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From Flooring to Furniture: Designing a Pet-Friendly Home
Designing a home that works for both you and your furry friends can be a daunting task. While you want your home to look stylish and put-together, it’s also important to ensure your pets are comfortable and safe. But don’t worry—there are lots of ways to make your home pet-friendly without sacrificing style! When you live in Wolf Willow, you can feel comfortable knowing your community is designed to support a pet-friendly life, like our new off-leash Dog Park, Woof Willow, that recently opened!
In this post, we’ll explore some of the best ways to create a home that works for both you and your four-legged friends.
Understanding your pet’s needs
Every pet is different—you probably know this better than anyone else! If your dog loves to chew, double-check that your furniture won’t easily scratch or break, or is easy to repair.
If your cat loves to climb (which most cats love to do), choose pet-friendly furniture that can withstand the weight of your cat. You can also build a designated climbing wall, or place multiple cat towers strategically around your house where climbing is a pain point. These towers also double as scratching posts, which will save your furniture and carpet from destruction.
Pet-friendly design in your outdoor spaces
Just like us, our pets need fresh air outside every day. If they could, most furry friends would go wherever their noses lead them. But as pet owners, it’s essential to make sure they can enjoy the outdoors safely with pet-friendly areas. For example, you can create a fenced-in area or an enclosure for your pets in your back or front yard.
Photo by: Pinterest | Nataly Hernandez
Morrison Homes has some fun options! Deck your yard out with a dog run or give your pets some (but not too much) independence with a built-in pet door.
Cleaning and maintenance
Cleaning and maintaining your home is even more important when you have pets. Vacuuming or sweeping regularly is the easiest way to keep tidy. This will help remove pet hair, dirt, and debris from your floors and furniture. Including a central vacuum system in your home can make cleaning up after your pets a lot easier. This option is available with Morrison Homes.
And of course, clean up any pet accidents as soon as possible to prevent stains and odors from setting in. Many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to your pets, so be sure to choose ones made with natural, pet-safe ingredients.
A built-in pet wash is a proactive way to encourage easier cleaning for everyone in the household. This pet-friendly option will help stop muck and odors from tracking into the house once you return from the dog park or a stroll through Fish Creek Park.
Many of our builders in Wolf Willow have home models that offer the option to install a built-in pet wash in a mudroom, including:
Photo by: Unsplash
Choosing the flooring
When picking out the details of your home, it’s essential to choose durable and easy-to-clean flooring materials like hardwood, tile, or concrete. Hardwood floors are scratch-resistant, and easy for wiping up any spills or accidents, but can be expensive and require regular maintenance. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, consider looking into laminate, vinyl, or tile options that aren’t too slippery for your fur baby’s little feet.
Looking for a cozier option? Perhaps one of the most popular flooring options for pet-friendly homes is carpet. While it can provide warmth and comfort for your pets, it can also be challenging to maintain. Pet hair, dirt, and stains can be difficult to remove, so if you choose to install carpet, try to choose a high-quality, stain-resistant carpet that’s easy to clean.
Creating designated pet areas in your home
You can go the extra mile for your pets by creating a comfortable and safe space of their own. A designated area for your pet’s bed, toys, and food and water bowls can go a long way. When creating a designated pet area in your home, it’s essential to choose an area that is away from high-traffic areas.
Morrison Homes can help you create a nice and tidy experience for you and your pets by creating built-in feeding and sleeping stations. Tucking away a feeding station in the lower kitchen cabinets or at the bottom of a kitchen island can help prevent bowls from becoming a tripping hazard in this busy area of your home.
Photo by: Pinterest | Architectural Digest
Morrison Homes also offers built-in beds for your pets. A built-in bed creates a special place just for your pet—custom for your home. You can even add a crate door to create a safe place for both you and your pet while you’re away from home.
Furniture considerations
Even more choices to make! As with everything else, it’s essential to choose furniture that is durable and easy to clean. Leather furniture is a great option, though it can be easy for little toes to scratch. If you prefer fabric, microfiber is a smart choice as it won’t snag or stain as easily as other materials might. Microfiber furniture is also available in a wide range of colors and styles to complement your home’s decor. Or pick a fabric option that’s tightly woven, such as canvas, denim, or a tight-weave twill that won’t trap dirt inside.
Incorporating pet-friendly decor
The right décor can make a big difference in a home with pets. Even though style is important, sometimes it might be best to sacrifice pieces that might not jive with your furry friends.
For decorative items within reach of your pets, try to find pieces made of durable materials that won’t break easily, like metal, plastic, or wood. And make sure your breakable items are placed somewhere that your pets can’t easily be knocked down. If you like having live plants in the house, make sure they are non-toxic to your pets before bringing them into the home. Check out this handy list from the ASPCA to see which plants to avoid, both indoors and outdoors on walks.
DIY pet-friendly home projects
If you love a special DIY touch in your home, here are a few ideas!
- Create a pet bed with old pillows, blankets, or even an old suitcase
- Design a pet feeding station by starting with an old dresser or cabinet and removing the drawers, replacing them with food and water bowls.
- Make a scratching post for your cat using a piece of wood and some sisal rope
Not only is living with pets a lot of fun, but it can also provide comfort in our busy day-to-day lives. It’s all about finding the right balance between style and functionality to ensure everyone is comfortable and happy in your home. Trust us, your pets will thank you for keeping their enjoyment and safety in mind.
Have you added any of these pet-friendly, custom-built features to your home in Wolf Willow? Tag us or send us a DM on Instagram or Facebook so we can see!
