My Favorite Accessory -- The Sheepskin Throw

My husband and I generally aren't big spenders, but we do have a weakness for real estate. Consequently, we've got a few residences to maintain (and a beautiful lot in Ketchum, Idaho that's on the market, if anyone's looking). So the challenge of decorating a home that works for a family and still looks great replays itself over and over in my life as I roam from San Francisco to Sun Valley to Olympia and back.

One item I've found that is universally useful, comfortable and kid-proof in all our locations is the classic sheepskin throw.


We use them on the floor as rugs, but also:
Thrown over chairs they made a super comfy and soft place to sit
We always have one draped over the foot of our bed in the winter to keep our feet extra warm.
Sometimes I'll throw one on the floor in front of the fireplace and make a little nest for Katie to snuggle into.
Jasper has now adopted one in the the bedroom has his resting place in the evenings.
And my favorite use: in a pinch, I'll throw one over the sofa in the family room if one of the kids has wiped their face on the slipcover and I don't have a minute to wash it.

Sheepskins are especially great for babies, as they absorb 30% of their own weight in moisture, so they create a nice, natural dry zone around the baby.

Our sheepskins take a beating, but they're machine washable, so just a spin through the wash and a few strokes with a wire dog brush and they're good as new. I think every family should have a stockpile of sheepskin throws in their home, so I've compiled the Furber Family Guide to Buying a Sheepskin Throw below:

When buying a sheepskin, there are a few things you should consider:
Sheepskin rugs from sheep-producing countries such as Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom are almost always higher in overall quality than rugs produced other places. It's not the sheep that are different, but sheep producing countries have centuries of sheep shearing traditions that newer industries often lack. In many cases, imported sheepskin rugs have been subjected to old fashioned washings in local waters and multiple dryings and combings.

The most important consideration when buying a sheepskin is comfort, so the overall texture of quality sheepskin rugs should be soft and pliable. The piling should be neatly combed, with very little to no shedding. Beware of any backing material that feels rubberized or artificial.

I've found that sheepskin throws range in price from the very inexpensive to the very expensive, but there's a middle ground of $50 to $100 per rug that looks great, wears well and lasts. Good resources for sheepskins in that price range are:
Pottery Barn
Ikea
SheepskinTown.com

All are very similar in quality and price, and are usually in stock so if you start right now you can be lounging with your sheepskins by next Friday night.

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