If you have pets, you may not favor them so much for their messes. Pets are adorable, but they often make a mess and even damage furniture. Designing and decorating a pet-friendly home that matches your style can be a challenging task for many pet owners.
To help you navigate this situation, The New York Times has compiled advice from some leading architects in the US.
Choose durable fabrics
Abbe Feniason, founder of Studio Ten 25 interior design company, emphasizes durability and cleanliness as her top criteria when designing a home with pets.
She suggests using outdoor-grade fabrics for indoor furniture. Suede material is a good option as it is easy to clean and resistant to scratches.
For upholstered furniture, you can use a cover to protect them from your pet’s claws.
Invest in affordable rugs
Your pet’s playtime can leave your floor rug covered in fur and dirt.
That’s why designer Abbe Feniason suggests choosing affordable rugs made of natural fibers. The neutral colors of these rugs also complement most spaces.
Rugs made of wool or high-quality fibers may make the space more luxurious, but they can be a waste if they get scratched or soiled by your dog or cat.
Regardless of the rug type, don’t forget to place a non-slip pad underneath to prevent it from moving.
Cover pet crates
Often, pet crates don’t blend well with the overall design of a home.
Instead of placing the crate in less noticeable areas, you can use fabric pieces that match your home decor to cover the crate.
For litter boxes and small crates, you can even hide them under a bench.
Ashley Darryl, an interior designer in Manhattan, shares an interesting idea. She places a dog crate underneath a shoe bench. When the door opens, it will be concealed and won’t affect the aesthetics of the home.
Use faux flowers
Some indoor plants like lilies, daisies, and azaleas can be toxic to dogs and cats. If they are ingested, they can cause poisoning, digestive disorders, or even death.
Therefore, Michael San Filippo, spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association, advises pet owners not to decorate their homes with live plants.
Instead, you can use faux flowers to ensure the safety of your pets.
Match furniture to your pet’s fur color
Instead of being a nuisance, pets can inspire you in designing your home.
Karen Ferguson, Design Director at Harrison Design, suggests choosing a color palette for your furniture that matches your pet’s fur color. This way, their fur will be less noticeable when it gets on the furniture.
Karen also designed a scratching post in the same color as the curtains. When she wants to hide the bulky item, she simply pushes it behind the curtains.
Integrate pet crates with furniture
Pet crates can be integrated with furniture to create a harmonious and seamless feel. For example, you can incorporate a pet crate into a kitchen island or a cabinet in the laundry room.
With these types of crates, simplicity and suitability to the overall style are key in their design.
You can also design a pet crate or litter box with a door that resembles a cabinet door. This way, it will easily blend in with the rest of the home.
Source: Zing
