A genuine New Zealand throw and a genuine sheepskin rug solve a similar problem, adding warmth and texture to a room, but they're built from completely different materials and suit different jobs. If you're deciding between the two, or wondering whether you actually need both, here's an honest comparison.
What's Actually in a New Zealand Wool Throw
Our New Zealand Wool Throws are a merino wool blend rather than a single fibre: predominantly merino wool, blended with possum fur and a small amount of mulberry silk. This is the classic New Zealand "possum merino" combination, prized locally for being exceptionally light and warm for its weight, since possum fibre is hollow and traps air more effectively than wool alone. The result is a throw that feels softer and drapes more like a fine blanket than a heavy woollen rug, and it comes in three tonal colourways: Harvest, Dapple and Monochrome.
Wool Throw vs Sheepskin Rug: The Real Differences
| Wool Throw | Sheepskin Rug | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Knitted merino wool, possum fur and silk blend, no skin backing | A genuine tanned sheep pelt, wool still attached to the skin |
| Weight | Light, easy to fold, carry room to room or pack for travel | Heavier, especially multi-pelt sizes, generally stays in one place |
| Where it works | Over a sofa arm, the end of a bed, or wrapped around your shoulders | On the floor, over furniture, or as a statement piece in a room |
| Look | Soft tonal knit, more like a fine blanket | Natural hide shape and texture, no two pelts identical |
| Care | Delicate blend; check the garment's own care label before washing | Regular shaking and brushing, occasional spot clean; see our full care guide |
Neither one replaces the other. A sheepskin rug is a natural hide and reads as a statement piece on a floor or draped over a chair, while a wool throw is a lighter, more portable layer that's easier to move around the house or take with you. If you already have a rug and want something to grab off the sofa on a cold evening, or you're after something lighter for a bed or reading chair, a throw fills a different gap rather than duplicating what a rug does.
Using a Wool Throw and a Sheepskin Rug Together
The two pair naturally because they're different textures rather than competing versions of the same thing. A single-pelt sheepskin rug anchoring a reading chair with a wool throw folded over the arm gives you two different kinds of warmth and texture in the same spot without either one looking out of place. Our full guide to sheepskin rug sizes and wool types covers choosing a rug if that's the piece you're missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a wool throw as warm as a sheepskin rug?
They're warm in different ways. A sheepskin rug's wool pile traps a thick layer of air and is generally the warmer option underfoot or over furniture, while a possum merino throw is lighter but still exceptionally warm for its weight, closer to how a fine wool scarf feels than a heavy rug.
Are wool throws comfortable?
Yes. The possum fibre in a merino blend like this one softens the feel considerably compared with wool alone, so it sits closer to cashmere than a traditional scratchy wool blanket.
Can I wash a New Zealand wool throw at home?
Follow the care label on your specific throw rather than a general rule; possum merino and other delicate wool blends often need gentler handling than a sturdier sheepskin rug does, and washing incorrectly can affect the loft and softness.
Is a wool throw genuine sheepskin?
No. A throw like this is a knitted textile made from wool, possum fur and silk fibres with no skin backing, while a sheepskin rug is a tanned animal hide with the wool still attached. They're both genuine, natural New Zealand products, just built completely differently.
Whether you go for a throw, a rug, or both comes down to how you actually want to use it: light and portable, or a heavier natural statement piece. Browse the full wool and sheepskin throws range or the sheepskin rug collection to compare in person.
