Alright, so, you've got a pet who thinks the house belongs to them, and you're just lucky to live in it? Yeah, that sounds a lot like a pet parent, right?. Well, there’s nothing like a freshly cleaned living room being destroyed in five minutes flat by muddy paws, wagging tails, and a dog that refuses to acknowledge the concept of personal space. Well, the same goes for a cat if you own a cat.
Now, sure, it’s next to impossible for most pet owners to have a spotless house, and it’s not like it’s expected for it to be clean all the time either. But at the same time, no one wants to live in a house where it seems like the pet is the owner, right? Basically, there needs to be some middle ground, well, one where your furniture isn’t being slowly destroyed and your space still looks like a grown-up actually lives there.
Don’t Pick a Fight with Your Sofa
Oh yes, the sofa, it’s basically the center of the room, it’s what makes your living room the, well, living room of course. But at the same time, you need to keep in mind that your sofa takes the brunt of the chaos. It’s the wrestling ring, the napping zone, the dog’s throne, and the cat’s personal scratching post. So picking the right fabric is everything.
Yes, absolutely everything here! Unfortunately, some materials just aren’t made for pet life. You know the ones, they attract fur like it’s their life’s mission and stain if your dog even thinks about stepping on them. Plus, pets tend to cause more than enough stains too, so it might be a good idea to look into sofa upholstery and ideally look into something that cats and dogs can’t scratch, something that doesn’t attract fur, and of course this also, this can outright avoid any stains.
Just Banish the Sad Blanket Look
Yep, you know it, it’s that lumpy, throw that’s been living on the sofa since your beloved pet moved in. Well, it’s time to retire it. Now, yes, covers can totally work for pet-proofing, but they don’t need to ruin your entire aesthetic. So, ideally, it’s going to help to just choose something stylish. You want something pretty, yet effortless; you don’t want to give off the idea that you’ve given up on your interior.
For example, big knit throws, big bold patterns that hide fur, or even a double-sided cover that flips when guests come round, these are just a few ideas, of course, but no, a sad blanket isn’t the only thing you should stick to.
Hide the Mess
Just picture it: toys everywhere, chewed bones on the rug, and half a tennis ball under the coffee table. Now, reading that, you’d think this is something that a toddler would do, but nope, that’s just pets for you.
So it helps to know how to hide the mess, and usually, you can’t go wrong with putting their toys (and other items) into some cute baskets (but ottomans work too). Basically, you just want to hide the mess in plain sight and pretend your house is always this tidy. It’s fine. Everyone’s doing it (and you can hide pet beds, too)
Your Nose Knows
Even if everything looks nice, you’re not fooling anyone if the room smells like wet dog. It’s not just about appearances; your home’s atmosphere is all in the scent. Get some pet-safe candles or an air purifier, better yet, just go wild with a diffuser