Improve Magazine Autumn 2022

unexpected ways to decorate with SHEEPSKIN

Sheepskin is an interior stylist’s favourite textile to use. Why? Well, they give your home a warm, inviting texture and easily elevate any space in an instant. You can toss a fluffy one over a corner chair, and the room instantly looks cooler. This plush textile is also super versatile as well – as there are 100s of ways you can style it into your home. And the good news is you can treat yourself to a sheepskin rug in an assortment of colours, shapes and sizes, making it an easily changeable décor must-have.

Interior stylist and TV presenter, Maxine Brady, has shared her favourite ways to decorate your home with sheepskins.

Maxine adds: “Texture is one of the key trends for 2022... One clever way to add this trend to your home is with a simple upcycle project. Upholster an old armchair in sheepskin or two to create a designer piece of furniture in your home. Perfect for a reading nook, a playroom or to create a cosy corner in your living space.”

Maxine continues: “When styling sheepskins in your home in the summertime, there are lots of ingenious ways to use them. Soften garden furniture by throwing a sheepskin on top, add pastel hues to your living space with a sheepskin in a pink tone hue and snuggle under when hosting a summer BBQ.”

HERE ARE MAXINE’S TOP TIPS:

1. SPECIAL WORKSPACE

Make your office more inviting by upholstering your desk chair in shaggy sheepskin. This look adds comfort and warmth to any home office. It makes you feel like you’re being cuddled while you type away.

“Throwing one over your chair is especially handy if, like me, your working space is in your living area as it will elevate your desk area – as well as save you money on your heating bills” adds Maxine.

2. FLOOR WITH FLAIR

Use a sheepskin rug to soften and add a touch of warmth to your hardwood floors. There’s a huge selection of colours and textures available so this is a really easy way to change up your space.

“In my hallway, this sheepskin creates a welcoming entrance and by choosing a white one, brightens a corner of my home” adds Maxine.

3. BOHO SEATING

If you love to entertain, then a sheepskin is the perfect companion to meal times. Choose different types of hides to add interest to your tablescape.

4. UPDATED THROW

Replace the blanket or quilt that is currently residing on the bottom of your bed with a sheepskin. It is modern, quirky, and looks great with all décor.

“Layer up your blankets with your sheepskin to give your bedroom hotel vibes. And if you want to turn up the factor on the texture in your bedroom, why not add a sheepskin cushion or two!” Maxine continues.

5. COSY CORNER

Give a chair a new lease of life with a sheepskin throw. It fits right in with modern décor and is absolutely adorable. A decadently fluffy sheepskin is exactly what this gold chair needs to turn this bedroom into a boudoir.

6. BEDROOM WARMER UPPER

Warm-up a small bedroom with an oversized sheepskin rug and match to your bedding for a coordinated look.

7. SEATING VARIETY

“A cosy sheepskin is a perfect way to warm up a good looking chair. This is where a coloured sheepskin steps in when styling your home. Try choosing one that complements your upholstery. This pink one looks so good sitting against the green velvet” adds Maxine.

8. MIX & MATCH HIDES

Of course, you can mix your sheepskins! And layer up to add depth to your room. On an old sofa stack up against your furry throws to upscale your living space – and it’s a great way to cover over marks and stains too!

9. SOFTEN OUTDOOR SEATING

Warm-up your outdoor space with a shaggy sheepskin. On spring days, have a few stashed to hand so that you can enjoy the first of the sun of the year, even if the temperature might not be at sunbathing levels.

10. PET PERCH

Sheepskin makes the ultimate pet bed. Throw one onto your dog (or cat) bed and it instantly looks stylish. And pet hair blends right in so it’s practical too.

11. FOOTSTOOL TRANSFORMATION

Transform a room by throwing a sheepskin on top of your footstool for an instant makeover. Not only does this look really good, but it also gives you a cosy space to put your feet up when watching a box set.

12. SWEET SEAT

Create a sweet and sunny spot with thick, woolly sheepskins. Whether reading, napping, or chatting, this space is seriously inviting.

13. WARM-UP TILED FLOORS

Your toes will never get cold if a sheepskin rug greets you when making your morning coffee in your kitchen. “The fluffy material of this sheepskin warms up the patterned tiles in my kitchen, adding pretty colours and interest to the room” adds Maxine.

“This material is a fabulous way to vamp up your home. No wonder why interior stylists like me love them! Sheepskins are the perfect home accessory to elevate your home. Cosy in the winter, colourful in the summer – that add a luxe element to a space in an instant.” Maxine concludes.

All of the sheepskins Maxine has used are from Jacobs & Dalton.

About Maxine Brady

Maxine Brady is an award winning Interior Stylist and TV Presenter. She lives in Brighton in a peppermint Victorian terrace house with her dog, Teddy. Maxine is well known for creating interiors that make you feel amazing, lift your spirits and bring you limitless joy. For the last 20 years, she has been a creative force in the world of home design. As well as being a stylist, she is an art director, interior designer and content creator. She is the voice behind a multi-award winning blog – www.maxinebrady.com.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxinebradystyling/

You can read the full blog post here: https://www.maxinebrady.com/2022/04/sheepskin-design-ideas/