We love our pets, but we also want to have a beautiful and stylish home that reflects our unique design sense. But is it possible to have pets in the home without compromising style? Yes! With a little thoughtful consideration, you can have the beautiful and pet-friendly home of your dreams. Here are a few tips to help you get started…

Use a Satin Paint Finish

When you have pets, messes are inevitable. To make clean up easy, start by selecting the right paint finish for your walls. A satin finish will work best because it is highly durable and easy to wipe clean. A flat finish is nearly impossible to wipe down without damaging the paint, and a glossy finish will draw attention to any inconsistencies or damage to the walls.

Install Scratch- and Stain-Resistant Flooring

Having the right type of flooring with pets is absolutely critical to creating a happy coexistence. With pets come spills, accidents, muddy feet and scratches, but you want to keep your floor in pristine shape. Fortunately, there are several options that look both beautiful and are pet-friendly. Instead of wall-to-wall carpeting which is a magnet for pet hair and stains, try luxury vinyl plank flooring or tile which are both waterproof, stain-resistant and scratch-resistant pet-friendly alternatives.

Use Performance Fabrics on Furniture

When trying to decide what fabric to upholster your furniture in, try to use performance fabrics which tend to be synthetic and much more durable, along with being stain-and fade-resistant. However, you will likely want to avoid certain fabrics like velvet which can be a magnet for pet hair. You can also consider scratch- and stain-resistant leather as a pet-friendly alternative. If you do decide to go with a standard fabric, try having it treated with Scotchguard to help protect it from spills and other messes.

Photo Credit: Jay Wennington via Unsplash

Go Ahead, You Can Use a Rug

While adding a rug with a new puppy in the house may not be the best idea, you can use rugs to add warmth and style— it just needs to be the right one. Installing washable rugs like one from Ruggable is a great option because they come in a variety of sizes and styles, and many will fit in your washing machine anytime they need a little refresh.

Another option is to purchase low-pile (non-continuous loop) synthetic rugs, or rugs made from natural fibers since these will be more durable and won’t trap fur as easily. Just be sure to select an affordable rug, that way it won’t be heartbreaking when you need to replace it.

Create Functional Spaces Just for Your Pet

Pets are often considered a part of the family, and just like other members of the family they tend to accumulate accessories and other belongings. The key to having a pet-friendly home is to keep it looking clean and tidy. One way to do this is to create functional spaces just for your pet.

If you have the space available, this can mean designing a special space in a mudroom or basement that offers ample storage for food, toys, leashes, etc. along with an area for bathing and grooming, or litter boxes. You can also get creative with feeding time and create a special built-in drawer or cubby in your kitchen to hold food and water.

Work With the Color of Your Pet’s Fur

There isn’t much use in fighting it, if you love a good snuggle with your fur baby on the sofa (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) then consider incorporating their fur color into your overall color scheme. If you have a white dog consider a sofa upholstered in a light neutral colored fabric. Or perhaps you have a black cat, try using a darker upholstery fabric or a durable pet-friendly leather to avoid having to constantly vacuum the fur away.

Decorate Strategically

The last thing you want is for your cat to playfully knock over an heirloom or for your dog to accidently break a ceramic wedding gift with his joyful tail wagging. To avoid these unfortunate scenarios, be deliberate and thoughtful with your decorating. Carefully consider the placement of your décor on tabletops and instead consider utilizing more wall space and shelving to display beloved accessories, travel souvenirs and artwork or family photos.

Incorporate Your Pet’s Furnishing into Your Décor

If you’re at a loss as to how you can hide your dog’s crate, or you hate looking at the cat scratching post or pet bed, then incorporate them into your home décor. There are a number of companies that build pet furniture specifically designed to incorporate some of the most common pet accessories like crates, litter boxes, beds and scratching posts right into free-standing furniture pieces that serve a dual purpose often as side tables, cabinets and benches.

When it comes to your pet’s toy bin, bed and food bowls, choose colors and patterns that complement and blend with your décor and design style. This way these items will flow seamlessly with your design aesthetic and won’t stand out as an eye sore.