Sheepskin Beanbags: The Complete Buying Guide

By Louise, founder of Rugicity

A sheepskin beanbag is one of those pieces that instantly makes a room feel more relaxed, somewhere to properly sink in, curl up, and switch off. But before you buy one, there are a few honest, practical things worth knowing, starting with something a lot of buyers aren't told upfront. Here's my complete guide.

A Note on Filling, What You Need to Know Before You Buy

I'd rather tell you this now than have it be a surprise on delivery day: our sheepskin beanbags arrive unfilled. You'll need to fill it yourself with beanbag filling beans before it's ready to sink into.

This isn't unusual, in fact, most genuine sheepskin beanbags across the market work this way, since shipping a beanbag already filled with beans would make it enormous and expensive to deliver. But I know it can catch people out if nobody mentions it, so I'd rather be upfront.

What you'll need: for our XL beanbags, I'd recommend around 20 cubic feet of standard polystyrene beanbag filling beans. Most large homeware retailers and online marketplaces stock this, it's a genuinely common product, so it's easy to find and generally inexpensive.

A couple of practical tips:

• Filling a beanbag is a two-person job if you can manage it, one to hold the liner open, one to pour, it makes a genuinely fiddly task much easier.
• Do it somewhere you don't mind a few stray beads escaping, filling beans have a habit of finding their way across a room if you're not careful.
• You can always add a little more filling later if it settles or compresses over time with use.

How to Choose the Right Sheepskin Beanbag for Your Space

Colour and room

Since a sheepskin beanbag tends to be a genuine statement piece, not a piece you tuck away, colour matters more here than with most furniture. Lighter tones like Natural White or Champagne Beige feel soft and airy, lovely in a bright living room or bedroom. Warmer tones like Light Brown, Stone, or the deeper richness of Chocolate Brown bring a cosier, more grounded feel, while Blush Pink adds a gentle pop of colour without overwhelming a room. Think about the room's existing palette, a beanbag this size will genuinely influence the whole space, so it's worth choosing a colour you're confident will still feel right in a year, not just today.

Who are they best for?

A sheepskin beanbag suits you if you want a genuinely comfortable, informal seat that still feels beautiful rather than purely functional, a reading corner, an extra spot for guests, or simply somewhere to properly relax in a bedroom or living room. It's less suited to households wanting something that copes with heavy daily wear from very young children or muddy pets, real sheepskin rewards a little care, so it's better suited to a considered, relatively low-traffic spot in your home.

Caring for Your Sheepskin Beanbag

Sheepskin is genuinely easier to live with than people expect. Here's how I look after mine:

• Give it a gentle air occasionally, opening a window nearby or letting it sit in a well-ventilated room keeps it fresh, sheepskin is naturally quite self-cleaning.
• Brush gently with a wire or wool-safe brush every so often to keep the fibres soft and untangled.
• Spot clean promptly with a damp cloth and lukewarm water (max 25°C) if anything spills. If you'd like to use a detergent, stick to wool wash or lanolin, harsh detergents can damage the wool's natural properties.
• Avoid getting it too wet. Soaking or over-wetting the sheepskin can affect the material, so blot rather than saturate.
• Never dry it on a heater or in a tumble dryer. Dry flat on a line outside instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does my sheepskin beanbag come filled? A: No, our sheepskin beanbags arrive unfilled. You'll need to add beanbag filling beans yourself before it's ready to use, around 20 cubic feet for our XL size.

Q: Where can I buy beanbag filling? A: Standard polystyrene beanbag filling beans are widely available from large homeware retailers and online marketplaces. It's a common, inexpensive product, so it's easy to source.

Q: Is filling a beanbag difficult to do myself? A: It's straightforward but genuinely easier with two people, one to hold the liner open and one to pour. Doing it somewhere you don't mind the odd stray bead is a good idea too.

Q: Are sheepskin beanbags comfortable for everyday use? A: Yes, they're wonderfully soft and relaxing to sink into. They suit a considered, lower-traffic spot best, such as a reading corner or bedroom, rather than an area that takes heavy daily wear.

Q: Do sheepskin beanbags shed? A: A small amount of natural shedding is normal, especially when new, and settles down with gentle, regular brushing. It's simply how a natural fibre behaves, not a sign of poor quality.

Q: Is sheepskin good for people with allergies? A: Yes, real sheepskin is naturally hypoallergenic, thanks to lanolin, which helps resist dust mites rather than trapping them, unlike some synthetic materials.

Q: Can I clean my sheepskin beanbag with water? A: You can spot clean with a damp cloth and lukewarm water, but avoid soaking or over-wetting it. Never machine wash or tumble dry, dry flat on a line outside instead.

Find Your Perfect Sheepskin Beanbag at Rugicity

A genuine sheepskin beanbag is a beautiful, statement addition to any room, somewhere to properly relax, styled the way you want it. Browse my collection of sheepskin beanbags to find your colour.

Still deciding, or have a question about filling, sizing, or care? I'm Louise, the owner of Rugicity, and I'm always happy to talk you through it personally, no bots, no scripts, just honest advice from someone who genuinely loves helping people find the perfect finishing piece for a room they love. Ask Louise a question and I'll get back to you myself.