Your new puppy might be so adorable that he has thousands of followers on Instagram. But how cute is he when he sheds all over your couch? What about when your cat scratches your favorite armchair?
Don’t worry-having a pet and having a beautiful home are not mutually exclusive.
But remember that accidents will happen, so you can’t be too precious about anything. (If you are, owning a pet might not be the right decision for you.) The key is to design your home with pet-friendly surfaces and fabrics to minimize damage and cut your cleaning time. Our designers love home decor as much as they love their pets, so they outlined the items that you should consider and those you should avoid when renovating a home or redecorating a rental. So, keep these tips in mind to avoid making an expensive mistake.
Area rugs are great for defining spaces and making them pop. Unfortunately, they can easily get covered in dirt, fur, and much, much worse. Also, keep the items on the floor to a minimum. For example, it might look cook to lean artwork against, the wall, but if you’re not regularly dusting those areas, they can be magnets for dust and hair. It can also be a tempting place for dogs to mark, if you know what we mean.
Do: Choose tough fabrics that can withstand heavy use.
Area rugs made from fabrics like sisal, silk, and wool are solid choices for pet owners because they’re sturdy and can be cleaned. Also, rugs with patterns and colors can help mask shedding and light stains.
Don’t: Select materials that stain easily.
Avoid rugs in fabrics like viscose, rayon, art silk (which is short for “artificial,” and not “artful” or “artistic,” in case you were wondering). These rugs can be gorgeous, but overall they’re too delicate to withstand life with a pet.
Any hard-surface flooring is obviously going to be more forgiving to pets than textiles, but there are some other things you can do to keep things as clean as possible. For example, use a floor duster on your hard surface flooring at few times a week, or every day if your dog or cat is a serious shedder.
Do: Pick flooring that can stand up to scratches and moisture.
Tile is a great flooring option for pet owners, but you probably don’t want it in every single room. In that case, try sealed hardwood or synthetic woods, which are durable and less expensive than hardwood.
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