What is a sheepskin?
A sheepskin is the natural fleece of a sheep, which is carefully tanned to preserve its softness and splendor. They are much appreciated for their luxurious look, and warmth making them a popular choice for interior decoration. However, they not only add style to any room but they also offer you extra comfort, for example as a rug or for in the chair so you can sit comfortably.
A sheepskin is the natural coat of a sheep, carefully tanned to maintain its softness and durability. Sheepskins are prized for their luxurious texture and warmth, making them a popular choice for interior decoration. Not only do they add a stylish element to any room, but they also offer comfort and functionality, such as as a rug or over a chair for extra softness.
Why choose a sheepskin?
The great thing about a sheepskin is that each coat is unique, which means you always have a sheepskin that no one else has. They are a timeless addition to your interior that bring both luxury, atmosphere and comfort. But are other reasons why you can choose a sheepskin such as:
As a stylish addition to your interior: They match any interior style, beautify your old furniture (or protect your new ones) by putting a soft coat on them.
An environmentally friendly choice: By buying a sheepskin, nothing goes to waste (normally the meat processor throws them away!). All sheepskins in the collection are ecologically tanned and may carry the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 mark, which means that no harmful substances such as chromium or heavy metals have been used.
For warmth and extra comfort: The wool adjusts to your body temperature, comfortably warm in winter and cool in summer. Also great for your pet so they can lie comfortably.
How can you use a sheepskin?
The nice thing about sheepskins is that you can use them in many different ways, for your interior but also for further processing. Let's look at several possibilities.
In the living room: place a sheepskin over your chair, sofa or other piece of furniture to easily add extra warmth, comfort and atmosphere. You can also use them as rugs for nice warm feet.
In the bedroom: Use a sheepskin next to your bed so you never have cold feet when you get out of bed. Or if you want extra warmth, you can put the sheepskin on the foot of your bed, for example.
In the nursery: Perfect as a play mat or decoration for a warm, cozy atmosphere.
Medicinal against bedsores / decubitus: These coats are used by people who often have to sit in a wheelchair or lie in bed for a long time. Long sitting and lying can cause bedsores. A medicinal sheepskin can offer relief. This is because these coats have short sheared wool and a good wool density. As a result, the pressure when you sit or lie down is evenly distributed which can relieve and prevent pressure sores. Of course, their use is not only limited to bedsores, they are also very suitable for regular use. You can read more about medicated sheepskins at: what are medicated sheepskins?
For your pets: Sheepskins provide comfort and warmth for both dogs and cats. I also have special sheepskins for dogs and cats, these may have a discrepancy compared to the A-quality skins but dogs and cats are always super happy with them!
Outside in the garden: Use them in your lounge set or on those hard garden chairs during the BBQ for extra comfort. In bad weather do bring them inside, as leather does not handle moisture/water well.
In a mancave or office: Add luxury and comfort to your personal or work space, making it feel homey and inviting.
For further processing: You can also use the sheepskins for further processing. For example, turn them into dog or cat toys, LARP costumes or fun interior decorations.
Curious about even more ways on how to use a sheepskin? Then read the blog on how to use a sheepskin.
What can you look for when buying a sheepskin?
When picking out your new sheepskin you can consider several criteria so that you will soon have the perfect coat for your interior, let's look at these criteria:
- Are the sheepskins uniquely photographed?
If you have found a beautiful fleece then of course you want the sheepskin of the photo. I photograph and number each sheepskin separately, so you will always get the one from the photo (unless otherwise indicated).
- Real or fake sheepskin?
I only have real sheepskin in my collection, there are also synthetic / plastic varieties but you will never find them on my premises.
- The size of the sheepskin
Look carefully in advance how and where you want to use the sheepskin. Sheepskins are sometimes smaller than 1 meter up to 1.4 meters in length! The right size ensures the best experience in your interior. To make it easier, the sheepskins are divided into M, L, XL and XXL for the biggest. Wondering how I measure them? Read the blog about measuring the fleeces.
- A beautiful symmetrical shape
A symmetrically cut coat looks more beautiful and cared for. I always ask the tannery to cut them into nice shape as far as possible.
