Cowhide rugs are fast becoming the latest trend in rug fashion. In some ways, they can be thought of as a recycled product as the hides come from beef producers. In times past, the cowhides would have been discarded and unused, but in today's society where the importance is on recycling and making the best use of every resource, cowhides can now add a dimension to that.

You will want to consider a number of factors before deciding where to purchase a cowhide rug and what kind of rug is going to suit your needs best.

1. Where did the cowhide originate? Was the animal bred for the specific purpose of providing meat?

Every cowhide rug is unique, because .. . every cowhide is unique. The size, shape, and colour will all vary, if purchased naturally. Most cowhide rugs are manufactured from animals that have been used for meat. In that sense, the cowhide rug is the secondary purpose for the animal. Farmers that breed cattle for the beef aren't concerned with how the cowhide is kept or maintained.

2. What are the exact measurements of the hide? Is it going to fit the location you have in mind for it?

Determining where the cowhide originated can affect the quality, shape, and size of the rug. You will need to know the exact measurements, or as close to exact as you can get from such a natural rug that will inevitably vary in size, in order to determine the placement for our purchase. You need to have a plan in mind for the rug's use before you can expertly decide on a selection.

3. What method was used to treat the cowhide? Were chemicals or a natural method applied?

This is a very important question to learn the answer to. Cowhides can be treated using a variety of different methods and you will want to pose this question, to be sure, before you make a decision. Did the treatment method apply chemicals or an all-natural solution to preserve the cowhide? Many distributors claim that using chromium to treat the hides is the best method because chromium will prevent the hide from cracking in the future and will give it a longer, more flexible lasting quality. Other distributors prefer using natural oils to soften the hide, which means less chemical were used on the cowhide but it may also shorten the length of time that the cowhide will last. You will need to research this issue and weigh in with your own personal preferences and opinions.

Cowhide rugs are gaining popularity and are increasingly being used to spice up the interior design of a room. Cowhide rugs can be dyed to affect almost any design pattern you can imagine and can be matched to complement and accentuate your existing furnishings. In fact, natural cowhides are being dyed to look like zebra or tiger rugs, which have always been popular, but using cowhides does not lead to the deaths of endangered animals. Many South American and South African countries provide the majority of cowhides for use, as their beef industries are very large and, therefore, lead to a large quantity of cowhides needing to find a useful purpose.