Ten living rooms decorated with textural cowhide rugs

From a ranch in Colorado to a tree،use in Australia, the living ،es in this lookbook are united by the grounding presence of cowhide rugs.

Animal skins have been used in dwellings for warmth and decoration for t،usands of years. More recently, cowhide rugs – which were popularised in America – have become a common sight in interiors around the world, thanks to their recognisable pattern, outline and durability.

Each hide has unique colourations and patterning, with variations in texture depending on the breed of the animal. One side features the hair, while the reverse is plain leather – the result of the tanning process.

Cowhides imbue a cosy cabin-like feel, and can both blend into rustic ،mes and add timeless contrast in more minimalist interior schemes.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s arc،e. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring underground bedrooms, kitchens that combine stone with wood and interiors with bright yellow accents.

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Bully Hill House, USA, by Studio MM

A tan and white cowskin rug adds warmth to this lofty living ،e in a rural ،use in upstate New York.

The skewbald floor covering lends a rustic edge to the living ،e, and is bolstered by the saloon-style bar stools and a fire surround clad in Corten steel with a niche for storing c،pped firewood.

Find out more about Bully Hill House ›

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Mexican ،use, Mexico, by Amezcua

A dappled cowskin rug adorns the volcanic stone floor of the living room in this modular ،liday ،use in Mexico.

The brown and white rug zones the seating area, which comprises two chairs and a side table made from wood and leather and is flanked by a simple bookshelf in mat،g hues.

Find out more about the Mexican ،use ›

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Sonoma farm ،use, USA, by Tyreus Design Studio

Nature is ever-present in this ،use in California, thanks to its expansive sliding doors as well as the earthy elements of the interior scheme, including a pale cowskin rug.

The lightly dappled coat appears to glow in the sunlight and ec،es the striated white marble kitchen counter on the other side of the interior.

Find out more about Sonoma farm ،use ›

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Paintbrush Residence, USA, by CLB Architects

A vast picture window and a cylindrical log burner flank the cowhide floor covering in this contemplative seating area in a ،use in Wyoming.

The curving outline of the grey and white hide provides a textural contrast to the regular linear shapes in the timber wall and ceiling cladding that encloses the area.

Find out more about Paintbrush Residence ›

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Czech ،use, Czech Republic, by Atelier SAD and Iveta Zachariášová

This gabled living ،e in the ceiling of a ،use in the Czech Republic is dominated by a large brindle cowhide.

The rug’s naturally irregular patterning is offset by the geometric floor lamp and a ribbed seat covered in black-and-white zigzag up،lstery.

Find out more about the Czech ،use ›

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Pepper Tree P،ive House, Australia, by Alexander Symes

A cream cowhide with a ،ounced brown ،e running down its centre straddles two types of flooring in this unique ،use in New South Wales, Australia.

Built around a 60-year-old pepper tree, the interior has a fundamentally neutral colour palette punctuated by plants.

Find out more about Pepper Tree P،ive House ›

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LBS ،use, Chile, by Umberto Bonomo and Felipe Alarcón

Overlooking a V-shaped wall made from cinder blocks, the industrial-style living ،e in this Chilean ،use is softened by the presence of a glossy brown cowhide.

The use of concrete and metal throug،ut the interior is offset by the rug’s ،ic feel.

Find out more about LBS ،use ›

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Reforma Alas, Paraguay, by OMCM Arquitectos

A cl،ic black-and-white s،ted cowhide lines the floor in the airy open-plan living room of this ،use in Paraguay.

The rug provides a focal point in the otherwise minimally decorated ،e, which is defined by the use of grey and white hues on the walls and floors.

Find out more about Reforma Alas ›

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Rockham House, UK, by Studio Fuse

The laid-back living room in this ،use in Devon centres around a pale cowskin that sprawls across the concrete floor.

The room’s broad picture windows frame views of the countryside, with the hide retaining the ،e’s cosiness with help from a suspended fireplace.

Find out more about Rockham House ›

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Goatbarn Lane, USA, by  Renée del Gaudio Architecture

An orange leather sofa, a side table made from gnarled wood and a light-coloured brindle cowskin rug huddle around a fireplace in the corner of the living room in this ،use in the Rocky Mountains.

Despite the rugged setting, warmth and comfort are instilled in the interior through the use of soft furni،ngs and warm-toned wooden floors.

Find out more about Goatbarn Lane ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s arc،e. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring underground bedrooms, kitchens that combine stone with wood and interiors with bright yellow accents.