Owning a pet can have positive effects on your life since they can help to improve mood and your overall health. However, bringing in a furry animal into your home comes with a lot of design consideration. A market study by Zillow and Rover found that pet parents will spend more on a home with pet-friendly features. Moreover, a report on Yahoo News reveals that 84% of dog owners are ready to pay more for a property near a park or with a doggy door.
Currently, new homes feature pet-friendly designs, but older homes require a few upgrades to meet the unique needs of pets. With that in mind, here are a few tips for designing a stylish, pet-friendly home to ensure a smooth renovation project in your existing space.
Install Pet-proof Flooring
Designing a pet-suitable home starts with choosing the right flooring option. While installing wall-to-wall carpeting sounds ideal, it’s important to know that carpet traps pet hair, absorbs odors, and soaks up stains easily. Instead of carpeting, consider ceramic tiles since they are easy to maintain and stain-resistant. Hardwood floors are also a good option, but they are not scratch resistant. Other popular floor choices for pet owners are luxury vinyl, bamboo, and laminate floors because they are durable. Avoid flooring made of porous materials like marble and natural stones, as they get stained easily by the acid in pet saliva and urine.
Carve Out a Private Pet Station
Creating a safe pet space or zone where your dog or cat can relax, self-soothe, or sleep is crucial to ensure they enjoy being indoors without chewing on furniture or staining your upholstery. To achieve the best outcomes, create a designated spot for your furry family member near a large window, so they can enjoy perfect views of the outdoors. In addition to a bed, pillow, and blankets, consider enhancing their comfort with a high-quality dog crate mat or pad. These mats or pads are specifically designed to fit snugly inside crates, offering your pet a soft, comfortable surface that supports restful sleep and relaxation. They’re also easy to clean and durable, making them an ideal choice for pet owners looking to provide the best for their furry friends. Adding such a mat or pad to your pet’s crate can significantly improve their comfort, especially if they spend a considerable amount of time in their crate or if the crate serves as their primary sleeping area.
While blankets are enough to keep your cat or puppy warm, you need to buy warm coats, boots, and blankets to ensure that they stay warm during the cold season. Keeping pets warm during winter helps to prevent them from getting cold-related illnesses when they choose to spend time outdoors. Remember, pets, especially dogs, like to spend time outdoors despite having a safe zone inside the house. Therefore, ensure they have easy access to the backyard .
Stick to Pet-Friendly Wall Paints
Painting your interiors a fresh color can make a significant impact on the overall design of your home. However, for pet parents, there’s a lot to consider other than comparing paint samples. You need to think about paint formulas that are pet-friendly to protect your puppy or cat from toxic fumes. The paint color and finish also matter when designing pet-friendly interiors.
When choosing pet-friendly wall paint colors, choose colorful and washable paints to prevent stubborn stains from sticking on your walls. Also, opt for satin or a semi-gloss finish rather than a high-textured paint. Since satin and semi-gloss finishes are smooth, you don’t have to worry about your pet’s fur sticking on the walls.
Choose Furniture and Fabrics Wisely
When choosing furniture for your interior decor, opt for those made of chew-proof materials. For example, instead of buying furniture with wooden legs or framing, choose pieces with metal frames and legs to curb your dog’s desire to chew on them. Your furniture should also be resistant to stains and scratches with enough space for your pet to relax.
Apart from furniture material, think of pet-friendly upholstery fabrics too. Examples of pet-friendly fabrics are velvet, leather, faux leather, canvas, denim, and microfiber. Each fabric option has its unique advantages. For instance, velvet fabrics have tight weaves that help them withstand stains and the wear and tear pets cause when their nails or claws scratch or snag on them. Leather is also an excellent choice because fur doesn’t stick to it, plus it’s easy to wipe spills and stains. Avoid silk and suede fabrics, as they are prone to wear and tear because of the loose weaves. It’s also equally important to pick fabric colors that match your pet’s fur so you won’t have to vacuum every few hours or so.
Prioritize Pet Safety
Keeping your pet safe should be top priority when designing your home. If you’re a cat parent, investing in a balcony net is crucial to prevent them from falling. It’s also wise to install a window grill and smart devices, such as a GPS to monitor your pet’s activity and ensure they don’t get lost. Other ways to enhance pet safety at home include picking pet-friendly indoor plants and decluttering spaces. The last thing you want is for your dog or cat to get into contact with poisonous plants or trip on electrical cords and kid’s toys.
Add a Mudroom in Your Home
Another important feature every pet owner should add to their interior design is a mudroom. There are many benefits of adding a mudroom in your house, and the most notable one is that it helps you keep your spaces clean. Besides storing pet food and food dishes or having a place for a litter box, a mudroom is a perfect area for your furry friend to wipe their wet paws on rainy days.
You can also carve out a safe space for your dog or cat in the mudroom. For example, if your furry friend sleeps in a crate, you can place it in the mudroom so it doesn’t take up space in the living room. Plus, a mudroom provides a quiet space for your pet to retreat and relax or play with their toys without causing distraction in the home.
Pets offer good companionship and having them in your home can lower stress, enhance mood, and reduce blood pressure. However, to accommodate a pet in your home, you need to make several design changes. When styling your home with pets in mind, choose durable floors like ceramic tiles, laminate, and concrete. Also, carve a pet zone and choose wall paint colors and formulas wisely.
