and patterns from the cowhide rugs. Use furniture upholstery that harmonizes too for a collected room.

Transitional Layering Approach

Ease a bolder layered rug look in gradually starting with foundational jute or sisal. Add the cowhide layer later once the base layer has been appreciated on its own initially.

Dare to double up your living room rugs by layering cowhide over more subtle foundations. Define sitting spaces and channel texture through rug layers working in harmony. Tying decor together with complementary accents grounds layered rugs' daring style for the ultimate in rich living room decoration.

For those seeking to customize their living room with natural texture or to designate an area with a durable rug, cowhide layers deliver. Visually alluring yet highly functional for withstanding foot traffic these cowhide living room rug ideas offer plenty of versatile style in any space. Simply layer cowhide over sisal or jute and watch warmth and texture transform your living room instantly.