There are different materials used in the making of rugs. Even though the most common rug materials are wool, cotton, and silk that are used for area oriental rugs, there is also hide (cowhide) that’s also a thing when it comes to rugs. Here are the pros and cons of hide rugs you should consider before buying.
What Are The Pros Of Cowhide Rugs
They’re Durable
This might surprise you but the soft and hairy hide of animals is super durable and great for rugs. Whether it’s high foot traffic, frequent spills, or even regular vacuuming, you better believe that this material isn’t budging anytime soon. With their natural stain-repellent characteristic, self-cushioning ability, soft yet strong surface, and unforgettable elasticity, hide rugs are perfect if you want to hit the target of beautification as well as longevity.
If you have a pet, you don’t need to fret at all because hide rugs are resistant to paw fights, teething, and even the playful drags. Compared to synthetic rugs, which can wither away really easily and aren’t all that amazing when it comes to stain resistance and holding their ground in the durability game, cowhide rugs are in the lead.
They Have Hypoallergenic Properties
Rugs are a huge problem for people with allergies yielding the warning “Bacteria Thriving Catalyst” all in capital letters. Well, the same isn’t true about cowhide rugs. With that being said though, putting a rug that’s all hide and hairs might not sound pleasing at all, especially to the frequent sneezers.
Here’s a small science lesson that will help you understand the mechanism of hide rugs and how they promote hypoallergenic properties. For starters, the hairs on the rug are a blessing in disguise as they don’t let any pathogen or bacteria thrive inside the rug and whatever dust or debris collects on the rug, it can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or simply by shaking the rug.
Other rugs made out of synthetic materials have thicker fibers and these are what essentially trap bacteria inside the rug and that action ultimately flares up your allergies.
Easy To Maintain
As far as clean-up is concerned, cowhide rugs won’t give you a hard time at all. These rugs are easy to clean and just a simple vacuum is enough to make the rug dust-free and spotless in no time.
Every Rug Is Different
This might be a good or bad thing depending on how you perceive it. As you might have a solid idea already, no two cow hides will ever be the same even if they’re sourced from the same breed at the same time. That’s just the beauty of Mother Nature.
Some people think that it is a unique quality of hide rugs, while others who are matching freaks, tend to find it distasteful because they want rugs that are mirror images of each other. Well, with natural rugs made of cowhide, that won’t be possible.
Naturally Sustainable
Hide rugs produce only half of industrial waste that synthetic rugs produce during manufacturing. This is a fact that makes hide rugs a good choice. Yes, they are sourced from animals (which may not be preferable for many people), but the rest of the process is pretty natural if you leave the tanning process out.
Synthetic rugs, on the other side of the spectrum, deteriorate the environment. Because of the way they’re made, the materials that are used and considering the fact that they’re not biodegradable at all, make them all the worse.
As mentioned earlier, in cowhide rug making, only tanning is a damaging process to the environment. Other than that, these rugs are pretty inert.
They’re Insulators Of Heat
If you’re looking for a rug that will keep your feet and floors warm, then hide rugs will save the day. Especially in the dead cold of winter, when the floors are just as cold as the outdoors, you don’t want to shock your feet with the chilling temperatures. Hide rugs are natural heat trappers and they will cozy up your floor like no fireplace can.
Imagine putting your feet down on the warm and soft cowhide rug and relishing the warmth and cozy feeling of the material.
UV Protection At Its Best
The durability of hide rugs isn’t a bluff. Cowhide rugs are long-lasting, through and through in every sense of the word. If you think that your cowhide rug is going to fade in color over time, then you couldn’t be more wrong. These rugs have built-in UV protection that keeps the color vibrant and potent for longer. You can even put them in rooms with abundant natural light, with no worries in the back of your mind regarding the fading of color. Cowhide rugs will keep their vibrancy for years.
What Are The Cons Of Cowhide Rugs
They’re Not Cheap
As much as they might sound perfect, hide rugs aren’t the best when it comes to your wallet. They pack a pricey punch that is going to knock your wallet out. Because these rugs are naturally sourced and aren’t made in mass quantities in factories, they’re going to run a bit pricey. A decent-sized hide rug will cost you anywhere from $160 to $400 and that’s a pretty hefty price tag as compared to other synthetic rugs.
Yes, cowhide rugs are not as expensive as natural wool oriental and Persian rugs that are typically found in the thousand-dollar club, however, they’re still pretty hefty considering that you’re paying for what’s essentially a tanned hide.
Questionable Ethics
This might seem like an ongoing debate, but it has become an important one ever since the revolution of ethics and practices of killing animals for human beings have been discouraged across the globe. More often than not, cowhides are not ethically sourced. Cows are slaughtered for their hides and that’s very alarming.
However, some retailers promise that the rugs are made from hides that have been slaughtered for meat or sustenance. Regardless of the fact, there is still killing of animals involved, all for making a single rug that will be a beautifying element for someone’s house. There is something wrong with this statement and this very fact prevents people from buying these rugs.
They’re Not Vegan
Veganism has been becoming more and more popular among the masses and while it is for a good and ethical reason, hide rugs don’t fall under the same category. Even though the sourcing practices are getting better, there is still slaughtering of animals involved in the making of these rugs and according to vegans, that’s not something they condone.
Synthetic rugs, on the other hand, are vegan and they lie perfectly parallel to the practices and ethical codes of this vast group of people. Hence, cowhide rugs lose some of their appeal.
Conclusion
Hide rugs are a wonderful and natural addition to your home décor bringing forth qualities of durability, style, and ease of cleaning. However, there is killing of animals involved in sourcing the raw material for hide rugs. You can find many beautiful silk and wool tribal rugs Virginia as well if you’re not okay with cowhide rugs.
