We always assumed Ikea’s small, inexpensive sheepskin rugs were faux—until we realized the label read “100% sheepskin.” Oops. It should have been obvious: Ikea is Swedish, and their real sheepskins are affordable. Still, that discovery inspired a different project: we wanted to make faux sheepskins to donate to a relative who would appreciate them. We didn’t want our own rugs to end up in a landfill, and the idea of transforming a wooly shag rug into sheepskin-like pieces seemed perfect. We actually completed two different DIYs; this post covers the first method, with the second to follow.
We began by hunting for an affordable shag rug. Marshall’s delivered: a large, woolly 4 x 6-ish rug for $39. The texture, color and woven fabric backing made it a great candidate. We figured we could cut two sheepskin-shaped rugs from it, making each under $20—cheaper than even some Ikea options.
Next we made a life-sized template. Tape several sheets of paper together to form a large background, then sketch a loose sheepskin shape. Use an Ikea sheepskin photo as a guide if you like. Cut the template out—folding the paper in half before cutting will give you a symmetrical shape if you want—but slight asymmetry makes the result more authentic.
Place the paper template on the back of the rug and trace around it with a thin marker to outline two shapes. We tested a small cut first to see if the shag would unravel. We feared the edges might shed and considered taping around the cut line, but the rug’s construction held together cleanly. No tape needed—each cut stayed neat and the fibers remained secure.
We cut out both outlines and were rewarded with two plush, natural-looking faux sheepskins. The shag’s chunky texture reads like real wool, and creating these ourselves felt satisfying. After cutting, we trimmed around the perimeter of each piece to tidy the edge and define the shape; this little “haircut” made the rugs look polished and intentional.
This version is relatively thick and retains structure, so it’s better as a floor rug than a drapey throw. It works nicely on a square ottoman or the floor; in our nursery it looked charming on an ottoman where a denser, more stable shape is an advantage.
The shaggy texture is irresistible—chunky, tactile and inviting. Our dog, Burger, immediately claimed one as his spot in a sunny window. He seems to approve, and it’s heartwarming to see him snuggled up on it.
We also turned the leftover strip from the rug into a textured lumbar pillow. Trim the scrap into a long rectangle, fold it into a loop so the shag faces outward, and secure the side seams. We used safety pins because the dense pile completely hides them; pins placed close to the rug base are buried beneath the fibers and are neither visible nor reachable during normal use. For stuffing we used leftover rug snippings, creating a pillow entirely from remnants with virtually zero waste.
After a couple of weeks using the pillow, we haven’t felt any pins or experienced problems. If we want to rework the seam later we can remove them, but for now the safety-pin method is a simple, effective solution that kept the project low-cost and waste-free.
So that’s one approach: a structured, chunky faux sheepskin plus a bonus pillow, all from a $39 rug. The second method we’ll share later produces a thinner, more drapey throw-like piece that’s even easier and cheaper. Burger refuses to help with the crafting, but he’s always the first to enjoy the results.
Sidenote: we might be biased, but Burger might be the best-looking dog in the world. Have you ever upcycled a rug—dyed it, spray painted it, or used it to upholster something? We’d love to hear about your rug-customization projects and ideas.