Animal magnetism: tailor your home to your pets

Tips and advice on products to help you create a pet-friendly home.

Sarah Lazarovic for The National

Many of us share our homes with a friend of the four-legged kind, and while it’s lovely to come home to a wagging tail or an enthusiastic purr, there are less-enjoyable aspects to pet ownership. From claw marks on the sofa to endless hair on every surface, animals can create chaos in an otherwise stylish home. But there are ways to minimise or even avoid the worst offences. We’ve spoken in the past about creating a home that your pet is comfortable in, but here are some tips on choosing materials, furnishing and finishes that are pet friendly but stylish, too.

As with anyone who wants to keep their home looking good without too much maintenance, when making design decisions, it’s important to think about how the house is used and by whom, and that includes pets. For example, there’s nothing you can do about dogs and cats shedding fur or hair, but you’ll find it much easier to sweep or vacuum up from a smooth wooden or tiled floor than a carpet.

You can always add a rug to soften the look and feel of the room, in which case opt for an indoor/outdoor kind. This will be a lot more hard-wearing, and stand up to sharp claws and dirty paws far better than a soft woollen or silky number. Choosing dark colours and close, intricate patterns will help hide the dirt and wear, too.

Avoiding block colours completely is a good tip for all fabric choices in your pet-friendly home. It’s also worth investing in stain-resistant material with all of your soft furnishings. For areas where your pet spends regular time, you could even match your colour choice to their fur, so it’s less conspicuous. After all, there’s no point going for a black sofa that “hides the dirt” if your white cat covers it in snowy fluff within seconds.

Stop that scratching

Dirt and fur aren’t the only threat to fabric in the home when there are pets about. Sharp claws can wreak havoc, deliberately or accidentally. One useful trick is to choose materials such as velvet that are unlooped and therefore don’t catch and pull as easily. Leather or leather-effect fabrics are useful in terms of cleaning, but can scratch fairly easy, so consider what the greatest threat might be in your case.

When it comes to deliberate scratching, a good way to deter bad behaviour is to provide an alternative outlet. A scratch post is essential for every cat, and there are some very cute designs on the market that will blend right in with your decor. Likewise, dogs love to chew, and one of the best ways to get them to stop gnawing furniture (and any of your other possessions) is to ensure they have dedicated chew toys – plus a box or basket where these can be stored, so they’re not left lying about, making your home look messy.

Another must-buy is a throw or blanket (perhaps even several), which can be used as extra protection on sofas and beds. If they get grubby, all you need to do is stick them in the wash, and they’ll be good as new in no time. Again, go for a colour that matches your pet’s fur or a closely patterned print that will help hide dirt for as long as possible.

An alternative option is to keep your pets off your furniture completely by providing them with a space of their very own. Cat and dog beds or baskets are increasingly sophisticated and stylish, so you won’t have any problem getting one that fits your decor. Animals are very sensitive to scent, so one of the best ways to get them to accept a new furniture item is to rub it down with something that smells familiar (a blanket they’ve slept on, for example). If they’ve got a favourite toy, place that in the basket as well to create a sense of home.

Getting practical

There are a couple of more-practical aspects to consider. First, eating. Every pet needs a dedicated place to dine, so why not make a style feature of it? Buy trendy bowls that match your kitchen decor, and set them out on a dedicated mat that looks great and will catch any spills, which will help to keep the room clean.

Finally, there’s the less-pleasant but utterly essential subject of where your pet goes to the bathroom, particularly if you have a cat. Even if he or she goes out regularly, they’ll need to have a bathroom of sorts indoors. The simplest option is a litter tray, complete with a good-quality gravel that will mask any odours. Sit the tray on a bathmat to catch any spills and make cleaning easier. If this isn’t stylish enough for you, you could invest in a “litter house” – a small cabinet, complete with cat-sized door, which contains the litter box, keeps the whole thing a lot neater and more subtle for the humans of the house.

Although most of what we have covered has dealt with how to stop your pets from ruining your beautiful home, it’s important to also think of things the other way round, and ensure your home is a safe environment for your furry friends. For example, it’s essential that you secure wires and cables so they don’t act as a trip hazard or encourage chewing, which could lead to a nasty – or even deadly – electric shock. Outdoors, pools and water features are a particular danger, so ensure that they’re either cordoned off or covered with a wire grid to stop potential drowning. Likewise, check whether any of your plants contain parts that could prove poisonous if eaten by an innocent pet.

Having a beautiful home and a pet needn’t be mutually exclusive. With a little thought and a few key purchases, there’s no reason why you and your four-legged friends shouldn’t be able to live together in both comfort and style.

Follow us @LifeNationalUAE

Follow us on Facebook for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news.