I work with many clients who have fur babies and they are constantly concerned about the messes their kiddos make around the house.
Some clients won’t commit to very much in regards to new home furnishings in their home if it is remotely expensive for fear their dog or cat will ruin it. I love to show them products that are made for just such circumstances.
Most items of concern are floor coverings, upholstery and bedding.
In discussing floor coverings, hardwood, ceramic or vinyl floors are perfect as long as no wetness stands for long on these floors. Most messes can easily be cleaned up, but most people want to layer softer products on these hard surfaces.
I like to ground a living room group with a rug. People like to step on a rug when they get out of bed. And a rug under a breakfast table helps to separate the dining area from the kitchen. There are several options when considering a rug when you have a pet.
Performance fabrics have come a long way! Fibers such as polyester, polypropylene and viscose are inherently stain resistant. Many stains can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth. These types of rugs have become so popular that there are so many sizes, patterns and colors to choose from!
Wool rugs are not as popular due to their weight, cost and difficulty cleaning.
A product I like to use, especially under a breakfast set or as a runner in a kitchen is a vinyl product called Vintage Vinyl Floor Cloths. Just as the name states, many of the patterns look vintage with worn looking edges. There are cleaner, modern patterns, too.
These rugs lay flat so they won’t trip a person as easily as a tufted carpet could. And clean up is a breeze!
Performance fabrics began their introduction with outdoor furniture and they became so popular that people began using them indoors.
After that, the fabric industry began producing a multitude of performance fabrics. There are thousands of patterns and colors to choose from and I use these fabrics on sofas, chairs, pillows and even pet beds!
Again, being inherently stain resistant makes for easy clean up. But it does come with a warning: As the stain repellent sprays stopped being used in factories, these types of finish sprays, if applied in the home, became of no use once the protective spray is wiped away when cleaned.
Performance fabrics are also popular in bedrooms. I like to use a man made fiber coverlet on the bed that can be cleaned in the washer and dryer.
Some performance fabrics have a nap and have a velvet or chenille effect. These fabrics make great pillows and foot warmers. You can create a really high end look yet save money using these less expensive fabrics!
So, don’t let your pets make you feel like you can’t design your home interior the way you want. There are so many options that will work well with your pets, your children, and your friends who may have one too many glasses of red wine!
