You may not notice it, but your dog is gradually changing the way your house looks. They might have started with the living room; it might have been the sofa that rubbed them up the wrong way. They then might see to it that the bedroom takes on a new style to appease their needs, suddenly the kitchen is starting to change too. Who knew your canine had such influence over your home décor?
Well, before we start to think your dog might be passing judgment on your house or telling your partner that the wallpaper just doesn’t look right, let’s take a step back for a second. The influence pets have on your home décor does not come from them directly but more from how we observe their behaviours and accommodate their very precise needs and characteristics.
In a Forbes report from mid-2024, I saw that a study found that as many as 78% of dog and cat owners consider aesthetics when choosing pet accessories for their home, and 48% said they have thrown out a piece of furniture due to their pet. See how large their influence is yet?
No? Well now let’s factor in that 42% of people in the same article said they have refused to purchase an item for their home, despite loving it, out of fears the pet may ruin it!
So, in this blog, we look at what furnishings and décor you could get away with, whilst still keeping your animal overlords happy, and maintaining a stylish, stunning home.
Furniture choices
Your four-legged friend will no doubt fancy cuddling up to you on the sofa, and in some cases, rather than being sweet and enjoyable, it becomes a fur-fest of epic proportions that becomes difficult to ever get on top of.
When shopping for soft furnishings such as a sofa, consider your tastes but also factor in how hardwearing the furniture is and how easy to clean it will be. Leather and microfibre for example are easy to clean and durable. Make sure removable covers are part of the sofa offering too. That way should anything happen, you can simply take them off, wash them, dry them and put them back on. Avoid anything that may snag on claws or fray as the pet snuggles down too.
Purchasing a sofa or chair with these few factors in mind will save money in the long term as you’ll not be replacing them every so often.
Paint not paper
Now this is perhaps one that for some is a (dog) bone of contention….. Wallpaper, especially with the trend of feature walls, is popular right now. But with pets in the house, you might need to think twice. Either have the feature wall set as one where furniture obscures the lower section so the dog or cat can’t sneak their way to scratching it, or simply have it painted instead.
And it is painting that might need to be employed throughout the rest of the house. Of course, many pets are well-behaved and don’t jump up, scratch or cause any problems but that is never a guarantee. Should your walls be wallpapered, a few scratches might soon turn into a few large rips and then you suddenly have to wallpaper the entire section again. If the walls are painted and your pet decides it wants to scratch them, a simple touch-up of the affected area will take next to no time and look like nothing has ever happened!
Flooring options
We all like a nice carpet. Its comfort, versatile designs and easy installation make it a favourite for many rooms throughout the house. However, your furry friends might make you wish you had chosen something else. Carpet, of course, traps fur and, if there is an accident, stains. Now we all know that our dogs and cats are cunning little creatures, and if nature calls when nobody is home, they will do their business somewhere hidden. Perhaps out of embarrassment. That means any issues such as this are not always discovered as early as would be ideal. Staining is only going to get worse the longer something is left eating into the surface!
Now think of the hoovering, so much fur to clean up!!!! A stylish, safe, easy-to-clean, scratch and slip-resistant option might be LVT flooring. With versatile style options, LVT products enable you to replicate wood or stone flooring, giving you plenty of scope to curate the ideal décor. Factor in the benefits we’ve mentioned, and you’ll wonder why you had carpet in the first place!
Curtains are not a climbing frame
Another feature that might slip your mind, curtains provide two possible concerns. Maybe more if we really overthink it.
Cats love to climb and long curtains provide them with ample opportunity. This then sees your beautiful curtains not only coated in fur but potentially being pulled down if the felines get a little over-excited.
Another concern here is how cats, and even dogs can utilise curtains as a hiding spot, and not always for hiding themselves. If you remember earlier when we spoke about how animals will occasionally hide the evidence out of embarrassment, curtains give the perfect cover for this.
Instead, think about blinds; these will provide an easy clean option, less of a hiding place for those smelly gifts and a minimal climbing opportunity.
Plants and greenery
We all like to add a splash of colour and nature to areas of our home but some plants, flowers and succulents are not friends of our pets. Many are in fact toxic and if ingested, a costly vet trip may be on the cards. You might have to avert your gaze from that luscious plant that you thought would be a focal point of the stairway or living room. Instead, opt for something that is a much safer bet. Spider plants for example are completely safe, but if you really do want to go exotic, perhaps look for a synthetic, non-toxic substitute. That way you can keep the look but reduce the risk!
These are just a few of the things you’ll need to factor in when adding any new furnishings to the home or when you decide to decorate. Just remember to look for pet-friendly fabrics, non-toxic materials and easy clean surfaces. You’ll thank us when you aren’t buying a sofa for the second time in two years!
