We’ve loved spending more time relaxing outdoors lately during that recent sunny weather. Perhaps there’s the novelty factor as we don’t get to enjoy the alfresco life for much of the year here in Britain.

With the optimism that we still have some more warm and sunny days ahead of us, we thought we’d share some inspiration and ideas for enjoying your outdoor living area for summer.

As part of that, we’d encourage you to bring a sheepskin or animal hide in to your outdoor space this summer, whether you have a garden, a courtyard or balcony. It will add practicality, comfort and bags of style to your outdoor space, whether you are relaxing in solitude or entertaining family and friends.

Although you might see fleeces as an accessory to keep you warm in winter when it’s cool outside, sheepskins also help keep you cool in hot weather due to their moisture wicking properties. So here’s some inspiration and our round-up of reasons to take sheepskins and hides outside:

1. To soften hard garden furniture

Your outdoor furniture needs to be practical and weatherproof, and so is often made of wood, plastic or even cast iron. However, these are not always make the most comfortable materials to sit on directly, with their hard edges, or surfaces that your skin sticks to.

So use a sheepskin or hide as a chair cover on your seats or loungers. Not only are they great for sitting on but they are also big enough to go along the seat back and soften that area too.


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Chairs made from wicker and rattan are also popular for using outdoors, but again their hardness and patterned texture requires more comfort.


Sheepskins For Summer Skin On Cane Chair


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2. To dine down low

Informal gatherings sitting on the grass are possible when the ground is dry in summer. You could simply use an animal hide or sheepskin as a more stylish alternative to a picnic rug.

You could also gather for eating around a low table, with the area around lined with ample cushions, some sheepskins to make a spongier surface to sit on. Bring out a coffee table from indoors or use some pallets to create a makeshift table to sit around.

A large cow hide placed under the table with room for seating around will also look fab.


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3. To lie back and lounge in comfort

Nothing says summertime relaxing like kicking back in a hammock but to increase the comfort factor, line it with a sheepskin. (Again remember sheepskins help keep you cool in summer.)

This has surely got to be one of the best ways to spend a lazy sunny day?!

Johanna Flyckt Gashi

If you’re lucky enough to have a swing bench at the bottom of your garden, use a reindeer hide or two as a seat cover. One of our customers - Caroline McKittrick - sent us this fab picture of her swing bench featuring two reindeer hides she’d purchased from us.

4. Make small outdoor spaces more inviting

If you don't have much outdoor space, you can still make a terrace, small courtyard or patio more inviting and comfortable for summer. Take small bistro dining sets, benches, or make a day bed from pallets and line with cushions, rugs, sheepskins or hides. We love the ideas in the pics below...


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5. Give your fleece or hide a good airing

Aside from any relaxation or entertaining plans this summer, the warmer drier weather is a great time to air your fleece or hide after a long time indoors. Simply hang it over a washing line or balcony for a few hours, in bright natural light but not direct sunlight, as this could cause hides to shed hairs and sheepskins to harden or shrink.

Read here for more tips on caring for your sheepskin or animal hide.

Don’t forget to add some finishing touches

There are plenty of other smaller touches for making your garden, balcony or terrace a more welcoming space to be on a summer's day - or evening, especially if you've got friends and family coming over.

If you’ve got a sideboard or old workbench outside, turn it into a makeshift bar area to prepare some much needed refreshment.

One it gets to evening, the fading light is a great excuse to add some festoon lights outdoors, which are very popular right now - or big hurricane lamps with candles to add some appealing ambience.

And if it cools off in the evening may want to add a brazier for a fire to sit around.


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Get more inspiration on Pinterest

For more ideas like these, check out our Pinterest board - Outdoor living ideas for summer.