Why have animal hides made a comeback in interior decorating?

It wasn’t so long ago that animal skins were consigned to hunting lodges and porn sets.

But something curious has happened in the world of interiors; a revolution, of sorts, from the part of the world that gave us Vikings, Daim bars and Alexander Skarsgard.

From Icelandic long-haired sheepskins and Tibetan curly-haired ones to reindeer skins and Australian long-wool sheepskins, animal hides are making a style statement as luxurious, textural decorator accents.

Sydney stylist Belinda Cendron traces the trend in Australia to the rise of Scandi chic.

“In the last 10 years, there’s been a transition from a more baroque, eclectic look – using hides and skins to re-cover antique Louis armchairs, for example – to the more minimalist Scandi look that’s happening right now,” she says.

“The Nordic look is all about raw timbers, neutral colours, natural finishes and organic elements. All of that is right on trend and the hides are part of that.”

Through her online shop Sourceress The Store, Cendron sells Icelandic sheepskin throws and rugs, reindeer throws, cowhides and Australian long-wool sheepskins.

Icelandic sheepskin in natural grey from Sourceress The Store.

She recommends using Icelandic or Mongolian sheepskins, which have wavy strands of wool up to 15 centimetres long, in the same way a throw might be used, “at the end of a bed or on a daybed, sofa or occasional chair where they’re not getting maximum bum traffic, so they stay quite plush.”

For everyday use on an office or dining chair, she suggests using the shorter-haired Australian sheepskins.

“You want to keep the long-haired varieties such as the Icelandic sheepskins nice and fluffy for that textured, organic look. But if you’re actually sitting on it regularly, the Australian sheepskins are more practical.”

Reindeer hide from Sourceress The Store.

Cowhides and springbok hides are traditionally used on the floor, while reindeer hides can be used on the floor or draped over an armchair or daybed.

The hides don’t in themselves make the Nordic look; rather, they’re a luxurious addition to add warmth and visual interest to a minimalist setting.

Hides are a relatively child-friendly flooring choice, too, repelling stains better than viscose or silk rugs. Some sheepskins are even machine-washable.

Liz Wolff is an interior stylist at Norsu Interiors, a Melbourne-based retailer of Scandinavian-inspired homewares. She attributes the boom in hides to a greater awareness of ethical sourcing methods and the power of social media.

“I think the world of Instagram and social media allows us to access looks from homes in Scandinavian countries, so people are more comfortable using hides and know how to use them. They’re not even necessarily viewed as animal hides, just as a beautiful throw at the end of the bed,” Wolff says.

(Try My Scandinavian Home, Scandimania and Dos Family for inspiration starters.)

Campaign: Norsu Interiors, Photo: Lisa Cohen, Styling: Michelle Halford.

On the ethical side, both Cendron and Wolff say the hides they sell are byproducts of the meat industry, tanned using environmentally friendly methods.

And not all hides are equal: tiger stripes and leopard prints are no-nos in Nordic design, though some people are partial to neutral-coloured faux fur snow leopard prints. Anything with a head attached is also verboten.

“The hides with the heads attached are more indicative of animals that were hunted, as opposed to a byproduct of the meat industry,” Cendron says. “More often than not those varieties are hunting trophies rather than sustainably sourced materials.”

Of course, regardless of whether the animal was destined for the slaughterhouse anyway, there will be some who baulk at the idea of decorating with something that once had a heartbeat.

In that case, Wolff is all for faking it.

“We are always up for a beautiful fake,” she says. “The quality can be great, and some people just aren’t open to using real hides.”

Campaign: Norsu Interiors, Photo: Lisa Cohen, Styling: Michelle Halford.