The home interior trend that will keep you warm all winter

Winter 2019 may well be remembered as the year the “shaggy” look in furnishings truly came of age.

While shaggy sheepskin cushions, throws and rugs have been popular for a year or two, in the past 12 months, sheepskin (real and otherwise) has started appearing on chairs, bar stools, bench seats, beanbags and ottomans as a “must-have”.

And, let’s face it. What could be more cosy in winter than snuggling into a sheepskin-covered chair?

Coco Republic highlights the ultra-shaggy Cabana chair in Yeti from UK manufacturer Timothy Oulton as a good example – the firm also makes a rustic bench that features the long-haired sheepskin.

Last time we looked, a Yeti (aka abominable snowman) was simply a figment of people’s imagination, but it’s a fair enough description of the look that’s very much in vogue.

As Oulton says: “It always starts with the materials first. We look for the most authentic, sensory materials and then think how best we can use them. Great interiors have the power to change how you feel, so whether it’s down time or entertaining, it’s about engaging the senses and feeling alive.”

Danish people love to talk about hygge (pronounced hoo-ga), the cosy, wrap-up-warm-and-sit-by-the-fire lifestyle that helps get you through a cold winter. It’s the perfect term for the current trend – think sheepskin teamed with hot chocolate and glowing candles.

Hygge offers a way to keep the world and all its nastiness at bay, and it provides a chance to focus on simple pleasures and good company.

Amanda Dorset of Wilson and Dorset, which manufactures sheepskin beanbags, rugs and “stones”, puts the current trend down to our hectic lifestyles. “People are looking for a calm, warm, inviting environment to come home to, with a touch of natural luxury. And consumers are more conscious about buying something that lasts.

“Sheepskin [as a decor trend] has actually been around a long time,” she says. “My parents in-law used to have wall-to-wall shag pile carpet in their home in the 1970s. We all have photos of us 1970s babies kicking back on a sheepskin.

“Sheepskins were just part of our everyday living – in the bedroom, living room and in the car.”

Dorset says synthetics, which reigned the 1980s and 1990s, don’t have the same qualities. “Sheepskin is strong, naturally anti-microbial, doesn’t hold odour, and regulates humidity in your living space. It naturally repels dirt and is hydrophobic, so any spillages of water, wine or coffee sit on top of the fibre – they don’t sink in and stain.”

Incorporating sheepskins into your decor doesn’t mean you can’t streamline your home interior. “We encourage people to take the time to stand back and think about the furniture they really need in their living space,” says Dorset. “Shed the excess, and carefully select pieces that have a clear function, feel good and foster connection.”

The designer says movable pieces, such as the “shaggy bags”, provide versatility, encouraging “a fluid and more open way of living”.

Most homewares stores are highlighting shaggy furnishings in their winter collections, because it’s all about textural contrasts. A shaggy cushion is often teamed with velvet, which is another strong look for winter.

And it’s most definitely not just about natural shades. The new “shaggy” also comes in strong colours, with inky blue, burgundy and mustard coming out tops. There’s still a fair bit of millennial pink out there too.

Freedom furniture buyer Mylez Moss agrees the trend of textural “yeti-style” cushions and seating accessories is coming back in full force.

“It’s a way to add a lush accent without needing to go full throttle,” he says. “These soft furnishings are best paired with contrasting worn leather or simple upholstery to really pop. Be brave with your space and go bold with the colour too. The petrol blue Mongolian cushion is the perfect companion to neutral tans or beige.”

French Country Collections is promoting the layered look in rich, bold colours. Marketing manager Lauren Sterling says she is in love with “the rich and decadent colours of berry, chocolate and mustard”.

“Soft fur and velvets adorned with fringes and tassels are perfect for creating a luxurious winter hideaway,” she says.

Of course, there is just one problem with the shaggy trend – you may have to fight your pets for a place to sit.

• This story originally appeared on stuff.co.nz