Luckily, it’s possible to design your living space around your furry friends and stay true to your taste. Let your home go to the dogs (or cats) without sacrificing style or comfort. 

Check out these tips for a beautiful pet-friendly home. 

Opt For Easy-to-Clean Flooring

Hardwood floors and tiles are simple to clean and they can hide scratches or avoid them altogether. If you opt for wooden floors, go for harder woods such as mahogany or oak, which will better resist the damage caused by pet nails. 

Tile is pet nail proof and gives your four-legged friends a cool place to rest during warmer weather. Bare floors, including hardwood floors and tiles, are easy to vacuum or mop and look great in the home. Wiping up dirty paw prints is also simple on such a smooth surface. Even bare concrete is a great option, especially when it comes to cleaning up.

Try to avoid wall-to-wall carpet as much as possible. Carpets trap pet hair, absorb odors and soak up stains like a sponge. If you must have carpet, opt for carpet tiles, which are easier to clean and or replace than wall-to-wall carpet. If your dog or cat pees and leaves a stain that’s hard to remove, you can pull up the dirty carpet tile and replace it with a new one, which is much cheaper than replacing the entire carpet.

Pick The Right Fabrics

For pet parents who let their fur babies share the couch, it’s best to choose durable fabrics for furniture if possible. 

Leather and microfiber are great options as both are easy to clean, wear well over time, and don’t attract pet hair. However, many grades of leather can still be affected by dog and cat claws. You can protect your couch from pet scratches with the PupProtector™ Waterproof Throw Blanket, which is designed as a waterproof, machine washable, and great looking option to protect your furniture from pet hair, dirt, spills, and scratching damage.

According to a recent survey of pet parents by the American Pet Products Association, nearly half of all dogs sleep in their parents’ beds. If your pup sleeps in your bed, the PupProtector™ Throw also serves as a great option to throw on top of the bed for your pooch to rest their paws. With plush faux fur on one side and ultra-soft microsuede on the other, your pup will nap in the lap of luxury. The new Large Size PupProtector™ Throw fits perfectly across a King Size Bed.

The stylish and waterproof throw offers comfort for your furry friend and protection against muddy paws, pet urine, and more. [Learn more]

Choose Pet Friendly House Plants

While house plants have the ability to add a spruce of color to your decor, there are a number of plants that can be toxic to curious pets who may decide to take a nibble or two. Popular house plants like Aloe Vera can be dangerous to pets when digested. Thankfully, there are many indoor plants that can add beauty to your home without posing a threat to your fur baby.

Herbs and Orchids can last a long time and add a rich texture to your home. These indoor plants are safe for cats and dogs and make for a beautiful pet-friendly home. 

Match Colors To Your Pet’s Fur

Your furry friend can be a source of inspiration when choosing colors for your home. Choose a color of couch upholstery that matches your pup. Paint your wall the same shade as your cat. 

Matching your decor colors to your pet’s fur is a good idea both aesthetically and practically. The fur that your pets leave behind won’t be visible if the colors of the couch and walls match the colors of the pet’s fur. A black couch in a home with a Black Labrador Retriever, a dog that sheds quite a bit, is the best option for camouflaging the pet hair that finds its way onto the couch.

Get A Stylish Pet Bed

An essential part of a pet-friendly home is the addition of your dog or cat’s very own cozy bed. The traditional dog or cat bed can be unsightly and may not mesh well with the rest of the decor in your room. Opt for a pet bed made of high-quality materials that provides pets with the ultimate place to rest, while blending seamlessly into home decor.

Unlike other pet beds, the PupRug™, with its attractive faux fur and area rug style, looks like a natural fit as part of your home decor. The luxurious memory foam dog bed from Paw.com features pressure-relieving memory foam, a removable and washable faux fur cover, and stylish patterns that match any home decor. [Learn more]

Remove Unwanted Smells with Pet Odor Eliminator

Now that you’ve chosen pet friendly home decor and gotten your living space situated, it’s time to upgrade the ambiance of your beautiful home! Marlie Mist Pet Odor Eliminator is great at removing any unpleasant smells. Simply spritz this all-natural odor neutralizer on pet beds, pillows, carpets - you name it! The natural essential oils will take care of the pet odor without just masking the smell with heavy fragrance. Not only will you have peace of mind when using these pet safe essential oils, but you’ll also be rid of those undesirable smells. The last piece of the puzzle to having a lovely home with pets is for it to smell absolutely wonderful!

Having a pet and a beautiful home are not mutually exclusive. The key is to design your home with pet friendly fabrics and surfaces to minimize damage and limit your cleaning time. You can even make your pet your muse by considering the color of your pet’s fur when deciding on a color scheme. That way, the inevitable shedding from dogs and cats is less obvious, making your home look sleek and clean. It just doesn’t feel like home without our furry friends so keep these tips in mind when decorating your pet-friendly home without sacrificing style or comfort.