5 Pet-Friendly Design Tips
We love our four-legged friends, but they aren’t always compatible with a well decorated home… or are they? I’m happy to tell you from experience that just because you have a pet doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice how your home looks. My 110 pound Spanish Mastiff Tobin agrees!
Use Indoor/Outdoor Fabrics
The technology around indoor/outdoor fabrics has come such a long way within the last 10 years. We can source performance fabrics that in the softest velvet or chenille that you WANT to have on your sofa indoors. The good news - they can be easily cleaned, including with bleach regardless of the color. Many fabrics will also repel liquids - they’ll bead up on top of the fabric and be wiped away. Perfect for pet messes and muddy paws.
Bonus tip - shy away from any fabric that loops. That will get caught in pet claws. Velvet or a tightly woven twill are great options.
Indoor Outdoor Rugs or Wool Hand Knotted
Just as with the fabrics, indoor outdoor rugs are amazing these days and feel just as luxurious as tufted area rugs. Again, these goods can be cleaned with bleach regardless of the color of the rugs.
If you are opting for a traditional rug, I would choose a natural fiber like wool, in a hand knotted construction. The investment on this may be a little higher upfront, however, this type of rug will be able to withstand multiple professional cleanings without breaking down. A machine tufted rug, especially in synthetic fibers, will eventually start to fall apart and you’ll need to replace the rug before too long. Rugs truly are something that can last for generations if you select the right materials and construction.
Consider hardwood floors over engineered wood
If you are replacing your floors or building a home and debating between hardwood and engineered wood floors, there is a benefit to hardwood floors as a pet owner. Hardwood floors can be refinished multiple times as they scratch, and you’re able to screen and repair small areas as well. Some engineered hardwood floors are able to be refinished one time, however it’s important to note that you will lose any unique finishes on the planks if you chose to do so.
Choose a duvet + insert over a comforter if your pet goes on the bed
This is a big one in my household - a duvet + an insert is much easier to wash at home than a comforter as you can take the duvet cover off the insert and wash it with the sheets. We let our dog on the bed, so we end up washing our duvet 3-4x per month. Another option is to get a doggy blanket on your bed, but this another option if you’d like one less thing to make with your bed
Add a feeding station in the kitchen
If you’re designing a kitchen for either a new build or a kitchen renovation, consider adding a feeding station for your pet. This can include a plumbed pot filler for the water bowl, a built in food bowl, a pull out for food storage as well as a storage spot for leashes, toys and any other accessories that your pet may have. If you have the space, it is wonderful to have everything all in one space. In a recent project, we built in a kennel for a small dog, but you can do the same for pets of any size.
Did you find any of these tips helpful? Were there any that we forgot? Let us know in the comments below!
