Have you ever stumbled upon a surprisingly simple truth that completely shifts your perspective? For us, it was a moment of pure realization regarding the sheepskin rugs from Ikea. Like many, we’d always assumed those incredibly affordable, small-sized rugs – the kind you effortlessly toss into your cart – were clever faux alternatives. Our logic was simple: how could a genuine sheepskin rug be so inexpensive when others typically retailed for significantly more? This assumption led to countless “aha!” moments turning into a full-blown “duh!” when we finally examined the material label. To our astonishment, it didn’t list acrylic or any synthetic fabric. Instead, it plainly stated: “100% sheepskin.”
This revelation was quite the eye-opener. A Swedish company, known for its practical and accessible designs, was indeed selling genuine sheepskin. While we admired the quality and affordability, this discovery prompted an important personal reflection. Questions surrounding ethical consumption, animal products, and sustainable choices naturally arose. It’s a highly personal decision, akin to choices about wearing fur, consuming meat, or using leather, and we firmly believe in “to each their own.” Our aim here isn’t to judge or debate these complex issues, but rather to share a creative, animal-friendly DIY project inspired by this very experience. We embarked on a journey to craft our own luxurious faux sheepskin rugs, allowing us to lovingly rehome our genuine Ikea pieces with a relative who promised them a cherished spot. Seeing our beloved dog, Burger, lounging on a real sheepskin suddenly felt different, yet we were determined to keep them out of a landfill. This post details the first of two exciting faux sheepskin adventures, hence its “Part 1” designation. Prepare to unleash your inner crafter!
Sourcing Your Materials: The Foundation of Your Faux Sheepskin
The first crucial step in our DIY endeavor was to find the perfect base material. We envisioned a rug that was plush, irresistibly soft, and convincingly wool-like. Our search led us through several home goods stores, specifically hunting for a super shaggy rug that wouldn’t break the bank. The jackpot moment arrived at Marshall’s, where we discovered an ideal candidate: a generously sized rug, approximately 4×6 feet, priced at an incredible $39. This find was a game-changer, as we immediately recognized its potential to yield at least two faux sheepskin rugs, effectively bringing the cost down to under $20 each – an even more budget-friendly option than the original Ikea pieces. The rug’s tawny eggshell color was simply perfect, offering a versatile neutral tone that would complement various interior styles. What truly sealed the deal, however, was its convincing texture. It wasn’t just shaggy; it felt genuinely wooly and substantial. Another significant advantage was its backing. Unlike many inexpensive rugs that feature a strong-smelling, grippy rubber backing, this one boasted a woven fabric backing – a detail we always prefer for its durability and more refined feel. This ensured our new faux sheepskins would lay flat without a strong chemical odor.
Crafting Your Template: Designing Your Unique Shape
With our chosen shag rug ready, it was time to design the iconic sheepskin shape. We began by creating a life-sized template that would dictate the organic contours of our new faux rugs. This involved taping together several sheets of paper to create a sufficiently large “canvas.” For inspiration and guidance, we referenced images of genuine Ikea sheepskin rugs online, observing their natural, irregular forms. The process was wonderfully straightforward: we simply freehand sketched a sheepskin-esque blob onto our taped-together paper, aiming for an authentic, fluid silhouette. Once satisfied with the shape, we carefully cut out the paper template with a pair of scissors.
For those who crave absolute precision, here’s a handy tip: you can fold your paper template vertically in half before cutting. By simply following your pencil line on the exposed half of the sketch while it’s folded, you’ll achieve a perfectly symmetrical result. This method is excellent if “perfection” is your design motto. Personally, I opted for a slightly more organic approach, embracing a touch of asymmetry. After all, natural sheepskins are rarely perfectly even on all sides, and a subtle irregularity can often add to the authentic charm and character of a piece.
Precision Tracing: Bringing Your Design to Life
With our template complete, the next step was to transfer this custom shape onto the back of our shaggy rug. We carefully positioned the paper template on the rug’s fabric backing, ensuring we maximized the available space to get two faux sheepskins from one large rug. Using a thin, sharp permanent marker, we meticulously traced around the perimeter of the paper cutout. This left us with two clear, sheepskin-sized outlines drawn directly onto the reverse side of the rug, ready for transformation.
The Big Cut: Transforming the Rug
Before committing to the full cut, we performed a crucial test: a small, discreet slice through a section of the rug. Our primary concern was that cutting the shag fabric would cause the fibers to unravel, potentially leaving us with a messy, frayed edge. We even considered preemptive measures, like taping around the cut lines on the back of the rug with white duct tape to reinforce the edges before snipping. To our immense relief and pleasant surprise, this precaution proved entirely unnecessary. Each slice we made was remarkably clean, and not a single thread came loose, even when we gently tugged at the freshly cut edges. This discovery gave us the confidence to proceed. Armed with a sharp pair of fabric scissors, we then carefully followed both traced outlines, meticulously cutting out our two new faux sheepskin shapes from the larger rug.
Finishing Touches and Styling: The Reveal
The result of our cutting efforts was two undeniably charming and incredibly soft faux sheepskin rugs. We were instantly captivated by the luxurious, creamy texture that the shag pattern provided, lending a rich visual and tactile appeal. There’s an undeniable sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with crafting something with your own hands, and these rugs were no exception. As we admired our creations, we noticed that the initial cuts, while clean, left the very edge of the shag looking a little disheveled, as the fibers naturally flopped in various directions. To achieve a more polished and refined finish, we gave the perimeter of each rug a slight “haircut.” A few careful snips around the edges tidied everything up beautifully, crisply defining our intended sheepskin shape and elevating their overall appearance. This small detail made a significant difference, transforming them from simple cutouts into refined decor pieces.
