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IdeasDécor tips for your furry friends
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a pet roaming around the house. For me, it doesn’t even feel like home unless I’m sharing it with a furry friend or two (and my wife, of course!).
As much as I love my pets, I’ve never really loved the idea of a big carpeted cat tower in the middle of the living room or a torn up scratching post tucked into the corner.
So through the years, I’ve found a few ways to create a stylish, pet-friendly space by weaving their things into my home décor. Here are my tried-and-true tips for subtle, pet-friendly decorating:
1. Rethink your carpet choices. Yes, it’s absolutely hilarious when pets skid across the hardwood, but that’s not the only benefit of non-carpeted floors, such as hardwood, tile or linoleum. (Anyone with a puppy knows these options are best for accident cleanup.) If you have the option, forgo carpeting altogether and find some plush, affordable rugs that can be tossed after too much wear and tear. If you don’t have this option, vacuum regularly to eliminate odors and have a pet-friendly entryway. This may include a small mat and a towel stashed nearby for wiping off messy paws.
2. Think twice about their toys. It can be tempting because of how much they love them, but for pups, skip the chewables, like pig’s ears or rawhide bones. These super-tasty (but sorta-stinky) toys can leave grease or other residue spots behind on your carpets or furniture. Instead, consider ropes, balls and other toys that have the same textures, materials or colors as your décor. Nautical theme? Make your pup a fist knot to chew on. Kitty at home? Craft these stylish feather toys or create some tossable pompoms to match your color scheme.
3. Contain the clutter. Pets are like kids. They’ll take everything out of the toy bin to find just the right one and leave playthings strewn across the room. But, just like with kids, if you swap their toys out regularly, not only will your floor stay cleaner but also your pets will always be excited about the “new toys” you’ve swapped in. Give your furry friend a stylish toybox, such as a decorative basket or storage ottoman, to keep all the pretty playthings off the living room floor and neatly tucked away.
4. Beware of breakables. Just like with kids, fragile décor within arm’s (or paw’s) reach may be an accident waiting to happen. Store your breakables where your pets can’t reach them, and consider more durable materials for items on coffee tables or on the bottom shelves of bookcases.
5. Pets want pretty things, too. Pet furniture such as crates and cat scratchers often are necessary, but they aren’t very visually appealing. Consider an indoor doghouse that does double — wait, triple! — duty as a puppy hideaway, food and water area and coat tree for leashes and other goodies. Carpeted cat towers will clash with your décor, but your feline friend probably wants a place of his or her own to hang out and scratch (and that hopefully isn’t on your furniture!). Try an interactive pet cube or cat scratcher that will do the trick while blending into your style. Rather than discouraging your cat’s normal climbing behaviors, give your cat an acceptable place to escape to, like a trendy Modular Modern Cat Tower. But don’t forget — blending into a style doesn’t mean basic or boring. Check out this trendy natural sphere cat tower made out of wicker that would serve as a fantastic design feature in a room. How awesome is that?
By incorporating some of these pet-friendly ideas into your next styling project, you’ll create an inviting space for your family and your pets! For more pet inspiration, check out our Sauder Pet Home board on Pinterest or The Humane Society of the United States’ Animal House board on Pinterest. Happy pet-inspired pinning!
As much as I love my pets, I’ve never really loved the idea of a big carpeted cat tower in the middle of the living room or a torn up scratching post tucked into the corner.
So through the years, I’ve found a few ways to create a stylish, pet-friendly space by weaving their things into my home décor. Here are my tried-and-true tips for subtle, pet-friendly decorating:
1. Rethink your carpet choices. Yes, it’s absolutely hilarious when pets skid across the hardwood, but that’s not the only benefit of non-carpeted floors, such as hardwood, tile or linoleum. (Anyone with a puppy knows these options are best for accident cleanup.) If you have the option, forgo carpeting altogether and find some plush, affordable rugs that can be tossed after too much wear and tear. If you don’t have this option, vacuum regularly to eliminate odors and have a pet-friendly entryway. This may include a small mat and a towel stashed nearby for wiping off messy paws.
2. Think twice about their toys. It can be tempting because of how much they love them, but for pups, skip the chewables, like pig’s ears or rawhide bones. These super-tasty (but sorta-stinky) toys can leave grease or other residue spots behind on your carpets or furniture. Instead, consider ropes, balls and other toys that have the same textures, materials or colors as your décor. Nautical theme? Make your pup a fist knot to chew on. Kitty at home? Craft these stylish feather toys or create some tossable pompoms to match your color scheme.
3. Contain the clutter. Pets are like kids. They’ll take everything out of the toy bin to find just the right one and leave playthings strewn across the room. But, just like with kids, if you swap their toys out regularly, not only will your floor stay cleaner but also your pets will always be excited about the “new toys” you’ve swapped in. Give your furry friend a stylish toybox, such as a decorative basket or storage ottoman, to keep all the pretty playthings off the living room floor and neatly tucked away.
4. Beware of breakables. Just like with kids, fragile décor within arm’s (or paw’s) reach may be an accident waiting to happen. Store your breakables where your pets can’t reach them, and consider more durable materials for items on coffee tables or on the bottom shelves of bookcases.
5. Pets want pretty things, too. Pet furniture such as crates and cat scratchers often are necessary, but they aren’t very visually appealing. Consider an indoor doghouse that does double — wait, triple! — duty as a puppy hideaway, food and water area and coat tree for leashes and other goodies. Carpeted cat towers will clash with your décor, but your feline friend probably wants a place of his or her own to hang out and scratch (and that hopefully isn’t on your furniture!). Try an interactive pet cube or cat scratcher that will do the trick while blending into your style. Rather than discouraging your cat’s normal climbing behaviors, give your cat an acceptable place to escape to, like a trendy Modular Modern Cat Tower. But don’t forget — blending into a style doesn’t mean basic or boring. Check out this trendy natural sphere cat tower made out of wicker that would serve as a fantastic design feature in a room. How awesome is that?
By incorporating some of these pet-friendly ideas into your next styling project, you’ll create an inviting space for your family and your pets! For more pet inspiration, check out our Sauder Pet Home board on Pinterest or The Humane Society of the United States’ Animal House board on Pinterest. Happy pet-inspired pinning!
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