We love our pets like family, but our homes don’t always suit our four-legged friends.  Just like kids, pets have tons of toys and stuff, sometimes it is like walking through a battlefield! Fortunately, you can make some interior-design updates that will suit both you and your pet. In other words, the place will look great — and you won’t have to worry about your furry friend damaging any of it.

During the isolation that’s come with COVID-19 and quarantining, pets have become a renewed source of comfort, companionship, and love. Pet adoptions have spiked in the past several months, with many people bringing furry friends into their homes and lives. This is all great news but with a new pet comes potential interior design woes. From worrying about cleanliness to protecting our furniture and flooring from their paws, a pet-friendly house design is necessary for keeping pets at your place. 

A pet-friendly interior is not hard to curate and maintain, with these tricks and tips below on how to curate a house for your pets and interiors to feel safe:

DURABLE FLOORING

Opting for durable and scratch-resistant flooring is a must. Hardwood floors are generally more practical additions when it comes to the flooring, choose laminates or stone or ceramic tiles as flooring in the house plan. In case you want a wood floor go for the hardy ones like oak and mahogany. Avoid natural materials like marble, wood or exposed furniture materials like rattan or cane. 

FABRIC CHOICE

Pet-friendly fabrics are also very affordable like smooth tapestries, Crypton, suede is most unlikely to show scratches or tear apart. When it comes to the colour choice you can go with the colour of the pet’s fur. Steer clear from luxurious upholstery like silk and leather as they tend to act as a magnet to the pets furs and get stuck in the paws. 

SOFTER ADDITIONS

While incorporating the softer textures in the house especially a rug or a carpet you can always opt for the conventional jute rug or polyester that are scratch and water-resistant and stays as long as you want them to be. Cotton based or textile fabrics that can separate through stands should be avoided. Pick rugs with multiple colours and anchor them with skid pads or place furniture at the end to avoid displacing.

PET-FRIENDLY PAINT

Walls with wallpapers or textures won't stand a chance when it comes to fur and hair or even their sharp paws. Avoid luxurious splash of paint and in case that was to happen use wall protectant mats on the lower edges. Use semi-gloss or satin paint for the walls. You can also opt for washable pet-friendly paints in the dog room. 

PLAY AREA FOR YOUR PETS

Incorporate a separate corner in the house for the pets to play in and choose a separate and aloof room so that the toys and eating place stays separate from the rest of the house to prevent dust and other disturbances. When it comes to the play area, go for good natural lighting and a greener or open space nearby for the pets to play in the area. 

PET SAFETY

Add safety measures in the house to prevent the pet from getting in way of sharp corners or windows and balconies. Attach a cat or dog net on the windows and go for softer curves with the furniture. Go for rubber and plastic toys and magnum opus in the house so that even if it gets knocked off, the piece won't break or harm the pet. 

CONSIDER BUILT-INS

Make an ultimate spotless kitchen with custom built-in bowls for the pets and corners in the house near the entry can always be hooked on with the sitting mats and built-in play area for the pet to have his own space and to keep the rest of the house clean. Separate the dog eating and playing zones through wonderful built-in cabinets that can also function as storage.