Story By Living Right Designs
Pet-friendly interior design is ultimately the creation of a functional and beautiful space that is suitable for you and your pet because they’re part of the family, too. This includes choices of textiles, flooring and utilizing space effectively. The following interior design tips will help balance a space that’s comfortable for you and your pets.
Fabrics, like microfiber, are more resistant to be clawed through by pets and can be treated for easier stain removal. Leather, though more expensive, will endure a lot more abuse than vinyl and is cleanable with an extended life cycle when living with pets. There are also ultra-durable fabrics like crypton that are stain, water, and odor-resistant, along with being cleanable. Stay away from fabrics such as velvet, mohair, silk, chenille since they are attractants for pet hair and are easily damaged by claws and stains.
Flooring can be another design obstacle when it comes to pets in the house. Carpet traps odors and is harder to maintain with pets but if you must have it keep it short for easier cleaning. There are short pile carpets that are odor resistant that tend to hold up better with pets. Wood is never a good idea, especially with claws involved. If wood is your dream flooring then go with a harder wood that’s naturally more scratch resistant, like oak. Of course, laminate flooring, stone or ceramic tiles are ideal and look amazing and are scratch, stain and water resistant, as well as strong and durable. This type of surface will stay looking fresher longer and help to keep pets cool on warm summer days.
With pets come food and water dishes, restroom accommodations and bedding. Most homeowners prefer these accommodations to be out of sight. Placing food and water dishes in a custom drawer or cabinet is ideal. When it’s time to eat, simply open up the drawer or cabinet and when they’re done, close it again. There are stylish litter boxes that can be hidden and decorative doggy doors that allow Fido to come and go freely to do their “business” when needed. Pets need their own designated space whether it be a fluffy bed, a crate, or a certain space of the house with their blanket and toys. You can utilize an adult bed by having an under bed sliding pet bed so it can be stored when not in use. If you have a staircase you can use the wasted space under it to make a haven for the sleepy pet. If crating is your way then having built in crates are a great idea that can blend in with the surrounding style without drawing attention to it.
Our pets are part of our family, so it’s important to include them in the design process of your home when it comes time to build new or remodel. The rise in pet-friendly designs shows that homeowners want their pets to be part of the plan — and incorporating their needs into the home layout isn’t as ruff as you may think.