Discover the different types of sheepskins and how you can use them

Sheepskins have been a beloved natural product for centuries, known for their versatility and durability. But did you know that there is a surprising variety of sheepskins, each with unique characteristics and uses? In this blog, we explore the fascinating world of sheepskins. From the lush, soft skins that add a touch of luxury to your home decor to the robust, durable varieties that are ideal for everyday use. Discover the different types of sheepskins available and how you can incorporate them into your lifestyle, whether as a stylish addition to your home decor or for practical uses in everyday life.

In this blog post about the different types of sheepskins:

1. What kinds of sheepskins are there?
   1. The Texel sheepskins
   2. Icelandic sheepskins
   3. Gotland sheepskins
   4. Greenlandic sheepskins
   5. Scandinavian sheepskins
   6. Curly sheepskins
   7. Medicinal sheepskins
2. What is the best way to use each type of sheepskin?
3. What are the most beautiful sheepskins for your home?
4. Which sheepskin is the most comfortable to sit on?
5. Which sheepskins are the most comfortable to lie on?
6. Conclusion

What kinds of sheepskins are there?

Did you know there are more than 900 different breeds of sheep? 900! While we don’t have a sheepskin from every breed in stock, each breed has its own unique characteristics, including when it comes to the sheepskin. Want to learn all about the different sheep breeds? Then take a look at our animal encyclopedia and read all about the various sheep breeds. We’ll take a closer look at some of the most common sheepskins in this blog.

The Texel sheepskins

Texel sheepskin—the name says it all—these sheepskins come from the Texel sheep, which are primarily bred on the Dutch Wadden Sea island of Texel. They are known for their high quality and unique characteristics. These sheepskins offer both exceptional comfort and make a beautiful addition to your home décor.

1. Comfort: Texel sheepskins are exceptionally comfortable thanks to their thick, medium-length, and soft wool. This natural fiber provides excellent insulation, meaning the sheepskin keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. This makes them ideal for use as a rug or as a throw on your couch or chair.
2. Sustainability: The wool from Texel sheep is not only super soft but also exceptionally strong and durable. This means that sheepskins from Texel sheep last a long time, even with regular use.
3. Aesthetics: Texel sheepskins have a natural, rustic look that fits well with many different interior styles. Whether you’re going for a modern, minimalist look or a more traditional, cozy atmosphere, a Texel sheepskin is always a stylish addition to your home.
4. Versatility: These hides can be used in many different ways. They can serve as a rug on your floor, as a comfort enhancer in your chair or on the couch, as a chair or couch throw, as a bedspread at the foot of the bed, hung on your wall as wall decor, or used as a bed for your dog or cat. The natural colors range from traditional white and brown to multicolored and brown/white —and everything in between—making them a beautiful addition to any interior.

Icelandic sheepskins

Icelandic sheepskin is a pelt derived from the Icelandic sheep, a breed that has lived in Iceland’s rugged wilderness for over a thousand years. These sheepskins are known for their unique long wool and luxurious appearance. Icelandic sheepskins offer a wide variety of natural colors, making them popular for interior decoration, but their softness also provides extra comfort:

1. Long, soft wool: Icelandic sheepskins are known for their long, soft, and sometimes curly wool. This natural wool offers comfort and softness, making them ideal for use as a cozy rug and an attractive addition to your furniture.
2. Natural insulation: The long wool of Icelandic sheepskin provides excellent natural insulation. This means it keeps you warm in the winter while keeping you cool in the summer. This makes it suitable for year-round use.
3. Unique appearance: Icelandic sheepskins have a striking and luxurious appearance. With their long, sometimes wavy wool, they add natural elegance and style to any interior. Icelandic sheepskins come in a wide variety of natural colors, such as white, black, brown, and gray, but they may also feature a combination of some or even all of these colors.
4. Versatile for your interior: These sheepskins are extremely versatile and can be used in all interior styles. Whether you have a modern, Scandinavian-inspired interior or a more traditional decor, an Icelandic sheepskin will always be a beautiful, stylish addition.

Gotland sheepskins

Gotland sheepskin comes from the Gotland sheep, a rare and ancient breed native to Sweden. These sheepskins are highly sought after in the world of interior design because of their unique and warm appearance.

1. They have a unique wool and color: Gotland sheepskins are known for their beautiful natural and compact curls and lustrous wool. The color ranges from shades of white and silver-gray to deep charcoal, lending a natural, elegant, and refined look to any interior. These curls range from fine, tight spirals to loose, wavy locks. Gotland sheepskins are often used for decorative purposes, such as to create a luxurious and warm atmosphere in your home.
2. Softness and comfort: The wool from Gotland sheepskins is not only beautiful but also exceptionally soft. These sheepskins are used less often for sitting or lying on. However, it is possible to sit on them.
3. Versatility: These sheepskins are versatile in use. For example, they can serve as a striking focal point in your living room or as a subtle complement to your other interior pieces. Drape a Gotland sheepskin over the back of your sofa or chair, in front of the fireplace, or place it on a piece of furniture to add extra ambiance. The natural shades of gray complement virtually any color scheme and style.

