Pet Projects

If you’re anything like us, you go a little crazy for your pets. We’re the type to purchase overpriced, organic dog treats and Egyptian cotton cat beds (even though Fluffy much prefers napping the bathroom sink). We love our pets, but we don’t love what our pets often do to our home. From tracking mud to shedding hair, keeping our homes clean in the presence of pets is a big job. Here are a few ideas for how to (stylishly) pet proof:

Blanket Solution

It’s mostly our fault, because we like the puppy snuggles so much, but our dog is pretty comfortable hopping up on our expensive sofa. We love the idea of wrapping a durable but aesthetically lovely blanket around the cushions to protect from hair, dirt and scratches.

Photo: Design Sponge

Under the Rug

If you know you are a pet devotee, skip the wall-to-wall carpeting and instead opt for stylish area rugs. They are easier to keep clean and vacuum around, and have the added benefit of being available in small patterns and dark colors, both of which aid in making pet hair a less obvious nuisance (along with many other such challenges).

Photo: Design Sponge

Fitting Fabrics

Give some thought to your fabric choices when bringing Fido or Fi Fi home. Some are great for dogs, awful for cats, or perfect for pets in general. For example, velvet can be a magnet for a pet hair, and it isn’t the easiest to clean, but it’s an excellent way to combat cat scratching (it isn’t a looped fabric), so always consider the way in which an animal will interact with your fabrics before purchasing.

Photo: ihavecat.com

Faux Fur

Photo: Etsy.com

While it may seem silly, matching your home décor to your pet’s fur color will save you a lot of time, money and headaches. If you’ve got a yellow lab, dark fabrics are going to show the shedding really quickly. Try out paler options first. If you are one of the non-superstitious saints who has adopted a black cat, dark fabrics will be your friend.

We hope these tips are helpful enough to have you headed to your local Humane Society to adopt a first, second or third four-legged addition to your family!