I love a great cowhide rug, but not the price tag that comes with them. I found a solution though with this faux cowhide rug I made for only $15. All you’ll need is some faux cowhide fabric and a few other things to make your own!
I have been lusting after a cowhide rug for quite some time. The cowhide lampshade I made just wasn’t enough. I needed more.
Honestly, I don’t know why I don’t already have one. As a girl who has spent the better part of her life around cows, how in the world I don’t already have my very own cowhide is beyond me.
I have talked with my uncle about this problem, who is a cattle farmer. He has promised me that the next time a cow goes to the slaughterhouse, he will have them save the hide and we will tan it for a rug.
Now that the whole world knows of his promise, I feel he must carry through on it. Don’t you think so?
Talk about a great DIY post – tanning your own cow hide – that should be interesting.
So, dear uncle, if you are reading this post, you are not off the hook just because I made a DIY version.
For now though, this faux cow rug will have to suffice.
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Fake Cowhide Rug Tutorial
The tutorials I have seen for DIY any-type-of-hide rugs have required painting on the pattern of the hide.
People, I can paint a wall, a piece of furniture, or faux moldings like nobody’s business.
Freehand the pattern on a hide? Houston, we have a problem.
So, when I had fabric left over from my cowhide lampshade, I saw the sign….. and it opened up my eyes.
Did you catch that Ace of Base reference?
I didn’t have a large piece of fabric left over, so I opted for a small version of a cowhide rug. However, you can make your rug any size you wish – just buy enough cow print fabric to do so.
Supplies & Materials Needed:
- Faux Cowhide Fabric – I used this one.
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Polycrylic
Steps
Step 1
Lay out your fabric, animal printed side facing down.
For reference, my fabric was 62 inches x 59.5 inches. Again though, you can go as big as the fabric will let you.
Step 2
Pull up a real cowhide rug that you like online (I just did a Google search for one). Use the photo from online to sketch out the shape on your fabric – be sure to do this on the back! I would suggest doing this with a pencil, a real pencil, not a mechanical pencil. I didn’t have a real pencil on hand, only a mechanical pencil and that didn’t work, so I used a black marker.
It’s really not rocket science, folks. This isn’t hard at all and since you’re sketching on the back of the faux cow hide, there’s room for error.
Step 3
Once you’ve got it all sketched out, cut it out with sharp scissors.
Step 4
If you plan on putting this in a low traffic area, you could flip it over and stop right here.
But, if you plan on putting it in a higher traffic area, you want to protect the top of the rug from dirt and easily tearing. To protect mine, I flipped it cow print side up, stuck cardboard gift boxes under it, and rolled on a couple coats of Polycrylic.
I let it dry for a couple of days, then put it in my vintage-modern-rustic living room where it fits in perfectly.
I really like the two different rug patterns working with each other.
Is there a faux cow rug in your future?
I think ours should work until the uncle comes through.
Love a great rug hack?
Be sure to check out these 14 painted rug hacks then!
Here’s a cool way to upgrade an astroturf rug too!
And don’t miss my trick for keeping rugs from sliding here!
Want to come back for the instructions later? Just pin the image below then!
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Phyllis says
Gosh, would you like a real horse hair blanket (including the mane) to go with your “cowhide” rug? I just found one in my late father’s basement and almost passed out when I saw the mane. It made a great, warm buggy blanket, I suppose, but somehow it just didn’t seem right….
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Wow, Phyllis, I’m with you on that one – it doesn’t really seem right!
[email protected] says
Such a cool idea! Love it!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Julia!
Angela (Life in Velvet) says
I’m gonna need one of these! So awesome you had enough fabric left over to make a fabulous rug! I just pinned! This needs to live in my office!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Angela! I know – I was psyched when I had enough fabric left over!
Trina @ Let's Just Build a House says
I want a cow hide rug too but Adam always tells me are aren’t those kind of people…what does that mean??
Anyway, you DIY one is something I think he could live with..and I could do!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Trina, I don’t know what that means, but I would totally overrule it! haha! Make one and see how he likes it – Grunt Labor used to say something similar about the buck head in our living room and he has come to like it!
Krista @the happy housie says
Very cute Jenna! I thought about painting one but your way seems easier:) Thanks for putting that Ace of Base song in my head…
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Love some vintage Ace of Base! haha! I could never paint one – I am just not that talented!
Emily @ Two Purple Couches says
Um, you’re amazing to make this out of FABRIC! Love it!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
No, Emily, as always, I’m cheap. Dirt cheap. hahaha! Thanks, gal!
Emily @ Two Purple Couches says
Cheap, Fabulous. Tomato, To-mah-to. 😉
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
haha!
Heather {Woods of Bell Trees} says
What a cool idea! Haha, I love Ace of Base!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Heather! I love me some Ace of Base too!
Erin @ DIY on the Cheap says
How fun! And love your Ace of Base reference. 😉
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Erin. Yea, My brain is essentially a catalog of song lyrics! haha!
Jamie says
This is amazing!! Love it 😉
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Jamie!
Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says
Very cool, Jenna! I love it!
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Megan!
[email protected] says
Looks great…I would have never thought it was fabric! I wonder if you could sew/iron on backing to make it thicker? You got me thinking about possible rug options in my house now.
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
I totally think you could do that, Ashley!
Robin All Things Heart and Home says
You just keep hitting home runs with your project Jenna…another great idea! Love it~
Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says
Thanks, Robin! You are totally boosting my ego by like a million with all your sweet comments!
Vanessa says
Since I’m guessing a real cow-hide rug is probably crazy expensive, this is a clever alternative! I would imagine this could also be made in a washable version so those of us with grubby kids and pets can have a no stress cow-hide!
Christina Woodcock says
I am so glad I found this post on a Link Party over at Faeries and Fauna! I just finished a living room renovation and have been pricing faux cowhide rugs. I repurpose furniture and old home decor, so I wanted everything (except for my sofa, of course) to be repurposed or made! And I am going to definitely try this. Thank you for sharing Jenna!
Benita says
You did a great job…I love it! Thank you so much for sharing at Celebrate Your Story! I will be featuring your project Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. CST. Thanks again! Hugs!
Julie Briones says
Super smart idea, and love how it adds texture to your room (and I love layering rugs)! So happy to have you at Tuesday Turn About! Hope to see you each week!