Gorgeous Creatures has a large selection of cowhides to choose from and it might seem overwhelming, but realistically there are only a few cowhide rugs that will match your personal selection criteria.

If you can't come into the Gorgeous Creatures showroom then we can sort through our stock and find a cowhide that best matches your personal selection criteria. Then we can email you all the details including photos for your approval.

Step 1) First, think about the size of the area the cowhide rug will be used in. How big is the room? How big is the coffee table that will rest on top of it? Do you mind if some of it is underneath furniture?

Straight away this will narrow down the field to a much less daunting number of options.

A small hide is around 1.5-2 metres 'square' (this is the surface area - not lineal metres).
A medium hide is around 3 metres 'square'
A large hide is around 4 metres 'square'.
An extra large hide can be over 5 metres 'square'.

Each cowhide is displayed on this website showing its unique surface area and length/width measurements. Click here to learn more about how our cowhide is measured.

Step 2) Now think about what your maximum budget will be for a cowhide rug. We use square metres as the way of measuring and pricing the hides. So the size and price are proportional. A smaller hide costs much less than a larger hide.

Step 3) Think about what colours you like and what you think will go with your interior décor. Be open minded, sometimes it is a colour that you have not considered that is actually perfect. Don't try to match browns perfectly and don’t worry, you can try them at home first if you are in New Zealand. Now we are really narrowing options down.

Step 4) Do you like the hair to be short and sleek, or do you like the hair longer and curly? Sometimes this is not important and it is OK to like both. Most cowhides have a short sleek coat.

By now there will probably be about 3-6 cowhides left to consider. Now you need to start comparison elimination. Just ask yourself, do I like this one better than that one, eliminate one of the pair, do it again until you have two or three left.

Now take these home to see how they look in your home. Look at them in natural light and at night with electric light. Take a few days to consider these hides and by default one of the rugs will become your favourite. Easy!!!

Tip one - Don’t agonise over these decisions, go with your instinct, your ‘gut’ feelings. Each rug is unique, they are a natural product and no two are the same. You might have seen a rug in a friends house and thought “that’s what I want!” but be realistic and take a “that’s close enough” approach because that cow does not have a twin. The more relaxed you are about your selection criteria, the easier and more enjoyable the whole process will be.

Tip two - Don't listen too closely to your friends comments, this is about your taste and preferences, not theirs. You are the one who has to live with it and love it. Sometimes people do not realise how much a flippant comment made to a friend, who has asked for their advice, can affect how we feel about something.

P.S. At Gorgeous Creatures we are very experienced at guiding you through this selection process and can even narrow it down for you based on a “personal brief”, then just present the top three matches for your final selection.

Selection criteria - what to look for

• Good even balanced natural shape - all legs intact
• Healthy glossy hair
• Aesthetically beautiful colour and markings
• No ugly scared brands (some pretty brands are acceptable). Generally no brands are visible
• No visible reinforcements from the hairy top side
• No bald patches or cuts