A curly sheepskin rug is a genuine New Zealand Merino skin with a short, tightly curled fleece that sits close to the hide. It is the harder-wearing of our two fleece types, and the one to choose if the skin is going somewhere it gets used every day.

Why pick curly over longwool

The short pile springs back instead of flattening, so a curly sheepskin rug keeps its shape under weight and along the paths people walk. It also holds less dust than a deep pile, which means a shake and an airing is usually all the upkeep it needs. If the skin is going on a dining chair, an office chair or a floor, this is the practical choice.

The trade-off is depth. Longwool is the one you sink a hand into. Curly is the one that still looks tidy after a year of daily use.

The three sizes

• Single, one whole skin, about 35 in long. Good as a sheepskin chair cover, on a sofa corner, or at the end of a bed. $79.
• Double, two skins seamed into a runner, about 67 x 24 in. For a bench, a sofa back, or beside the bed. $135.
• Quad, four skins seamed into a rectangle, about 67 x 43 in. The floor rug. $249.

All three come in Pearl, Taupe, Ivory and Grey. Ivory is the natural, undyed shade and the most light-stable, so it handles a bright room best. Sizes are approximate, since every skin is shaped by the animal it came from. The size guide has the full measurements.

Care and delivery

Shake it, air it, and brush the fleece to keep the curl open. When one needs a real clean, hand wash it in cool water and dry it flat, away from heat. Orders ship from within the USA, shipping is free over $99, and you have 30 days to return anything.