5 Tips for a Chic, Pet-Friendly Home

Can Your Home be Beautiful and Pet-Friendly?

Is your home decor decided by your black, brown, or yellow Lab? Does your kitty call the shots in interior design? We are here to give you some stylish solutions for a pet-friendly home.

The first step is to choose the right materials while accommodating your animals’ needs.

 before a nap…

 …after a nap

Of course we had to include these photos of the newest member of our team, Baker. I guarantee he made you smile!

1. Skip wall-to-wall carpet

Carpet traps pet hair, absorbs odors and dander and soaks up inevitable pet-related stains like a sponge. If carpet is a must, choose low pile. It resembles something you might see in a hotel room or lobby. It’s easier to clean and tends to trap less dirt and hair than its high pile counterpart. Also, avoid full-loop carpet because pet’s nails can snag and unravel it by catching a single woven loop. Another great option is to go with modular carpet tiles. If your puppy happens to have an accident, you can pull up the dirty tile and wash it off or replace it with a new one. It’s much cheaper than replacing an entire room of carpeting.

2. Choose your area rugs wisely

We like to recommend 100% nylon fiber carpet, cut to size, and bound into an area rug. Nylon is a commercial grade fiber that can be steam cleaned, resists stains and odors, and offers lots of beautiful patterns and colors. If you have a pet that has accidents, or a cat that leaves fur-balls behind, nylon is terrific because it cleans so well. If your pet is well housebroken, consider a wool oriental rug. Wool cleans and wears very well and the busy pattern hides footprints and fur between vacuuming. Try to avoid synthetics such as olefin fiber. They tend to hold onto stains and get dingy-looking over time. Be sure to have your area rugs steam cleaned professionally at least once a year, and two or three times a year if you have messy pets. The cleaning professionals can also leave you a bottle of professional pet stain remover to use in an emergency. A professional cleaning extracts dirt and sand out of the back of the rug or carpet. This is very important because the friction of dirt particles rubbing on the back of the rug is what wears out the fibers. Professionally cleaned carpets and area rugs always last much longer.

3. Go for hard surface flooring

Bare floors are the way to go, but bare doesn’t have to be boring. The best flooring for homes with pets is porcelain tile because it’s easy to clean and pretty much stain resistant. Tile will withstand the everyday treks of a pets nails plus it gives our furry four-legged friends a cool place to nap on a hot summers day. Many tile suppliers now carry porcelain floor tile that looks like real hardwood, I’m sure you’ve seen it around. Porous materials like marble or other natural stones aren’t as pet-proof as other hard surfaces, even if they have been sealed. Hardwood floors are also easy to clean, but keep in mind that medium to large dogs can scratch even the most durable hardwood.

4. Use stain resistant fabrics

If you let you pets on the furniture you will definitely want to have it covered in a pet-friendly fabric. Certain sensitive fabrics, such as wool, satin, velvet, and in some cases even leather, are best avoided in the presence of animals. There are a wide variety of pet-friendly fabrics available today through interior designers or upholstery workrooms. Some of our go-to fabrics for clients living with their furry friends are distressed leather, ultra suede, and microfiber. Any indoor-outdoor fabrics like Sunbrella or high performance fabrics like Crypton are the true iron horses! When selecting fabrics for your home keep color in mind, If you choose fabrics and other materials that are in the same color family as your dog or cat’s fur the inevitable “shedding problem” becomes less obvious.

5. Keep your paint finishes in mind

Even if your pet is straight from the groomer and squeaky clean they will inevitably leave smudges on walls, doorjambs, and trim work. Semi-gloss paint is the easiest to wipe down, but its sheen will call attention to every ding and irregularity in your walls. Satin or eggshell finishes are more elegant and are just as easy to clean as glossier paint. Stay away from flat paint finishes on your walls as it is nearly impossible to clean.

If you make the right choices from the start when selecting flooring materials and furnishings, you won’t have to worry about pets wreaking havoc on your home. Pet-friendly materials that are easy to clean are the most preferable for a cleaner, healthier, and more relaxed way of living with your four-legged companions.

For more inspiration follow our Pet-Friendly Design Pinterest board.

More to read:
Interior Design Style Guide
Our Favorite Kid Friendly Fabrics
Organize Your Home: Our Top Decluttering Tips