Fur, Claws and Chaos: 7 Pet Friendly Design Ideas
Sharing a home with pets changes the way you decorate. The sofa has to survive claws and fur. Rugs need to stay put when the zoomies hit. And somewhere along the way, the dog bed becomes a permanent piece of furniture whether you planned for it or not.
Pet friendly interior design takes all of that into account while still giving you a home that feels pulled together. Choose materials that can handle daily use and give beds, bowls and toys places that work with the rest of the room. You should feel comfortable living with those choices every day.
Here are seven ways to make room for them without handing over the decorating decisions entirely.
Create a Place to Play
Pets are going to play somewhere, so you might as well give the activity a place to land.
Look for a spot with enough room for the kind of play your pet enjoys. A dog who likes a good game of tug needs some open floor. Cats may get more use from vertical space, especially when a scratching post or climbing tower gives them somewhere appropriate to exercise their claws.
A rug can visually define the area and give paws some traction. Washable is useful here for reasons that probably don’t require explanation.
Toy storage should be close enough to make cleanup quick and easy, because you’ll be doing it a lot! An open basket or low box works well for dogs who like to choose their own toys. Just make sure it can withstand somebody enthusiastically searching for the one ball that is clearly better than all the other balls.
Give Them a Comfortable Retreat
Most pets find a few favorite places to sleep and return to them again and again. A spot beside the sofa lets a dog settle near the family without occupying the middle of the room. Cats often appreciate a quieter corner, particularly one with a little shelter around it. Watch where your pet naturally settles before deciding where their permanent sleeping area belongs.
Once you know the location, pick a bed that looks good in the room. A color that picks up something in the sofa or rug lets the bed quietly blend into the background.
Comfort still comes first. Older dogs and larger breeds may benefit from orthopedic foam, while cats often enjoy smaller beds with raised sides. A removable washable cover will make life easier for everybody.
Crates can receive the same treatment. Furniture style versions can tuck beside a sofa or sit against a wall and double as a table. Look for a sturdy top and enough room inside for your dog to stand, turn around, and settle comfortably.
Choose Upholstery Prepared for Real Life
When buying a sofa for a home with pets, choose upholstery that’s easy to clean and holds up to claws.
Start with the weave. Smooth, tightly woven fabrics give claws fewer places to catch and make fur easier to remove. Microfiber is particularly forgiving, and many performance fabrics are made to resist stains and moisture. Removable cushion covers make spills and pet messes easier to clean.
Leather is easy to wipe down, although scratches will show on some finishes. A distressed finish handles those marks well in a house where the furniture gets thoroughly lived on.
Think about color as well. Upholstery somewhere in the general neighborhood of your pet’s fur can buy you a little time between vacuuming sessions. Pattern and texture are also good at hiding the stray hairs that appear right after you’ve finished cleaning.
For pets who dig, circle and rearrange the sofa before lying down, keep a washable throw over their favorite spot. It can compliment the decor and go straight into the laundry when necessary.
Protect Floors with Pet Friendly Surfaces
Pets spend their lives much closer to the floor than we do, so choose surfaces that feel comfortable under their paws and give them steady footing.
Tile and luxury vinyl stand up well to water, dirt and frequent cleaning. Sealed hardwood can also work in a pet household. Wipe up spills promptly to protect the finish.
Rugs make hard floors more comfortable and give paws something to grip. Low pile styles are easier to vacuum and have fewer loops waiting to snag a claw. Underneath, a nonslip pad keeps the rug from taking off with the dog when somebody rounds a corner at speed.
That grip becomes more important as pets age. Dogs who once charged across hardwood without a thought can become hesitant when their footing isn’t as reliable. A runner through a slick hallway or a mat near a bed can give an older pet an easier route through the house.
And if the rug you love happens to be washable, muddy paws are a little easier to forgive.
Organize a Walk Ready Entryway
Give your dog’s walking gear a place near the door. Leash, harness, poop bags, treats, towel, raincoat, walking bag. Keeping it together makes it easier to get out the door, especially when your dog is already waiting to go.
Put hooks where the leash and harness are easy to grab. A basket, drawer or shelf can hold the smaller things, including those poop bags you usually remember once you’re outside. If you have room, a storage bench can hold towels and seasonal gear and give you somewhere to sit while putting on the harness. Your dog may have opinions about how long that takes.
Keep a towel near the door for wet paws. A runner will catch some of the dirt your dog brings in, and you can take it outside to shake it off or put it in the wash when it needs cleaning.
A small entryway can still work. Use a few hooks and a narrow shelf to keep the gear together and leave enough room for everyone to get through the door.
The goal is simple: when someone hears the leash and immediately begins bouncing, you can still find everything.
Set Up a Tidy Feeding Station
Pet bowls have a habit of looking temporary even when they’ve been sitting in exactly the same place for six years.
Giving them a defined spot makes the feeding area feel like part of the kitchen. Look for a location outside the main traffic path where your pet can eat without people constantly stepping around them.
The bowls themselves can contribute to the look. Ceramic comes in almost any color you could want, while stainless steel has a simple finish that disappears easily into a kitchen. Whatever you choose, stability matters for enthusiastic eaters. A mat underneath catches the crumbs, drips and astonishing quantity of water some dogs can transport away from a bowl using only their face.
Food storage deserves a little attention too. An airtight container can go inside a cabinet or pantry, with treats, scoops and medications nearby. It keeps feeding supplies together and gets the giant bag of kibble out of sight.
If you’re remodeling, a feeding nook built into the end of cabinetry can give bowls their own permanent home. A freestanding feeding cabinet can accomplish much the same thing without involving a contractor.
Create a Safe Room with a View
For a pet, a good window is better than television.
If your pet already has a favorite lookout, make it comfortable. Cats may appreciate a window perch or a sturdy piece of furniture at sill height. A dog may need nothing more elaborate than a bed positioned where the view is unobstructed.
Safety matters around windows, particularly with curious cats. Check screens to make sure they’re secure, and use cordless window treatments so there are no dangling cords within reach.
Plants around the area need a little homework too. Many common houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs, so check the species before putting greenery where a pet can investigate it.
Keep the rest fairly simple. Washable curtains can frame the window but fragile accessories are better placed beyond the reach of tails.
Then leave the surveillance department to its work.
A Home Designed for Every Member of the Family
Pet friendly interior design should make daily life easier for everyone in the house. Choose things you enjoy looking at and feel comfortable using. The sofa is still for relaxing, and the rug is still there to make the room feel good. There will be fur to vacuum and a throw to wash now and then. Choose pieces that can handle being used, and you can get on with enjoying the room.
Your home can still be beautiful, comfortable and very much yours, even when someone has just scattered the contents of a stuffed octopus across the rug.
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