4 Steps For Creating A Stylish Pet-Friendly Home
If you’ve been inspired to make some changes to your living situation during this Fall’s Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase, and you have or want your home to be pet friendly, here are some excellent tips for making your home love your pet!
When you decide to adopt a new puppy or kitten, it is a big commitment. Not only do you have to change your lifestyle to fit in a new pet, you also need to change things about your living environment to protect them (and protect your things from them) and to make them feel at home. Use these tips to create a pet-friendly home for your new best friend, without sacrificing the style or design of your house.
Stain-Resistant Fabric
Pets always come with an unlimited supply of dirty paws and other messes. You may be hesitant to switch to a stain resistant fabric if you think you won’t be able to have the same style in your house, but fortunately there are many styles and textures of fabrics that are stain resistant and pet friendly. For example, ultrasuede is a material that is very similar to the luxurious feel of suede, but it is machine washable and more comfortable for your and your pet. Leather is also easy to clean, but is easily scratched. HGTV suggests a fabric called Crypton. It is synthetic and not only resistant to stains, but also bacteria and smells and it comes in a variety of colors and textures.
Set Up A Spot Just For Your Pet
To make your new pet feel at home, you’ll want to set up a special place for him to sleep and play and relax. However, large outdated dog beds or a pile of old blankets is unsightly and doesn’t fit in with your home’s style. TraditionalHome.com suggests incorporating a special nook or den for your dog or cat in the design of your home. For example, build a crate or bed to match a cabinet or table your dog can lie under or a perch for your cat to climb that matches a bookshelf. You can custom make a pet bed that matches your decor with a similar foundation and fabric with little skill and it will fit in with the rest of your home.
Protect Electronics
Inevitably with a new puppy or kitten, there is going to be an accident of some kind. Whether it is chewing, scratching or peeing, you don’t want it to happen on your expensive electronics, but you don’t want to give up your devices or have to hide them away all the time either. You can use repellent smells such as citrus and lavender around areas you keep your electronics to deter pets from sniffing around and chewing on them. You can also purchase special screen protectors and keyboard covers to keep slobber and hair from damaging screens and getting into the hardware. To be extra careful, invest in a protection plan for your phone or mobile devices, just in case an accident does happen. Fortunately, a lot of the newer devices such as phones from Samsung or iPhones come with accident protection plans.
Pet-Proofing Your Yard
Part of creating a pet-friendly home is making sure your backyard is safe and fun for your dog or cat. This Old House recommends checking for potentially hazardous plants before bringing your new pet home. Many plant varieties are poisonous to dogs and cats. You’ll also want to make sure your fence is secure and free of rusty nails or jagged edges that could harm your pet. Lastly, keep your yard clean and maintained by raking leaves and removing any piles of brush, standing water and mud. This will not only protect your pet from pests and parasites that like to live there, but will also keep your dog or cat from tracking in mud and dirt from outside.