We all love the furry members of our family, and studies have shown that they are good for our health, too. We also love to make our homes a sanctuary and retreat where we can rest and relax. Unfortunately, sometimes pets are not always conducive to keeping a neat home. The good news is that with some careful planning, you can enjoy your pets, and have an organised and clean home, too.
7 ways to make your home pet friendly
Pets bless us with their love every day, and they also bless us with hair, smudges on walls, and the occasional accident. For those who like to keep their homes clean, these factors can cause extra stress. With a little planning and forethought, you can easily transform your home into a pet-friendly space where you and your furry friend can coexist blissfully.
1. Have the right supplies
The number one item on the list is to purchase a good vacuum. Some of them have special attachments that are especially suited for removing cat and dog hair from furniture. For those liquid spills and accidents, you might also want to consider a Shop-Vac. You also might want to keep a supply of pet deodoriser and baking soda on hand to remove odours before they become fixed. Another tip, although your pet will disagree, is to bathe them often.
2. Pet supply storage
You will need a lot of supplies for your pet, and having a central place to store them makes them easy to find and keeps them tucked away out of sight. Consider a bin with a lid for your pet’s growing collection of toys. Just as with small children, keeping everything nice and organised makes things easier to find, and your home can be ready for company with just a quick tidy up.
3. Pet-friendly flooring
If you are moving into a new space where you have plenty of options for flooring, make sure to consider those occasional messes when making your choice. Linoleum or hardwood flooring is the best option. Laminate and vinyl tiles might be easy to clean, but if you do not clean up messes quickly, they can delaminate and become ruined.
Wall-to-wall carpet is probably the worst choice because it is difficult to remove soils completely and once the liquid sinks into the padding, the only option is a replacement. If you choose rugs, make sure that you get some that are washable or cheap ones that can be easily replaced. Also, a good polyurethane coating goes a long way in preserving your flooring.
4. Choosing the right furniture
Choosing the right furniture will also make your life easier. You should always opt for stain-resistant furniture fabric. Choosing a color that closely matches your pet’s fur will also help. Cleaning your furniture often makes the job easier because there is not so much build-up. When choosing couches or chairs, bigger is always better so that both of you have room to cuddle up together.
5. Be careful with houseplants
Plants are a popular addition to many contemporary decor styles. Unfortunately, plants and pets are not always good housemates. Dogs and cats love to chew on leaves, which is bad for the plants, but it can also be dangerous for your pets.
Some plant leaves can be poisonous to cats, dogs, rabbits, or mice. Pets do not often know this and will chew on them anyway. If you must have these kinds of plants, it is important to keep them up and away from where the pet cannot reach them, or choose more pet-friendly varieties.
6. Incorporate your pet’s activities
Another suggestion is to incorporate your pet’s activities into the design of your home. We often include playrooms and special areas for entertainment in our homes, so why not set aside a special room where your dog or cat can play? If you do this, just as with your child’s toy room, it is easy to have your home ready for guests by simply closing the door.
This also gives your pet an area of the home where they feel is all theirs. Many pets will “claim” their space and keep messes out of the rest of the house. Including things like cat tunnels is another excellent way to create a playground in your home for your pets. While you’re at it, why not spice up your home with a bit of animal art?
7. Use semi-gloss paint
Another thing that pet owners experience is smudges or stains on the walls. If you have a cat that lies on the back of your couch against a wall, you will soon find that you have a few dirt patches in their favorite spots. We all know that dogs love to shake and splatter mud everywhere when they come into the home. The best way to deal with these little inconveniences is to make sure to use semi-gloss paint that is easy to clean. The smudge can be quickly wiped away, leaving your home once again picture-perfect.
Now that you have transformed your home into the perfect pet-friendly paradise, why not include a portrait of your best friend.
Leave a Reply