Right at Home: Faux furs inject some fluffy and fabulous into home decor

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Faux fur. For decades, the term conjured up images of obvious artificiality.

Its fakeness often became a style feature—“fun fur” had colours and patterns so exaggerated there was never any doubt that the fur came from a factory, not a forest. And while the look may have been sometimes passable as real, the “hand,” or feel, gave the game away. Like early versions of the shag rug, faux fur felt rough and plastic-y.

Today’s versions are remarkably realistic. Often, the acrylic pile that makes up much of faux fur is augmented with natural fibers like wool, silk and cotton rayon, with various silicones and resins used to improve the lustre. Manufacturers are working with other techniques, like mixing shrinkable and non-shrinkable fibers, as well as fine and coarse fibers, to even more closely resemble complex furs like beaver, mink and river otter.

In this season’s home decor offerings, faux furs are common in pillows, throws and stools. They add a touch of drama and cruelty-free coziness.

Set decorator Beth Kushnick, whose chic rooms on CBS’ “The Good Wife” garnered such a following that she launched her own line of decorative accessories, called BAK Home and available at Wayfair and AllModern, likes to use faux fur throws and pillows as a textural element.

“Keeping them in the same colour palette as the sofa or bed works best and creates another layer,” she says.

For her taste, a little fur goes far.

“I use it sparingly, but specifically.

Picture a crisp bed of white linens with a white faux fur throw, or a black velvet sofa with black faux fur pillows as a backdrop for some other patterned pillows,” she says.

Pottery Barn has throws and pillows in a warm, caramel-hued faux fur, as well as imitation chinchilla and brown bear.

(www.potterybarn.com )

At Wayfair, find faux red fox, cheetah and sable patterned throws, all machine-washable. (www.wayfair.com )

A white, shaggy, oversize ottoman at Urban Outfitters would be a fun addition to a family room, or a playful element in an otherwise traditional living space. (www.urbanoutfitters.com )

Cute little stools are popping up like furry mushrooms all over the winter decor marketplace. World Market’s got a faux flokati one on distressed wooden legs; Target’s has a tan and black fur seat and brass hairpin legs. (www.worldmarket.com ; www.target.com )

Unusual faux furs like coyote, lemur and snow leopard are found in accessories at www.fabulousfurs.com .

Z Gallerie’s Ludlow slipper chair, all dressed up in ivory plush with Lucite legs, would be a cushy spot to relax in a bedroom. (www.zgallerie.com )

And Restoration Hardware’s oversize ultra-faux-fur throws, in a neutral palette of fog, graphite and cream, are an indulgence best savored on a bed or chaise. An exotic collection mimics Siberian fox and Russian mink. (www.restorationhardware.com )