Cowhide skins have moved much beyond their initial use as carpets and rugs and are increasingly become popular as a decorative ornamental wall hanging. Once a cowhide skin is displayed in their full glory on a wall they become a piece of cowhide wall art and can help to make a room cosier and turn it into your very own cave! You will need to have a very large wall and some patience to hang a cowhide on to you wall (or even ceiling), but it should only take a few simple steps
There are several ways to display your cowhide on the wall. If the wall is soft such as plasterboard or fibreboard then the easiest ands simplest way to hang your cowhide would be to use thin small headed nails or staples – preferably dispensed using a powered staple gun. You will need a lot of nails because you should use unobtrusive thin nails and cowhide skins can be very heavy.
Lay the cowhide skin on the floor right in front of the wall where it will hang. Make sure you position it so it’s centred as much as possible (if that’s your preference) and determine the topmost point right in the centre of the cowhide skin.
Start nailing it to the wall whilst holding your hand on the cowhide’s topmost centre point and gather the cowhide and climb the ladder. Nail the topmost centre point into the wall, as close to the cowhide skin border as is physically possible ensuring the ends don’t curl in but nailed far enough to ensure it hangs well. Follow this up by flattening the hide against the wall on one side, then the other, nailing the outermost points to the wall first so you eventually have a flat hide sitting proud on the wall.
Finish the process by nailing around the perimeter of the hide at roughly equidistant points to firmly secure the cowhide skin to the wall. You may have to repeat a few nails if the cowhide skin begins to buckle or bend. You will want the cowhide skin to be as flat as possible against the wall or it will not look too good.
Alternatively you can make a simple wooden frame from softwood and then attach the cowhide skin to the frame either with glue or staples and then attach the frame to the wall either by the traditional power drill and rawlpug method of alternatively it is also possible to use powerful impact adhesive. It will depend on how long you intend to showcase your particular cowhide skin in that location and the nature of your wall as to the method you use.
Cowhide skins as a wall decoration can also be most effective in an outdoors location – I have one stapled to a wooden framed patio dividing partition at the back of my house and the cowhide brindle pattern shape and texture have attracted many a complement usually followed by the complementee rubbing their hand over the soft silky and luxurious sheen of the cowhide skin,
However you use your cowhide on the wall and regardless of the way you attach your cowhide to the wall you shouldn’t be concerned with damaging your valuable cowhide skin. Properly tanned cowhide skins such as those we sell at Cowhide Rugs UK are virtually indestructible. Properly cared for, your cowhide skin rug or carpet should last a life time.
Top Tips for Hanging a Cowhide Skin to the Wall
Cowhide skins can make great bed headboards!
You can use a stronger, thicker nail for the top centre of the cowhide skin if the smaller one keeps falling out as you start to hang the cowhide skin. If you find natural coloured cowhide skins too dark or lacklustre then why not consider dyed or printed cowhide skins that resemble zebra, tiger or other animal skins.
It is possible to hang a cowhide skin on the wall by yourself but as with most things in life an extra pair of hands wouldn’t go amiss.
Hanging a cowhide skin onto the wall can be a major headache, but I’m sure you’ll think it worth it once you see the results.