How to Make Your Home Pretty and Pet Safe

I hear it all the time – “We just got a puppy, let’s wait until he’s trained before we get new furniture or new rugs.” or “We have a cat, there’s no point in getting anything new.” You have pets, so you can’t have a beautifully designed room, right? WRONG! We’ve actually had a client say they’re waiting for their old cat or dog to keil over so they can get a new sofa. Well, we’d really like your pet to live, and we have the pet safe solutions! There are so many great pet-safe options these days! You just need to know where to look and what to look for! You should feel at ease and not on edge in your home! Here are some tips on how to get started.

Area Rugs and Wall-to-Wall Carpet
When you’ve got a pet and you’re looking for an area rug, be sure to steer clear from anything that has loops. Those tiny little nails, and even big dog nails, can easily catch a loop and pull it out. Then you’ll be left with a bunch of tufts sticking out all over your rug and you won’t be happy. IF you do opt for a loop, make sure it’s SUPER tightly woven to avoid the dreaded nails.

The next thing to think about when getting pet friendly area rugs and carpets is cleanability. We all know that pets have accidents. It’s going to happen. You might as well prepare for it now than to be paranoid that your furry friend will pee on your new rug. So if you’re getting wall-to-wall carpet, there are so many great ones that are stain repellent! In my own home we have a wall to wall carpet in our family room that has seen its share of accidents over the years. My brother in law spilled a full glass of red wine on it. It came out completely. My dog and my grand dog have done all kinds of things to it. I’m telling you, pet stains have NOTHING on this rug. It remains virtually stain free! The key is what it’s made of and the stain resistance it has. When you purchase wall to wall carpet, turn the sample over. On the back it tells you exactly what the cleanability and stain resistance is. It also lists the warranty. Look on the back for whatever your carpeting needs are. As for area rugs, wool and polypropylene are easily cleaned. Again, always be sure to take a look at the care instructions before purchasing.

Furniture
Upholstered furniture has come a long way! I don’t think we sell any sofas anymore that aren’t in a performance fabric. Pretty much every upholstery company will have a selection of performance fabrics now. They’re not the stiff, crunchy, scratchy fabrics from forever ago either. They now look and feel like any other fabric. The best part, some performance fabrics are BLEACH cleanable! That means you can literally clean it with bleach. Spill red wine? Don’t panic! Typically, on a performance fabric, it will pool right up and you can just wipe it away. Still there? Break out the bleach. We just chose a white, YES white, King Hickory sofa for a den for our client’s grandkids! Why? Because we know that the Revolution Fabric is cleanable and stain resistant! Just like the white sectional by Bernhardt with Mugsy the dog in the very first photo. Dogs, kids, no problem! Whatever you do, please steer clear of microfiber. Sure, there are no loops to be pulled, but EVERY hair will show up and stick to that fabric. Spend a little extra on performance fabric sofas and chairs. It’ll save you money in the end, not having to replace your stained sofa years from now!

Just like the rugs, consider the texture of your fabrics too. If you have something nubby or with big loops, you could end up having the same problem. So it’s best to stick with a tight weave. The sofa above with Chevy the cat is from King Hickory furniture. The fabric will stand up to his tiny nails. Read more about finding the perfect sofa in this blog post!

The other thing to think about with furniture, is the weight. If you’ve got a St. Bernard, you don’t want to have a dinky little end table. You’ll need heavier furniture that your pup won’t barrel into and knock over. You don’t want a coffee table that moves every time your pet runs around it. Look for a stone topped coffee table, like the one above from Universal Furniture, or at least one that has some weight to it so that it stays put. A stone topped table is also great for any cat claws. It’s much more scratch resistant than a wood coffee table.

Maybe you love the look of rattan or wicker furniture, but you have cats. Well, cats jump on just about everything. And I’m sure you don’t want them scratching at the top of your brand new rattan coffee table. So maybe think about something with a glass top, like the table above from Uttermost, or wood that’s a little distressed and won’t get scratched. Once you find your coffee table, find out how to decorate it with our tip sheet!

There’s no way to make your home pet PROOF, just like there’s no way to make your home kid PROOF, but you can make smart choices when investing in furniture and decor for your home. We believe that your home is meant to be lived in and enjoyed. It’s not a museum that nobody should touch. With performance fabrics and stain resistant materials, you’re now able to have kids, pets AND a home that you’re proud of! Life happens. ENJOY it!

If this still leaves you feeling stuck, schedule a free phone call and we can chat about a consultation. We can find just the right things for your home, family and furry friends!

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