A faux cowhide rug that goes in the washing machine

A cowhide rug is one of the most recognizable rugs in interior design: an irregular, hide-shaped rug in black and white or brown and white patches, laid casually across a living room floor. Ours give you that look in faux. They're printed edge to edge on soft velvet and cut to the outline of a hide, so no animal is involved, the patches can be any colors you like and, unlike a real cowhide, the whole rug goes in your washing machine. If you prefer a cleaner shape, we also make cow print rugs as rectangles and rounds.

Faux cowhide versus real cowhide

	Real cowhide	Our faux cowhide
Material	A tanned hide with hair	Printed velvet, no animal involved
Washing	Not machine washable; shake out, spot clean, professional cleaning	Machine wash on a gentle, cold cycle
Pattern	Unique to each animal, limited to natural colors	Any pattern, any colors, including pink or pastel
Size	Often larger, roughly 6 to 7 ft across	Shaped from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm), rectangles up to 5×7 ft
Feel	Short, smooth hair with natural texture	Soft velvet, smooth and even

Unlike a real hide, a printed cow rug can have a straight, even edge in any rectangle size, or be cut to an organic hide shape.

To be clear about size: our largest shaped rug, about 5.2×5.9 ft (160×180 cm) or 5′3″ × 5′11″, is smaller than many full real cowhides. If you need a larger piece, a 5×7 ft rectangle or a custom size up to 5′11″ × 10′ covers more floor.

Classic cowhide patterns

Real cowhides vary by breed, and our prints draw on the best-known looks:

• Black and white, the bold patches of the Holstein, the dairy breed that originated in the Netherlands and northern Germany. The most graphic and the most recognized.
• Brown and white, warm and natural, easy to live with, lovely with wood and leather.
• Reddish brown with white, inspired by Hereford cattle, rich and ranch-like.
• Brindle, subtle stripes of brown, tan and black, quieter and more textured.
• Tan and cream, a soft, neutral look for calm rooms.

No two patterns alike

Just as no two zebras share the same stripes, no two Holstein cows share the same patches; each animal's black and white pattern is its own, which is part of why real cowhides are so individual. Our faux cowhides are designed with that same irregular, natural rhythm, so they never look like a repeating wallpaper print.

Cow print in fashion

Cow print has had several moments in the spotlight: in western wear and rodeo style, in playful 1990s fashion and, more recently, in the cowgirl-inspired trend that brought cowboy boots, fringe and cow print back into bedrooms and wardrobes. On a rug, the print carries that fun, relaxed energy into a room without needing anything else to match.

Pink and pastel cow print

Cow print has had a playful revival in recent years, especially in pink and pastel tones: pink patches on white, lilac on cream, or brown on a soft pink ground. It's a favorite for teens' bedrooms, dorm rooms and the cowgirl-inspired look, and it pairs well with checkered bedding, white furniture and fairy lights. For more sweet designs, see our cute rugs.

Hide-shaped, rectangular or round

A hide-shaped faux cowhide, with its irregular, organic outline, is the classic and the most relaxed: laid at an angle across a living room or in front of a fireplace, it looks effortless. A rectangular cow print rug is cleaner and easier to place under a coffee table, a bed or a desk. A round cow print rug, from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm), is an unexpected, playful choice for a reading corner or a kid's room. Our round rugs page shows each size in a room.

In the living room

A faux cowhide in the living room works in almost any style: in a ranch or western home with leather sofas and wood beams, in a farmhouse room with white walls and linen, in a mid-century room with walnut and simple shapes, or in a minimal modern room as the one organic element. Laying it at an angle, rather than square to the sofa, gives the relaxed look most people love. For the softest feel underfoot, choose Premium, 7 mm plush velvet on a bamboo and cotton back, about 700 g/m². Our living room rugs page has more layouts.

Layering a cowhide

Designers often layer a cowhide over a larger rug, jute, sisal, a plain wool-look rug or even a vintage-style pattern. It adds warmth and shape without covering the whole floor, and it's a great solution in a large room where a single rug would feel too small. A 3.9 to 5.2 ft (120 to 160 cm) hide-shaped rug is the best size for layering.

Western and ranch style

Cowhide is at the heart of western and ranch interiors, alongside leather, worn wood, wrought iron, wool blankets and a few longhorn or horseshoe accents. A brown and white or Hereford-style faux cowhide in front of a stone fireplace is the classic picture. For more designs in that spirit, see our western rugs.

