Sheepskin Footstools & Benches: The Complete Buying Guide

By Louise, founder of Rugicity

A sheepskin footstool or bench is one of those pieces that quietly transforms a room, somewhere soft to rest your feet, an extra perch when friends come round, or simply a beautiful, tactile finishing touch that makes a space feel considered rather than left half-finished. Here's my guide to choosing, styling, and living with one beautifully.

How to Choose the Right Sheepskin Footstool or Bench for Your Space

Size and height

The right proportions make all the difference to how a piece feels in a room, not just how it functions. A lower footstool suits a relaxed, sink-into-the-sofa moment, while a slightly taller one feels more considered beside a chair, keeping your feet level with your seat. Measure the space before you choose, a footstool should feel like part of the room's flow, not squeezed in as an afterthought.

"It adds such a quirky element to the room and is so comfy and cosy to rest my legs on from the sofa." — Gillian Sanders, verified customer, on the Shearling End of Bed Bench Beige

One stool or a bench for two

A single footstool suits a reading corner, a bedside spot, or a considered accent beside an armchair. A bench brings a little more presence, a shared spot at the end of a bed, a statement in an entryway, or extra seating that still feels intentional rather than purely practical.

Can it double as a side table?

If you'd like your footstool to earn its keep as an occasional side table too, a flatter, sturdier top will naturally work best on its own, giving you a stable surface for a cup of tea or a stack of books. But even a plusher, more cushioned footstool can double up beautifully this way, simply add a styled tray on top, and you've instantly got a surface for candles, books, or your morning coffee, without losing any of that soft, sink-in comfort underfoot.

Should You Pair a Sheepskin Footstool with a Sheepskin Rug?

Yes, pairing a sheepskin footstool with a sheepskin rug is a lovely way to add warmth, texture and a real sense of quiet luxury to a room. The secret is choosing complementary tones and styling them thoughtfully, rather than matching every detail like a furniture set. The most beautiful interiors are layered, not perfectly coordinated.

A few things I always keep in mind:

• Stay within a colour family, rather than matching exactly. An ivory rug with a cream or natural white footstool, or a taupe rug with a light brown footstool, feels curated rather than uniform.
• Think about proportion. Let the rug anchor the room, and let the footstool act as the accent piece, not the other way around.
• Sit it beside something with a different texture. A wooden coffee table, a leather armchair, or a linen sofa all give a sheepskin footstool something to contrast against, so it reads as a deliberate accent rather than getting lost among too much of the same softness.
• Let each piece do a different job. The rug softens the whole floor underfoot, while the footstool offers somewhere to rest your feet, extra seating, or even a small side table with a tray on top.

One note of caution: if your room already has plenty of soft texture, boucle chairs, chunky knit throws, faux fur cushions, one sheepskin piece is often enough. But in a room with wooden floors, stone tiles, or clean, contemporary furniture, a sheepskin rug and footstool together add warmth without ever feeling overdone.

Pairing Your Footstool or Bench with a Rug

Sheepskin isn't the only beautiful option underfoot. A wool rug makes a lovely pairing, echoing the same natural warmth while giving your footstool a slightly firmer, more structured backdrop to sit against. For even more contrast, a jute or sisal rug lets the softness of the sheepskin really stand out against a more textured, natural weave.

A leather rug is another beautiful option worth considering. The smooth, structured character of leather makes a striking contrast against the softness of sheepskin, two natural materials with very different textures, playing off each other rather than competing.

If you're still deciding on a rug for the room, my full rug material guide can help you choose.

Caring for Your Sheepskin Footstool or Bench

A beautiful piece deserves a little care to keep it looking its best for years, and real 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, avoid over-brushing.
• Spot clean spills immediately with a damp cloth and a small amount of mild wool detergent, never a harsh household cleaner.
• Avoid getting it too wet. Since our footstools and benches don't have a removable cover, the sheepskin is fixed to the leather backing, so soaking it or over-wetting it during cleaning can cause the leather to shrink or warp. Blot spills rather than saturating the fibres, and if it ever needs a proper deep clean, a specialist sheepskin cleaning service is the safest option.
• Keep it out of direct, prolonged sunlight, to avoid the leather backing drying out or the wool fading over time.

"Love my footstool, it's exactly what I wanted and any questions I had about delivery were replied to straight away. Would definitely recommend." — Julie Payne, verified customer on the Shearling Footstool Natural White

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I pair my sheepskin footstool with a sheepskin rug? A: Yes, it can work beautifully, the key is choosing complementary tones rather than an exact match, and letting the rug anchor the room while the footstool acts as the accent. Wool, jute, sisal, or leather rugs also make striking, contrasting pairings if you'd prefer to mix materials underfoot.

Q: How do I clean a sheepskin footstool if it gets a stain? A: Since our footstools and benches don't have a removable cover, they're not designed to be soaked or heavily wetted, the leather backing can shrink or warp if it gets too wet. Blot spills promptly with a slightly damp cloth rather than soaking the area, and for anything more stubborn, a specialist sheepskin cleaning service is the safest option.

Q: Does real sheepskin shed? A: A small amount of natural shedding is normal, especially when new, and settles down with gentle, regular brushing. This isn't a sign of poor quality, it's simply how a natural fibre behaves.

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: What size footstool do I need? A: It depends on how you'll use it and the size of your seating. As a general guide, make sure there's enough room in front of your chair or sofa to rest your feet comfortably without the footstool feeling cramped against other furniture.

Q: Can a sheepskin bench seat two people? A: Yes, benches are a lovely option if you want to seat two, or simply want a bigger, more substantial piece for a larger space, such as the end of a bed or an entryway.

Find Your Perfect Footstool or Bench at Rugicity

Whether you're after a cosy single footstool or a statement bench, a genuine sheepskin piece is a beautiful, long-lasting addition to your home. Browse my collection of sheepskin stools and benches to find the perfect piece for your space.

"Rugicity is the real deal... actual person (Louise) at the end of the line. Quick and trustworthy service, and the footstool I ordered was worth every penny... I would 100% recommend her company Rugicity to anyone." — Nicky Branton, verified customer, via Trustpilot, on the Shearling Footstool White

Still not sure which size or style is right for you? I'm Louise, the owner of Rugicity, and I'm always happy to talk you through your options personally, no bots, no scripts, just honest advice from someone who genuinely loves helping people find that perfect finishing piece for a room they love. Ask Louise a question and I'll get back to you myself.