Greenlandic sheepskins

Greenland sheepskin, sourced from the Greenland sheep breed that lives in the unique and challenging environment of Greenland, has a sheepskin that falls somewhere between Icelandic and Gotland sheepskins. Like Gotland sheepskins, these sheepskins are less common:

1. Robust quality: Given the extreme weather conditions in which Greenlandic sheep live, their coats are naturally very robust and durable.
2. Warmth and comfort: The Greenlandic sheepskin can be compared somewhat to the Icelandic sheepskin. Greenlandic sheepskins are just a bit more striking due to their beautiful, eye-catching color combinations and more robust-looking wool, whereas Icelandic sheepskins appear somewhat softer. They can be used, among other things, as rugs, as warm throws on a couch or bed, or draped over your couch and chair.
3. Natural and rustic appearance: Greenlandic sheepskins have a natural, rustic yet elegant appearance that complements various interior styles, from traditional and rustic to modern. They add an element of natural beauty to any interior. Like Icelandic sheepskins, Greenlandic sheepskins come in various natural colors such as black, white, gray, and brown—often a combination of these colors—and they feature beautiful, long, natural curls.
4. Versatility in decoration: If you really want something different, go for a Greenlandic sheepskin. These sheepskins are a wonderful addition to your interior. They’re often used to create a cozy and warm atmosphere.

In short, Greenlandic sheepskins offer you a combination of natural beauty and versatility in decoration, making them an excellent choice for enhancing your interior.

Scandinavian sheepskins

Scandinavian sheepskins come from countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. They are known for their high quality and beautiful, soft, natural appearance.

1. Natural warmth and comfort: Scandinavian sheepskins are known for their thick and super-soft wool, which provides excellent natural insulation. This makes them ideal for adding warmth, ambiance, and comfort to your home. They’re perfect as rugs or as throws on your couch, chair, or bed.
2. Stylish and timeless look: These sheepskins have an elegant and timeless look that complements a variety of interior styles. Whether you’re going for a minimalist, modern look or a more traditional, cozy atmosphere, a Scandinavian sheepskin is a stylish addition to your home. These Scandinavian sheepskins are somewhat less common in the Netherlands. The wool on these sheepskins can be white or copper-brown.
3. Versatility in use: These skins are not only functional but also versatile. In terms of wool, they resemble Texel sheepskins but are just a bit more refined and softer. The medium-length wool makes them perfect for use as a rug, on the couch, or in your (reclining) chair, but they’re also great for embellishing your furniture.

Scandinavian sheepskins thus offer a combination of warmth, comfort, style, and versatility, making them an excellent choice for enhancing any interior.

Curly sheepskins

Curly sheepskins, such as those from Icelandic, Gotland, and Greenlandic sheep, are particularly popular in interior design because of their unique wool and playful, luxurious appearance.

1. Unique Aesthetics: Curly sheepskins have a striking and luxurious appearance. The natural curls range from fine, tight spirals to loose, wavy locks, adding a dynamic and interesting atmosphere to your interior. They come in various natural colors such as white, black, brown, gray, beige, and everything in between, but a combination of these colors is also possible.
2. Warmth and ambience: These coats offer excellent natural insulation. Their thick, curly wool is not only beautiful but also wonderfully soft, ideal for creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere in any room.
3. Versatility in Use: Curly sheepskins are versatile in interior design. They can be used as rugs, as decorative throws over a sofa or chair, or even as wall decor. They also look beautiful as upholstery on furniture for an extra touch of luxury.
4. Natural and rustic look: The curly sheepskins fit well into various interior styles, from modern to rustic and industrial.

Medicinal sheepskins

Medical sheepskins are most commonly used by people who spend a lot of time sitting or lying down due to medical needs, but these sheepskins can also be used perfectly well even when there is no medical need. These sheepskins are primarily used for extra comfort and virtually never for interior decoration.

1. Temperature Regulation: Medicinal sheepskins are natural insulators and help regulate body temperature. This is particularly beneficial for people with rheumatic conditions, as it helps maintain a constant, comfortable temperature—nice and cool in the summer and nice and warm in the winter.
2. Pressure relief: The soft, resilient structure of sheepskin helps relieve pressure points on the body. This is especially helpful for people who are bedridden or must sit for long periods, as it helps reduce pressure sores and discomfort.
3. Moisture regulation: Medicinal sheepskins can absorb and wick away moisture, which helps keep your skin dry and comfortable. This is particularly useful for people with skin conditions.
4. For relaxation and comfort: The natural softness and warmth of these sheepskins offer you a relaxing and comfortable feeling, which can contribute to your overall well-being and help reduce stress.

