By Jessica DeMarco, Pellegrini Design
Creating a Pet Friendly Home: Tips, Tricks, and Things to Avoid
I am a passionate interior designer with an eye for curating comfortable, stylish, and functional spaces. My most loyal companion, Brewer, an energetic loving black lab, is my constant source of energy, love, and also inspiration. Together, we navigate the challenges of maintaining a beautiful home that caters to both of our needs, implementing pet-friendly design solutions that provide comfort, style, and cleanliness for both of us!
Our pets bring excitement, joy, and love into our home, yet with this comes chaos as well! Designing a pet-friendly home can certainly pose challenges when attempting to curate a space based on aesthetics, style, and comfort. Factors ranging from shedding fur, long nails, and of course dog zoomies are things to consider when finding the right materials and furnishings for your home. Searching for the right balance between practicality and a stylish space is a common design challenge. Here are some tips for selecting beautiful and functional items for your home that not only can work with pets, but can allow your personality and design style to shine through!
What are the Right Materials?
Furniture: Finding the right furniture that is pet friendly, begins with recognizing the elements involved in creating durable furniture. This means considering what materials the furniture is made out of. Such as ensuring the materials are scratch resistant or easy to clean. Choosing options that are heavier are beneficial if you have a larger dog who may be prone to running into tables and chairs, limiting the possibility of furniture knocking over. Rounded corners on furniture such as coffee tables creates a safer, more durable environment for your pets as well.
Flooring Options: If you have ever seen a dog run across marble floors, I am sure you have seen them slip more times than you can count! Considerations on flooring can range from options that are durable, anti-slip, and scratch-resistant. Flooring such as bamboo, tile, or engineered hardwood are less prone to scratches and easier to clean.
Rugs & Carpet: When considering carpet or rugs in your home, there are pet-friendly options that are more durable than others and easy to clean! The materials you choose will become a huge factor on their performance. A rug that is tightly woven or with a cut pile will resist pulls and tears from pets' claws. Stain resistant and durable fibers such as wool, nylon, or PET are easy to clean and more likely to resist stains. Consider machine washable rugs when pets are young, old, or need additional care.
Upholstery: Tight-weave, performance fabrics, and easy to clean fabrics are best for upholstery. When looking for these fabrics, always consider the cleaning codes which will help you decide which fabric is right for you and your pets! Labels on fabrics such as “WS” or “WW” indicate cleaning stains with water based cleaning agents, making them easier to clean. Fabrics to consider include cotton, recycled polyester, linen, leather, or crypton fabrics. In order to keep furniture clean from your messy pets, be sure to vacuum or brush regularly with a lint brush. Fabrics will indicate the best possible way to regularly maintain the product. When considering throw blankets and pet blankets, always choose machine-washable options that will make cleaning less of a hassle!
What I don’t recommend…
Fragile Materials: Be careful when selecting furniture, upholstery, and decor. Avoid pieces of furniture with sharp edges that pose a threat to your pet. Upholstery that may not be machine washable and more difficult to clean such as viscose, rayon, velvet, or silk should not be used in a pet-friendly home.
High-Pile Carpets: Certain carpets and rugs such as high-pile and shag carpets can easily trap pet hair and dirt, making them much more difficult to clean. Looped pile carpets can easily get caught on your pets’ claws, posing a threat to your pet and can cause your carpet to pull!
Pet-friendly design does not mean having to compromise your style or functionality. Easy to clean durable materials should be at the forefront of your design choices to ensure you are creating a comfortable space for you and your pet! Embracing finding the right flooring and most durable fabrics become the best and easiest way to find the balance between practicality and aesthetics. These design tips provide you with a home that is comfortable and safe and enjoyable for both you and your pet!
Comments