We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Whether draped over an armchair, laid out on a bed, or layered over rugs, I really love a sheepskin throw as a fuzzy accent that invites you to sit down and stay awhile. They’re not just for Scandinavian cabins in the woods! In both my last apartment, an early-1900s carriage house, and my latest one, a modern high-rise, I’ve used an ivory sheepskin to line our vintage Swedish rocking chair and another mocha-hued version to give a Hem Kumo lounge chair some extra cushion.
I’m not the only sheepskin devotee: Kate Berry, our editor at large, tosses them on dining chairs for comfier dinner parties. Decorating muse Jordan Ferney adds them to leggy armchairs. And designers and homeowners have introduced them across all kinds of houses we’ve featured for that extra touch of texture—here are four standout examples from the archives.
A Prop Stylist’s Brooklyn Home
In Randi Brookman Harris’s apartment in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood, the prop stylist added a sheepskin throw in the same color family as her neutral sectional. Doesn’t it make you want to plop down for a movie night?
Leanne Ford’s Pittsburgh Cottage
The guest cottage on Leanne Ford’s Pittsburgh property is straight out of a rural French town, with the designer’s signature warmth and—yes—a sheepskin cozying up a rattan bucket chair.
A Vintage Seller’s Long Island New Build
The Flag Halyard Chair, a modern Danish classic, looks that much more inviting with a sheepskin on top to soften its angles. In Nusaiba Ally‘s Long Island new build, the pair looks right at home among a burl wood table and cool columns.
A New York City Family Home
In our collaboration with Manhattan’s Chatsworth building and Kapito Muller, we designed this model unit to suit a growing family. Among the jungle of plants, collection of punchy throw pillows, and wood accents is an Eames fiberglass armchair, finished with a swath of sheepskin.
My advice is to always go real for the softest plush, and check if the brand sources or produces sheepskins sustainably; for example, Quince obtains theirs as a by-product of the meat industry. Rather than stark white, I tend to prefer a little color to lend a more natural feel, as in Jenni Kayne’s version (but you do you). And, since the pelt can get matted if you’re regularly sitting on it, I appreciate that brands like Overland send a little brush, too, for regular grooming.
Our Favorite Sheepskin Throws
Our Favorite Faux Sheepskin Throws
If you’d prefer to steer away from the real thing for lifestyle preferences, there are loads of options on the market that are convincing fakes—here are four we’re into.
