7 design choices you can make for a pet-proof home

Make sure your furniture and your pets live in perfect harmony with these seven tips

Everybody loves pets. Living with a pet can not only be therapeutic, it can provide you and your family with a new member and memories which will last a lifetime.

However, as much as our pets can bring us joy, they can also be a bit unpredictable when it comes to maintaining your home. We all have at least one story of a pet causing havoc, so to help you avoid costly mishaps, here are seven steps you can take in the design stage of your home to invest in your pet’s health and happiness, as well as your own!

1. Pick the perfect flooring 

This is probably rule number one of living with pets. Whether it’s dogs, cats, guinea pigs or any other creatures great or small running through your house on a regular basis, the harder your flooring the better. 

Tiles in kitchens and living spaces can be ideal, as they’re hard for your pet to scratch and can even provide somewhere cool for them to lie down during the summer months. Wood floors are also an excellent choice. Thick oak is excellent, as is maple, mahogany and sycamore. 

In general, carpeting is something you’ll want to avoid when living with pets, as it can build up fur and bacteria and also be a major contributor to allergy issues should any of your guests or visitors suffer from pet allergies.

2. Be colourful!

You’re well advised to avoid light shades such as white and light beige for your furniture and upholstery if you’re going to be living with pets. Pets such as dogs shed regularly and can introduce dirt and grime into the house, so darker shades will probably be preferable. This also leads us to tip number three…

3. Leather sofas 

If you plan on letting your pet relax with you while you cuddle up on the sofa, bespoke leather upholstery will be your best bet as it wipes down easily, doesn’t retain odor and will stand up well against your pet’s teeth and claws!

4. Keep those important items out of reach

Pets can be excitable, which while adorable can wreak havoc on your treasured, fragile items. Whether it’s a family heirloom or a travel souvenir, you’ll want to keep those precious one-of-a-kind items out of reach of your pets. By designing your interiors in such a way as to include high shelves or cupboards, you can display your items while keeping them safe from your excitable pets. 

5. Keep electrical cables out of the way

Another problem with hyperactive or curious pets is the danger posed by haphazard electrical cables. A smart solution is to design your living room in such a way as to hide your cables behind a large display cabinet or TV stand. As well as keeping your pets safe, this will also have the added benefit of making your living spaces look neat & tidy!   

6. Know which plants are safe for pets

It’s important to make sure you don’t keep plants which can be toxic or harmful to pets in open areas. Consult with your interior designer about which plants are safe for pets.

7. Invest in a good vacuum cleaner!

Finally, no matter which type of flooring you choose your pet will still shed a lot of hair, so make sure you have a good sturdy vacuum to keep you, your pet and your home clean, healthy and happy!