Turning your home into a pet-friendly sanctuary Design tips to maintain a stylish home even with furry occupants
H
ow much do we love our pets? So much, that 90.5 million families share this adoration of animals! That’s upwards of 70 percent of U.S. households owning a pet of some sort! Dogs are in the majority, about 69%, but cats are a close second at 45.3%. Living with pets makes us more happy. And we want to up that happiness-quota by offering tips about how to make your home joyous, beautiful, cozy, luxurious – all the good things – for you and your pet alike. Here’s how.
Choose furniture that is resilient to pets Sofas, chairs, rugs – they can look gorgeous, but how’s the functionality? We pet parents need that ying/yang, starting with choosing fabrics and materials that won’t harbor smells and are also stain and scratch-resistant.
24
These days, furniture companies like Burrow and Floyd are catering to pet households, designing with smart, pet-friendly materials.In high-traffic areas like living rooms, it’s a good idea to choose furniture with easy-to-clean fabrics such as microfiber, microsuede , and other game-changing synthetic fabrics that resist scratches and stains. We know that removing pet hair is part of our routine, when we can. We’ve found microfiber cloths, a pet sponge, lint brush, or tape best for removing stubborn pet hairs. We relish in cushions with removable covers that can go in the washing machine – so easy! Faux leathers make wiping furniture even easier, plus we love that their kind to animals when they’re made thoughtfully. What doesn’t work? Furniture that becomes a scratching post or wears down easily. Avoid buying furniture
