6 Tips to Create a Pet-Friendly Home

Introduction

Welcoming a new pet into your home? As much as we love our four-legged friends, they also come with their own set of challenges. From fur and dander to scratches and spills, you'll need to take extra steps to ensure your living space is as pet-friendly as possible. Thankfully, with a few intentional design choices, you can easily accommodate your pet's needs without compromising on your home's functionality or style. In this guide, we'll walk you through our favorite tips to create a pet-friendly home, down to fabric recommendations, layout ideas, and more.

1. Use Durable and Easy-to-Clean Fabrics

Pets can be tough on furniture, so choosing the right materials can make a big difference in minimizing wear-and-tear and keeping your living space clean. As a general rule of thumb, steer clear of fragile or delicate fabrics. This includes silk and chenille, which are stain-prone and easily damaged by claws, as well as velvet, tweed, and wool, which are magnets for pet hair and tricky to clean. Instead, opt for durable, pet-friendly materials like faux leather, microfiber, polyester, and synthetic blends - all of which are resistant to stains and scratches as well as easy to spot clean.

2. Create a Dedicated Pet Nook

Creating a dedicated nook for your pet is the perfect way to give it a comfortable space to call its own. To start, you'll need to find a quiet corner of your home where your pet can nap and relax, such as an alcove or corner of your living room. Add a comfortable pet bed in a colorway that matches the rest of your interior, and throw in your pet's favorite blankets and toys for a personal touch. Make sure that the other furniture pieces in the room - like the armchair or sofa - are also safe for your pet to climb onto. Our luxurious and sleek Esme Mid-Century Armchair, for example, is designed with pet-friendly fabric - the perfect place to snuggle up with your furry family member all afternoon.

🌸🐕Flowuppy: "I'm waiting for you on Esme!"

3. Consider Multi-Functional Furniture

See Multi-Functional Delaney Modular Sofa in @More With Morrows's home!

4. Arrange Your Furniture to Maximize Space

Arranging your furniture thoughtfully can make a big difference in creating a pet-friendly home. In particular, you'll want to consider the flow of your space. Your pet should have plenty of room to move around comfortably without bumping into furniture or knocking things over (especially when they have the zoomies!). This is also key to keep in mind if you have a larger pet, senior pet, or multiple pets.

When you're laying out your furniture, do so in a way that creates comfortable, accessible spots for your pets. For example, position a couch near a window so your cat can enjoy the view, or place an armchair in a quiet corner of the living room where your dog can nap. If you want a more flexible furniture option that you can reconfigure to create a more spacious layout, consider investing in a modular sofa - like the Kenna Modular Sectional - to customize your seating to your space.

Sit and sink in the softness | Kenna Modular collection from Chitaliving

5. Buy Pet-Safe Furniture and Decor

Not all materials or items are safe for pets, even if they're safe for humans. To keep your furry companions healthy, you'll need to pay special attention to all the details of your space, down to the plants you keep at home, the materials your furniture is made from, and the cleaning products you use.

Choose Your Plants Wisely

Some common houseplants - like aloe vera, lilies, pothos, philodendron, and tulips - are poisonous to pets if ingested. Be sure to research which plants are safe for your specific kind of pet (i.e., dog, cat, etc.) before bringing any greenery back from the nursery. The same goes for food items. Chocolate, caffeine, grapes, and alcohol are all toxic to pets, so it's important to be mindful If you have a habit of leaving snacks around the house.

Look for OEKO-TEX Certification

Even the furniture and decor you buy may be treated with toxic chemicals that are harmful if your pets chew on them. Avoid buying items with undisclosed materials or from brands that lack transparency on their sourcing and manufacturing. Supporting OEKO-TEX-certified brands, like Chita, is a great way to know that the products you're purchasing are made with 100% non-toxic textiles that are free from harmful substances and safe for your pet.

Opt for Non-Toxic Cleaners

Some conventional cleaners, like bleach may not be safe for your pet. Only use non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning solutions that are safe for use around animals, and make sure you keep the bottles in a cabinet or another enclosed area when you're done tidying up.

6. Maintain a Pet-Friendly Home

Creating a pet-friendly home goes beyond just choosing the right furniture and fabrics. You'll still need to maintain a clean, pet-friendly space in the long run, which involves good habits and a solid routine. Here are some additional tips to keep in mind:

Clean Regularly

Regular vacuuming is an absolute must to control pet hair and dander. Invest in a high-quality vacuum cleaner with attachments designed for pet hair. Wash your pet's bedding and toys frequently to prevent odors and bacteria build-up, and consider using a heavy-duty air purifier to improve indoor air quality.

Use Protective Slipcovers

Slipcovers are a great way to protect your furniture from fur, scratches, and spills. They can be easily removed and washed, keeping your sofas and chairs looking fresh. Choose durable, machine-washable slipcovers that fit snugly over your furniture to maintain a tidy appearance. Some sofas, like our Delaney, Esme, and Kenna Collections, already feature reversible and/or removable covers that are easy to wash and clean.

Get Scratching Posts and Pads

To keep your pet's claws healthy and protect your furniture from scratches, make sure you buy scratching posts and pads for your home. Place them in areas where your pets like to scratch the most, and encourage your pets to use them by laying out treats or catnip near the scratching posts.

Train Pets to Stay Off Furniture

Keeping your pets off the furniture altogether is the easiest way to increase the longevity of your pieces. If you go this route, be sure to provide comfortable alternatives like pet beds, rugs, and cozy blankets, and avoid buying furniture that's low to the floor.

Keep Fragile Items Out of the Way

Keep fragile items - like vases, photo frames, and decorative pieces - out of your pet's tail-wagging zone by placing them on high shelves or in cabinets. If you have a cat that likes to jump and explore heights, it's best to keep fragile items behind closed doors.

Incorporate Pet Safety Features

If you want to go the extra mile, pet-proof your home by using baby gates to restrict access to certain areas, secure loose wires, pad sharp corners with soft cushioning, and use non-slip mats to prevent slipping.

Final Thoughts

Creating a pet-friendly home doesn't mean you need to sacrifice style, functionality, or comfort. Here are some key takeaways to help you design the perfect space for your companion:

• Avoid furniture made from silk, chenille, velvet, tweed, and wool. Instead, stick to leather, microfiber, polyester, and synthetic blends.
• Create a dedicated pet nook in a quiet area of your home.
• Use multi-functional furniture - like a pet bed with built-in storage or a storage ottoman - to keep pet accessories out of sight.
• Arrange your furniture to create a more spacious layout and create cozy resting spots for your pet.
• Make sure the plants, furniture items, decor, and cleaning products you use are non-toxic and pet-safe.
• Build a solid cleaning and maintenance routine to make sure your home stays pet-safe.

For more tips on designing your dream home, check out our blog. If you're ready to explore pet-safe furniture options for your living space, explore our complete line of OEKO-TEX-certified, non-toxic pieces.

Thanks to @thehawkins.onthehill capturing the cutest moment in the world!!!