Designing interiors with pets in mind
Image, Little Greene
Whether you have a calm cat or a boisterous Labrador, considering your pets when designing your home is essential to both ensure their comfort and to protect your home from day to day scuffs, marks and accidents. When considering design choices for homes with pets, always consider how materials will perform in all times of the year. What seems like a great choice when you are selecting something on beautiful dry August days could be a nightmare to keep looking smart come December when you are piling into the house after muddy walks.
Entrance areas
Starting from the entrance area. If you can, an outdoor warm shower or boot room with a large sink is a great idea for washing muddy paws before they come into the house. Alternatively can you leave them in an entrance room or hallway whilst they dry off after walks. Is there a quiet spot where they can have a drying off bed. A washable rug in these areas is very useful.
Flooring
Floors are a suitable place to start with dog friendly interior design. Tiles are a great option particularly for entrance or heavy use areas such as kitchens. Easy to clean and great with under floor heating. It is worth considering the upkeep of the flooring option you choose. Whilst natural stone options are beautiful, they may require sealing to prevent them from becoming porous to stains. Porcelain tiles would be a better option, less porous and easy to keep clean, provided a suitable grout colour is chosen. They are also a great option for underfloor heating in cooler months and for animals to keep cool in summer months. Wooden floors again look great but can stain easily and mark with scratches. A quality alternative is Karndeen, which is harder wearing and can easily be replaced in isolated pieces should it become damaged. Save carpet for rooms where pets are only allowed once they have cleaned off. In rooms with carpet, where pets may settle consider using a rug, either washable, highly patterned or a similar colour to your pet hair if they shed lots. Stick to shorter pile carpets and rugs which are much easier to keep clean.
Wall finishes
Another key design choice is paint finish. It is preferable to use an eggshell finish on the lower part of the wall or even better paint over wooden panelling to protect walls. There are many options for wipeable, durable and non-toxic paints. If you are wanting to create a statement in your hallway with lots of pattern, wallpaper is the go-to option. Instead of hanging it floor to ceiling, consider painted wooden panelling with wallpaper above to create a dramatic look.
Soft furnishings bring a room scheme alive but selecting fabrics and finishes wisely is key for a design which stands up to pets.
Soft furnishings
In high traffic areas it is useful to consider if blinds would be appropriate instead of full-length curtains. Choose fabrics in throughfares or rooms where pets spend most of their time, looking out of the window, with darker bases or highly patterned to disguise stains and hairs. Where lighter fabric bases have been used it is a clever idea to use Scotchgarde spray to protect fabrics. Consider fabrics which are machine washable for cushions covers and fabrics which do not have loose weaves, which could catch on little paws and claws. Have a selection of throws in coordinating colours specifically for pets, especially if they are allowed free rein over the sofa. If you are selecting a new high-priced item such as a sofa, consider its durability carefully. Whilst leather is easy to keep clean it can mark and become scratched very easily. Soft linens and velvets may also be better choices for areas when pets are not tempted to settle. A weave such a textured boucle for example would be much more forgiving of stains and hairs.
Space to snooze
Lastly but importantly, don’t let where your pet sleeps be an afterthought. For larger dog breeds particularly, comfortable beds can take up considerable floor space which may affect the flow of the room. How could this best be planned? They will want a quite spot tucked out of walkways for peace and quiet so be creative in how this could be achieved. Could a bespoke bed be housed under an island or sideboard? Could a kitchen cupboard be converted into a cosy pet house. Which rooms do you spend most time in and how can a bed be accommodated in each of these rooms?
If you can give these elements of your design thought before you begin it could save time and effort in making alternative choices or replacing much loved but easily worn items which can be costly. Most importantly it creates a relaxing environment for both you and your pets where they are comfortable and welcome throughout your home, so you can relax and not worry about mess or potential damage. Ultimately leaving more time for cuddles with your four-legged pals on the sofa!