Pet Friendly Interior Decorating Tips

Many Canadian would agree that a house isn’t a home without a pet.  The problem, however, is that a pet can take a toll on your living space and put a damper on your decorating plans. They can scratch floors, stain carpets, and wreak havoc on your furniture.  The reality is simple;  cats and dogs often have their own ideas on how to use the space around them!  Thankfully, there are now plenty of great options available to make your home more pleasant for your pets, and your pocketbook.  Check out the pet friendly interior decorating tips and ideas below.

Pet Friendly Interior Decorating Tips

• Carpets: As comfy as carpets are, they aren’t always the best flooring option for pets. Carpets get stained, collect pet hair, and tend to keep odours. Stain resistant carpets can help reduce these problems but be careful, as most are treated with a topical application of chemicals that may be harmful to your pet’s long-term health. As a safe, cost-effective alternative, try using an area rug or even carpet tiles. Square carpet tiles join together to create a full carpet or area rug and allows you to mix and match designs and colours. As a bonus, you’ll have the flexibility to replace soiled or overused tiles at minimal cost.

 

 

• Flooring: The pitter patter of a pet’s paws is best kept to harder surfaces. Hard surfaces are healthier for your cat or dog, easier to maintain, and cooler for pets with thicker coats to lie on. Wood surfaces such as oak, cherry, and maple are also scratch resistant and more durable than other woods. For a low-cost flooring alternative, try using tile, bamboo, laminate or even rubber flooring. These types of surfaces will resist your pet’s claw marks and help prevent odour retention too.
• Turn That Wasted Space Into Your Animal’s Special Room:  Not sure what to do with the space under the stairs, or that little nook that doesn’t seem to fit any of the  furniture you own?  Why not turn it into your animal’s own little space?  Here are two great ideas:

 

 

 

• Integrate Feeding Dishes Into Your Furniture: Hate having the dog dishes sitting out in the kitchen?  Tired of tripping over the water bowl?  Consider building in a feeding station for your pets. Here are a few great ideas:

 

 

 

•  Fabrics and Furniture: Let’s face it, keeping your dog or cat off the couch isn’t always easy. So, when searching for pet-friendly furniture, opt for tightly woven fabrics that can resist tears and rips. Crypton, for example, is a nearly indestructible synthetic fabric. It’s stain-resistant and perfect for defending against muddy paws and the dirt and grime that pet fur can leave behind. Quality leathers, ultra suede and micro fibers are all extremely durable, odour resistant, and easy to clean. And if purchasing a new sofa isn’t in the plans, try using a slipcover. Slipcovers can be custom designed to fit over any sofa, chair, or futon mattress that Fido likes to sleep on when you’re not home.
• Invest in furniture specifically for your four-legged friend.  My dog loves to sit on the couch but she also knows that there are times when that isn’t acceptable.  Not because she’s inherently brilliant, trust me that’s not it!  It’s simply because she loves her doggie beds.  I have to do is tell her “Go to bed” and upon hearing this she dutifully moves herself to her bed –  or one of the several located in different parts of the house.  If you give them a place to sit – they may just use it!  Of course, you can always think a little outside the box – check out these two great ideas:

 

 

 

• Hide that litter box! As cats are fairly private animals to begin with – they’ll probably thank you for putting the litter box somewhere that gives them some extra private time.  Think about putting it in a room that is under-utilized or consider customizing a piece of furniture or cabinetry to completely hide the box.  The idea below is great!

 

A pet friendly home doesn’t mean that your interior decorating ideas have to ‘go to the dogs’. With the right mix of fabrics, flooring, and furniture, you and your pet can live in comfort and style.