6 Essential Things to Consider for Designing with Pets in Mind

Revamping your home brings a new wave of excitement for homeowners, but if you own a pet, it can add extra obstacles. While your furry friend might be part of the family, your home design needs to be tailored towards them for it to be both aesthetic and practical.

It's important to ensure that they're comfortable with the design and will not mess it up in the future. By employing certain strategies that will go down well with your pet, you won't have to stress about their actions.

Before you think about making the next step, you need to consider these 6 things when pet-proofing your home

Storage Solutions

If you own a pet, you'll know that there are many things that need their own designated space unless you want clutter everywhere, from toys to food.

Instead of leaving everything crammed up in the corner of a room, building a storage unit to keep things organized is better. Adding some shelves and cabinets can be great for holding things like leads and spare bowls. Buying a spare trash can and a shovel to put beside the cabinet will help with holding feed so you know where to go whenever they're hungry.

Don't forget, your pet will need somewhere to sleep, too, unless you want them running rampant on their own. For example, if you get your four-legged friend a 3-dog kennel, this will give them extra space, so they don't need to be let out all the time.

Floor Materials

Depending on your relationship with your pet, you might be an owner who prefers to keep them inside. If so, you'll want to install flooring that they won't destroy with their hair and toilet accidents. Tiles are always a good option since an unexpected spill can always be mopped up in a few seconds. Luxury vinyl planks are also a great idea; they're more affordable and tend to be scratch-proof.

For homeowners who like their pets in their sleeping space, you can always invest in a vintage rug for your master bedroom. Every time your pet comes in, you can put it down just in case they shed any hair to keep the floor clean.

Pet-Friendly Furniture

You'll more than likely consider your pets when selecting the furniture you want for your home, or it could be a costly error. You're not alone, though; around 78% of people who own cats and dogs consider their pets when deciding on furnishings for their household.

Pets aren't like humans; they climb all over things, and their fur sticks to them, and in some cases, they can cause a lot of damage by accident. So that you don't run into these issues, look into these pet-friendly furniture options:

• Pet mattresses: A soft, cozy, cushioned bed for a pet that's resistant to hair and smaller than a human-sized mattress.
• Scratch posts: Tall planks of timber are built for animals to play and scratch with.
• Polyester sofas: Long sofas that are durable, firm, comfortable, and resistant to staining.

Develop a Floor and Garden Plan

Put yourself in the eyes of the pet: what parts of your floor plan and garden will they like to play with, but could cause damage? Is there anything that may cause them to have an unintentional accident? Undoubtedly, you'll find something that can be harmful to them, so developing a floor and garden plan will help create a safere environment.

Boxing off a certain area of your floor plan for your pet to stay within can help reduce these risks. Once you clear away all the potential hazards, like things that could fall over, then they'll have the freedom to roam as they wish.

Usually, there are fewer safety concerns when it comes to the backyard. However, you might have specific parts that you don't want them near, like your new flower beds. Like indoors, give them their own designated space to play without giving you a headache.

Focus on Wall Protection

Choosing a flexible palette for your walls is a smart idea, so you don't have to keep painting over every little mark your pet makes. Purple, blue, and green shades are popular among homeowners. But one bit of advice we can give you is to stay clear of white shades or anything close to them. Every small blemish is noticeable with white; you'll spend more time fixing them than anything.

If your pet is prone to shedding fur, look into satin or semi-gloss finishes because they've got a smoother surface. This means your little cat or dog's fur won't get stuck to the wall, whereas, with flat finishes, it's far more likely.

Like every homeowner, you probably have some family photographs or small mirrors hung on the wall. It's best to get some strong nails to hang them up as a precaution so they don't fall off when your pet is racing around with excitement during dinner time.

Prepare Your Shared Communal Area

Sometimes, you might feel a little generous and let your little puppy in for a play in the shared communal area of your home. Don't worry; we all give in sometimes, but if you do, you better be prepared so it doesn't end in tears.

Making small changes like hiding away any electric cables that could be a hazard and pulling your curtains up can easily be done in seconds. However, there are a couple of amendments which may have to stay for the foreseeable. Some of these include keeping plants out of sight in a different room and placing your television high up on the wall where it can't be damaged.

Don't Forget These Pet Considerations When Designing Your Home!

Having a pet at home is great, but they don't think like us. If you approach your home's new design with these 6 things in mind, you'll have a hassle-free life without worrying about what your pet will do next.