- The color
Sheepskins come in many natural colors. From white to brown and even gray. Go for the color that best suits your interior and is practical to use.
- Wool type: long, short or curly?
Different sheep breeds have different hair lengths and textures which gives each sheepskin a unique, playful and warm effect. For example, long hairs are characteristic of the Icelandic sheep, curly wool for the Gotlands and medium-length compact wool for the Texel and English fleeces.
- Wool thickness.
For seating comfort, a coat with denser wool compactness is ideal, while coats with longer hairs or curls are used more for decoration.
- Sheepskin tanning / ecological
The quality of the tanning process determines the suppleness of the leather and the smell of the coat. In addition, all the coats in my collection are also ecologically tanned.
- Determine your budget
Good quality and supply come at a price. More common sheepskins like traditional white or brown are generally readily available but if you really want something unique like a Gotland then it will fall into a different price range.
- Repairs / abnormalities
Sometimes I also have B-choice furs in the collection, unfortunately not entirely avoidable. These furs have the label B-choice. Just a bit cheaper but still decent furs to use.
- Viewing the sheepskin on location
Not quite sure yet? Then get in touch so you can come see and experience the fleeces in real life.
Curious about all the tips you can look for when buying a sheepskin (and what I look for)? Then quickly read the blog with 11 tips on buying a sheepskin.
Looking for sheepskin inspirations?
We regularly receive super cool sheepskin inspiration photos from our customers. Are you looking for ideas for your home or office? Take a look at the pictures below and get inspired! More sheepskin inspiration? Check out the inspiration room.
Do you have a faithful four-legged friend or a little tiger running around the house? Then chances are you will have to share the sheepskin. This is because dogs and cats absolutely love a nice soft sheepskin! Besides being ideal for on the couch or in the chair, sheepskins are often used as a bed or rug for the dog or cat. Just try to get them off it!
A unique tanning process that gives the sheepskins a silky soft feel and a pleasant smell.
The coats are super supple and have a wonderfully soft texture. This is due to the special unique tanning process used by the tannery. To achieve this high quality, the sheepskins are brushed several times, making them extra soft and giving them an amazing shine. Besides the great look that the sheepskins bring, one of the most pleasant aspects is the silky soft feel.
Another feature of our premium sheepskins is the pleasant smell. We noticed that many sheepskins on the market have a very pungent sheep / farm smell. This is characteristic of cheap sheepskins that have only gone through a limited tanning process. If you put such a cheap sheepskin in the house, the whole house will smell of sheep in no time, not really desirable. After all, you want to be able to enjoy the sheepskin right away, don't you?
Leatheroverstock.Com, in collaboration with its tannery, has been looking at how we can make the sheepskins smell nice. After some adjustments in the tanning process, our sheepskins smell nice and have a pleasant aroma, and we are quite proud of that. The smell can be compared to soap, so you can immediately give them a nice spot in your home and enjoy their beauty.
Take a few minutes to browse through the most beautiful and soft sheepskin collection. There is bound to be a sheepskin that perfectly fits your interior. Still can't find the sheepskin of your choice? No worries, you can also send us a search request. We will then immediately start searching for the sheepskin of your dreams. Our collection of sheepskins is regularly updated with new fleeces in various colors and sizes.
Tips for maintenance and cleaning
Sheepskins are beautiful natural products that can be enjoyed for years. Basically, sheepskins require very little maintenance. The maintenance needed depends on how you use the coat. We regularly get questions about how to keep the sheepskin nice and soft and fluffy. On sheepskin cleaning / maintenance you can read a detailed instruction on what, if anything, is needed to keep your sheepskin in top condition. Prefer a short version? You can read that one on animal skin care.
Need help picking out your sheepskin?
Are you looking for a sheepskin for your interior but would like some extra advice or information? I would love to help you with your questions and the advice you are looking for so you can make an informed choice. Feel free to contact me at +31(0)6 17 52 13 63 during our opening hours, send an e-mail, or visit us in Boxmeer, the Netherlands - please make an appointment so you won't be standing in front of a closed door. Together we will find the perfect sheepskin for your interior.