There are various ways to use medicinal sheepskins:

• As bedding: Place a medicinal sheepskin on the bed to increase comfort and reduce pressure points.
• In a wheelchair: A medicinal sheepskin in a wheelchair can help relieve pressure points and provide greater comfort, especially if you spend a lot of time in the wheelchair.
• As a rug: A sheepskin rug can provide a soft and warm surface, which is pleasant for your feet or for lying on, for example, when you first get out of bed.
• In the car: Use a medicinal sheepskin as a car seat cover for extra comfort during long car rides.

You can read more about medicinal sheepskins and their effects in the blog post on medicinal sheepskins.

What is the best way to use each type of sheepskin?

Each type of sheepskin has its own unique properties, and to make the best use of sheepskin and let it shine, it’s important to take into account the characteristics and properties of the skins. Based on how most of you use our sheepskins, here’s a rough breakdown.

What are the most beautiful sheepskins for your home?

If you’re looking for a sheepskin purely for decorative purposes, it’s always nice to choose something a little different and more special—something you don’t come across as often. We’ve noticed that, purely for decoration, multicolored sheepskins and Icelandic sheepskins are often used, as well as Greenlandic and Gotland sheepskins. These sheepskins have unique wool, making them real eye-catchers in your home.

For decorative purposes, you can, of course, use any type of sheepskin, including Texel sheep, Scandinavian sheep, or one of the types mentioned above. Try out different types and colors in your desired spot and see which one fits best. Do you want the sheepskin to really stand out in your interior? Then you could, for example, choose a color that contrasts with the rest of your decor. Or, if you want to keep it a bit more subtle, go for a sheepskin with a muted color palette.

Which sheepskin is the most comfortable to sit on?

If you want to use sheepskin to sit on, sheepskins with medium-length wool are the most commonly used, such as Texel sheepskins or Scandinavian sheepskins. Texel sheepskins, in particular, have sturdy and compact wool (good wool density), which makes them perfect for sitting on comfortably. Scandinavian sheepskins are also nice to sit on; these skins are just a bit more refined than the Texel skins.

Can you also sit on Icelandic sheepskins? Yes, that’s possible; these skins are known for their long wool. Compared to Texel sheep or Scandinavian skins, the wool is less thick in terms of firmness and compactness, but they’re still wonderfully soft.

What about curly coats? You can sit on these as well. Personally, I would use these coats for decorative purposes rather than to sit on.

Which sheepskins are the most comfortable to lie on?

For those looking for the finest sheepskins to lie on, Texel sheepskins offer an excellent choice. Thanks to their thick and compact wool, these skins are ideal for use on chairs and sofas, where they provide both comfort and durability.

For those who prefer a softer wool, Scandinavian sheepskins are a perfect alternative. These skins are known for their fine, soft, and luxurious wool, ideal for a more luxurious and comfortable experience.

When it comes to using sheepskins for medical purposes, such as preventing pressure sores, medical sheepskins are the best option. These are specially designed to relieve pressure and have been treated to be hygienic and durable, making them ideal for long-term use in medical settings. In short, the choice of a sheepskin depends on your specific needs and preferences, whether it’s for comfort, softness, or medical use.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve read this blog, you know (almost) everything about the different types of sheepskins and just how diverse and versatile these beautiful natural products are. From the sturdy and comfortable Texel sheepskins—ideal for seating due to their firm and compact wool—to the elegant and soft Scandinavian sheepskins, perfect for a luxurious and comfortable experience. In addition, the unique and striking Icelandic, Gotland, and Greenlandic sheepskins, with their long and curly wool, offer a playful luxury and are excellent for decorative purposes in virtually any interior style.

In addition, there was another unique type of sheepskin: medical sheepskin, which is widely used for medical purposes, especially for those who sit or lie down for long periods of time. The ability of these skins to relieve pressure and regulate body temperature makes them ideal for medical use and comfort. Thus, each type of sheepskin, with its own unique characteristics, contributes to a variety of desires and needs, ranging from interior decoration to practical and medical applications.

The choice of a sheepskin depends on personal preferences and needs. Whether you’re looking for a sheepskin that makes a statement in your home, offers comfort for sitting or lying down, or has specific medical benefits, there’s always a sheepskin that suits your style and needs. Hopefully, after reading this blog, you’ve gained a better understanding of the beauty and functionality of the various sheepskins, and I’ve been able to show you how they can be a unique—and above all, cozy—addition to any interior and lifestyle.

Which type suits you best? View all genuine sheepskins or choose a wool type right away: Texel sheepskins with medium-length wool, Icelandic sheepskins, sheepskins with short wool, curly wool, or medicinal sheepskins.

Do you need help choosing your new sheepskin?

Would you like a new sheepskin but are having trouble deciding, and would you like some extra help and advice? I’d be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. That way, you can make an informed choice and select the sheepskin that perfectly suits your wishes and needs. You can contact me at +31 6 17521363 (during business hours), send an email, or stop by in Boxmeer, the Netherlands (by appointment only) to experience them for yourself.