In the bedroom

Beside a bed, a hide-shaped cow print rug is a soft, warm first step in the morning and a relaxed, characterful touch. Black and white suits a modern bedroom; brown suits a rustic one; pink suits a playful one. Our bedroom rugs page has more ideas.

Kitchens and entryways

A small cow print rug in a farmhouse kitchen, in front of the sink or the island, is a cheerful nod to country life, and spills come out in the wash. Inside the front door, a 2×3 or 2.6×3.9 ft rug makes a warm welcome; our rugs are for indoor use, so keep it inside rather than out in the weather. For both, choose Standard: 5 mm crushed velvet on a non-slip faux leather back, about 500 g/m², which grips the floor. Our kitchen rugs have more ideas.

Nurseries and kids' rooms

Cow print is a natural fit for a farm-themed nursery or a child's room, especially in soft brown or pastel tones. A hide-shaped rug makes a cozy spot for floor play, and it pairs well with barn and farm animal prints on the walls. Choose Premium for tummy time and Standard's non-slip back once your child starts walking on a smooth floor. Our kids and nursery rugs have more ideas.

Highland cows

If you love cows themselves, not just their patches, Highland cows, the Scottish breed with long, shaggy ginger coats and wide horns, have become one of the most popular animals in home decor. A Highland cow rug, the shaggy face peering out from under its fringe, is a cozy, cheerful design for a living room, a farmhouse kitchen or a child's room. For more animal characters, see our animal rugs.

Mixing cow print with other patterns

Cow print pairs well with checks, plaids, stripes and simple florals, and with other animal prints when the colors are related. A black and white cowhide with a checkered throw, or a brown cowhide with a plaid wool blanket, feels layered and warm. For more animal designs, see our zebra rugs, leopard rugs and the full range of animal print rugs, and for checks, our checkered rugs.

Pets

A faux cowhide is a practical choice with pets: the patchy pattern helps disguise a little hair between cleanings, there's no real hide for a dog to chew, and the whole rug goes in the washing machine when it needs it. On a smooth floor, choose Standard so it stays put when your pet runs across it.

Your own pattern

Want a faux cowhide in your own colors, or patches arranged a particular way? Our custom rugs can print any cow print in any colors, in any size up to 5′11″ × 10′, or cut to a hide shape. Custom rugs are made just for you and can't be returned.

Standard or Premium

Standard is best for kitchens, entryways, hallways, under desk chairs and anywhere with a hard or slippery floor, because its non-slip back stays put. Premium is softer and warmer, best in living rooms, bedrooms and nurseries. Both are printed the same way, so the patches stay crisp, and both go in the washing machine.

Sizes, shipping and returns

Hide-shaped rugs come from 2.6×2.6 up to 5.2×5.9 ft (80×80 to 160×180 cm). Rectangles come in 2×3, 2.6×3.9, 3.3×5, 4×6 and 5×7 ft. Round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across. Custom sizes go up to 5′11″ × 10′. Every rug is printed to order in 1–3 business days and ships from Turkey; US delivery usually takes 2–5 business days after that. Unused rugs can be returned within 30 days on US orders; custom rugs can't be returned.

Care

Machine wash on a gentle, cold cycle and let it air dry flat. Vacuum on a low setting between washes, and blot spills with cold water right away. The design is printed into the fibers, so the whites stay bright and the patches stay sharp, with none of the special care a real hide needs.

Breeds and their coats

Cow print usually means the black-and-white patches of the Holstein, the dairy breed seen on farms across America, but cattle come in many other coats. Herefords are deep red with a white face, Jerseys are a soft fawn brown with dark eyes, and Brown Swiss are an even, mousy gray-brown. The Belted Galloway, nicknamed the Oreo cow, is black with a single wide white band around its middle, and Texas Longhorns are often speckled or splashed in red, white and cream.

Each one inspires a different rug. A Holstein print is crisp and classic for a modern farmhouse kitchen. A Hereford's red and white feels warm and western in a den. A Jersey's fawn tones make a soft, neutral rug for a living room, and a Belted Galloway stripe, black, white, black, is graphic enough for a Scandinavian-style bedroom.

For a rancher or a farm family, a rug in the coat of their own herd makes a personal gift, especially with the ranch's brand or name worked into one corner.