Shopping for sheepskin rugs can be a daunting task because it is not a topic that most people know much about. They can be a great addition to any home but it is important to find quality sheepskin.. Here are a few tips that buyers should consider before making a purchase.

Color The way the wool is dyed or treated is important to the overall quality of the product. Bleaching weakens the leather and wool of sheepskin, and is not recommended. This means that natural sheepskin is going to look more ivory or beige than white. Also, going for exact colors is hard when you are dealing with natural rugs and trying to match whites is nearly impossible. An easy way to get around this is by contrasting the colors you already have in the room with the sheepskin. This way you don't need to match colors.

Chromium Tanning Tanning is a necessary step in order to prevent decomposition. There are several different techniques but chromium tanning is considered to be the most effective and efficient process. Pelts so treated will actually resist shrinking in hot water.

Breed Not every breed of sheep is ideal for use in the home. Each breed has distinct characteristics that make it suitable for different purposes. When decorating a home, the Merino breed is the best choice. The thickness of the hair is important and the Merino breed has the thinnest, softest wool of all breeds. It also traps in heat better than other wool which makes it good for bed spreads.

Custom or Larger Sheepskin The most common sheepskin rug is made from a single pelt (about 2' x 3'). If you need to cover a larger area, many dealers will have rugs in 2, 4, 8, and even 10-pelt configurations. And if an even larger rug is needed, a custom rug maker can combine as many pelts as necessary. Custom rugs can be made with straight, or naturally curved outlines, and in a great variety of colors. Custom rugs may cost a little more but can add a personal touch.

Sheepskin is a great way to accentuate your living room and is quite comfortable to lay on. You can use them as a throw pillow, bedspread, or rug and they also make a great couch cover. If you have a room that has predominately dark colors, you could get an ivory, natural sheepskin, rug that would really complement the tone of the room. It will keep you warm but won't over heat you and it is even hypoallergenic. While the pelts of alpaca rugs are generally softer than wool, there is more stitching required which makes sheepskin more suitable to walk or lay on.