5 Pet-Friendly Home Decor Ideas

Whether your home is filled with dogs and cats or you have just one furry family member, a pet-friendly home should work well for everyone. The good news is, there are many pet-friendly home decor ideas that will benefit you both. From functional, durable furniture to pet-safe products, here are some suggestions to elevate your home.

1. Create a space-saving pet station

If you often deal with pet clutter, consider dedicating one area to their things. Check out this Modern Corner Cat Litter Box Cabinet or this dog bed that doubles as an end table or nightstand. You could pair either of those with some floating shelves, a stainless steel pet food container, a dog toy basket, a stylish cat shelf, and/or a dog wall organizer. Additionally, there are many nice-looking corner dog crates and bench dog crates.

Once you have your pet station all set up, take home organization expert Marie Kondo’s advice and start labeling items. Kondo says, “Label areas where your pet items live to help you keep track of what specifically lives where, such as inside drawers, bins, or on shelves.” While some items may be obvious, it’s important to label closed containers with lesser-used items. That way, even forgetful family members or pet sitters will know where to find things like leashes, brushes, nail clippers, and treats.

2. Choose your upholstery wisely

Not all upholstery is created equally. When it comes to choosing couches and sofa chairs, look for items that are:

• Durable
• Stain-resistant
• Easy-to-clean

You want something that will maintain its appeal over time. For example, performance fabric has a protective coating and is used in outdoor furnishings, making it resistant to moisture and scratches. Microsuede or microfiber is another great option. A synthetic upholstery, it is hypoallergenic and scratch and stain-resistant. Additionally, leather can be a good option if you only have dogs. Cats’ claws can puncture it, but genuine leather is great for dogs and kids. It’s hypoallergenic, durable, and easy to clean. For a budget-friendly option, consider polyester or polyester blends. Its tight weave makes it stain and scratch-resistant.

Regardless of which type you choose, it’s best to clean up any messes right away to properly maintain your furniture. One handy product for cleaning up everything from pet accidents to coffee spills is Folex. It’s safe on upholstery and doesn’t require any rinsing. Also, check out this Wayfair guide for more upholstery info and tips.

3. Let their fur be your guide

When it comes to choosing colors for rugs, mats, and blankets, think about the color of your pet’s fur. While vacuuming regularly is a must, you can hide a bit by choosing similar colors for your living room or bedroom. Or, opt for lively patterns. No one wants to see a beautiful white couch caked with black fur. Whereas a tiny bit of gray fur on a dark patterned area rug will probably go unnoticed. If your heart is set on something that isn’t exactly pet-friendly decor, consider putting it in a room that your furry family members don’t frequent.

And, here’s a pro tip when cleaning up pet fur: use dryer sheets on your base boards. With one quick swipe, you can remove pet hair, and it helps repel it from that area. Bonus: this is an excellent chore for young children to do.

4. Consider pet-friendly laminate flooring

Floors always experience wear and tear over time, especially in high traffic areas. This fact is magnified when we have pets. Laminate flooring is a great option because it’s pet-friendly and doesn’t absorb odors like carpet. Li Wang, who leads flooring testing at Consumer Reports, says, “Laminate and vinyl products are generally made of tougher stuff.” According to Consumer Reports, it’s especially good at “fending off wear, dents, scratches, discoloration from sunlight, and stains, making it appropriate for high-traffic areas.” Also, there’s a range of color and design options to choose from.

5. Elevate your home with pet-safe, air-purifying plants

No one likes a musty home, and what better way to brighten a room than by adding some air-purifying plants? Biophilic design trends are on the rise as more people are trying to incorporate elements of nature into their home. Doing so creates a more harmonious living space. One way to do this is to incorporate greenery into different rooms. The plants below are considered pet-friendly home decor. They are safe for them and easy for you to maintain:

• Spider plant – needs bright-to-moderate indirect light
• Money tree – prefers bright, indirect sunlight
• Boston fern – enjoys frequent misting and indirect light
• Prayer Plant – prefers little sunlight
• Blue Echeveria – needs bright, indirect light
• American Rubber Plant – prefers bright, indirect light

For more ideas, and to learn which air-purifying plants are not pet-friendly, check out this plant list. And, if plants aren’t enough, check out these air purifiers to eliminate odors and reduce pet-related allergens.

If you want some general interior design tips from a local expert, check out our Q&A with Bainbridge Island’s Kim McCall Design.