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Hides have been used as rugs for centuries, and we still spot their speckled and striped silhouettes in homes today. Just take a look at former Blue’s Clues host Steve Burns’s bachelor pad–turned–WFH haven in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and this French farmhouse on the Basque coast. But the real deal is, of course, an animal by-product. While durable, hides tend to be a tripping hazard, and you’re definitely not tossing one in the wash. So if you are into the look but would prefer to stay away from leather, Ruggable—the brand behind machine washable rugs that are also stain- and spill-resistant—just debuted a new faux hide collection.
Ruggable is an editor go-to for homes with toddlers who color outside the lines or four-legged friends sporting muddy paws. The company has always made a point to deliver eye-catching designs, whether that’s colorful collabs with Jonathan Adler or a recent outdoor-friendly collection by illustrator and artist Monica Ahanonu. And now its faux hide can be added onto your laundry pile without worry.
Like any of the brand’s offerings, each rug is made to order, so excess waste is kept to a minimum. Plus the polyester construction not only looks and feels like real hair (while minimizing shedding), it’s partially made from recycled plastics. Paired with a specially made pad, there’s extra comfort and better grip, which translates into less slipping and sliding around a room. A win-win. (To note: Ruggable’s hides are not 100 percent vegan; some dyes in the materials do use marine animal by-products.)
So while you may still limit it to a layered moment underneath your coffee table, right now you can save almost $100 on a cowhide and jute rug bundle—this new version of hide won’t balk at a high-traffic foyer or splatter from mixing bowls in the kitchen. It might be time to try a little (faux) fur underfoot.