It’s important to note that this particular version of our DIY faux sheepskin, made from a shaggy area rug, possesses a thicker and more substantial feel compared to our second project (which we’ll be detailing in Part 2). Its inherent structure makes it less ideal for draping delicately over the back of a chair, for instance. Instead, this robust design makes it perfectly suited for use as an actual floor rug, providing warmth and texture underfoot. You could easily create an even larger faux sheepskin by using a bigger shag rug or by simply cutting only one large shape from your chosen material. For our two smaller creations, we discovered that one looked absolutely perfect on our square ottoman in the nursery. Its thickness and stability were precisely what was needed for a surface that required a more structured cover, rather than a thin, flexible throw. This spot quickly became its new home, adding a cozy, inviting touch to the room.
The shaggy texture of these rugs is undeniably charming, isn’t it? Its chunky, tactile nature invites interaction; it’s nearly impossible to walk into the room without wanting to reach out and pet it. This sensory appeal is a huge part of its charm and why we love it so much.
The Joy of a Pet-Approved Creation
Perhaps the highest seal of approval came from Burger, our dog, who absolutely adores it! It’s not uncommon to find him snuggled up on it, basking in a sunbeam. It almost feels as if he can sense that no animals were harmed in its making. Regardless, his contentment is incredibly endearing, and it adds an extra layer of warmth to our newly styled nursery. The second woolly rug is also destined for the nursery, likely serving as a soft area rug on the floor. Stay tuned as we continue to furnish and finalize details in that space.
Bonus Project: The Ultimate Zero-Waste Lumbar Pillow
Remember that leftover strip of rug material from one end after we cut out both of our sheepskin templates? Far from being waste, it sparked an idea for an ingenious bonus project: a cozy, textured lumbar pillow! This meant that for our initial investment of $39, we not only created two fantastic faux sheepskin rugs (costing us just under $20 each), but we also gained an accent pillow, maximizing our material and value. It’s truly a triumph of budget-friendly, sustainable crafting.
To create this charming pillow, we simply took the long piece of leftover shag and trimmed its interior edge to form a neat, elongated rectangle. Then, we gently “folded” it in half lengthwise, creating a plush loop of shaggy texture. The most impressive aspect of this bonus pillow is its filling: we looked no further than additional rug scraps and snippings generated during the cutting process. This ingenious approach meant the pillow was made entirely from leftover rug material, requiring zero additional purchases like batting or fiberfill. It represents virtually zero waste from our entire project, a detail we’re incredibly proud of.
Now, this next step might raise a few eyebrows for some, but as dedicated “work-with-what-you-have” enthusiasts, we opted for a wonderfully simple and effective fastening method: safety pins. Yes, safety pins! We used them to securely close the open side of our makeshift pillow (as seen in the photo where it’s being held together). The sheer brilliance of this solution lies in the rug’s incredibly dense and shaggy texture. Every single safety pin was completely obscured, vanishing into the deep pile. Not only did they hold the pillow together securely, but they also rendered it completely poke-free and safe. The pins are buried so deeply within the shaggy fabric that you would literally have to dig around to find one, and even then, applying enough pressure to open it accidentally (like by leaning on the pillow or during a playful pillow fight) is virtually impossible. We strategically placed a few safety pins along the side connecting the loop, and a few more along the top and bottom seams for added stability.
As this close-up view clearly illustrates, the safety pins are positioned extremely close to the base of the rug’s backing. This ensures they don’t protrude, remain completely invisible, are undetectable by touch, and cannot accidentally open. They are, quite literally, buried two or three inches beneath the luxurious, dense shaggy fabric. This simple, on-hand solution is a testament to resourceful crafting.
Unless you actively dig through the long fibers of the rug in search of them, the safety pins are entirely undetectable. It’s a cheap, readily available, and incredibly effective solution that embodies smart DIY. We simply love finding creative ways to utilize everyday items!
Living with Your DIY Creations: Practicality and Longevity
We’ve been enjoying our new bonus lumbar pillow in the living room for about two weeks now, and we can confidently say that we haven’t once felt any “small metal nubs” when leaning back on it. Its comfort and functionality have been superb. The fact that it was a completely free bonus item, crafted from materials that would otherwise be discarded, makes it all the more cherished. Should we ever decide to revise its construction or remove the pins, the flexibility is there – but honestly, so far, so good. We are incredibly pleased with how we managed to utilize every last scrap of our original rug, transforming what could have been waste into a delightful and practical decor item. This project truly embodies the spirit of sustainable and creative home decorating.
So there you have it – our first take on a DIY faux sheepskin solution, creating robust, floor-worthy rugs from a shaggy area rug. Stay tuned for this afternoon’s post, where we’ll delve into our second project. For that one, we specifically sought out fabric to craft a more flexible, drapey, “throw-like” version. Those were even cheaper and arguably easier to make, making them an accessible DIY project for almost anyone. Well, perhaps not everyone; Burger, while an excellent quality checker, consistently refuses to help with the actual crafting, though he’s always the first to enjoy the cozy fruits of our labor!
Side note: Is it wrong to think he’s the most handsome dog in the world? Seriously, he’s a knockout, isn’t he? But enough about our heart-stoppingly handsome chihuahua. We’d love to hear from you! Have you ever embarked on a DIY project using a rug, or transformed one in a unique, hands-on way? Perhaps you’ve dyed it, spray-painted it, or even used it to “upholster” something like a cube ottoman? Share your thrilling adventures in rug customization in the comments below!