Pet-Friendly Furniture and Other Design Tips for Animal Lovers

If you’re like us here at the Kuotes, you love animals just as much as you love beautiful furniture and design. But unfortunately, even though you’re ogling that luxurious linen sofa, the reality is that some furniture just doesn’t last with furry friends. Here are our top five tips for buying pet-friendly furniture that works for your design sensibility.

Pet-Friendly Tip #1: Pattern Is a Plus, but Open Weaves Are Out.

Fabrics with patterns are a great choice when you have pets because the patterns help camouflage hairs in between vacuuming. Choosing upholstery that’s similar in color to your pet is also helpful for hiding hairs (but that isn’t always the best design option—so use your best judgement!). What’s most important is to stray away from anything that has an open weave (like linen, cotton, silk, etc.). These fabrics are especially susceptible to cat claws and doggie paws! Some people consider tweed to help hide pet hair, but because tweed is textured, fine hairs actually get trapped between fibers making it almost impossible to clean. Instead, opt for leather, ultra-suede, or performance upholstery. Read more in our next tip!

Pet-Friendly Tip #2: Pick the Right Upholstery. 

In a world of drooling and paw prints, it’s imperative to select an upholstery that is resistant to scratching and very easy to clean. Explore our selection of custom upholstery furniture, which includes high-quality upholstery fabrics you can COM (customer’s own material) such as Sunbrella and Crypton.

Sunbrella, an upholstery fabric brand originally used for awnings and outdoor furniture, offers indoor furniture upholstery that uses intricate jacquard weaving and innovative yarn constructions and finishes to replicate the look and feel of fine interior fabrics, which means you get a durable and easy-to-clean fabric that looks as lovely as linen. The technology here has really advanced over the years, and we can say without hesitation that we would use Sailcloth Salt on virtually any sofa or chair and have it read like linen.

Crypton is another performance upholstery brand we love that is soft, durable, and resistant to stains and odors. You can literally pour Coca-Cola on these fabrics, and the liquid will bead right off—perfect for pets that are still being potty-trained.

As a general rule, non-looped fabrics do well with pets since the material can’t get caught in claws. Microfiber and microsuede fabrics are pet-friendly as well, but note that they may not be as aesthetically pleasing as a Sunbrella or Crypton fabric. Do you see an upholstered frame you love that you want to do in a performance fabric? Let us know, and we’ll send you a sample!

Fabrics to Avoid:

Quick and simple, stray away from: chenille, velvet, wool, linen, silk, and tweed.

In Love with Leather:

We love the look of leather. But it’s especially alluring for pet owners because it’s resistant to odors and it doesn’t attract pet hair. If there is some accidental shedding, simply take a dust cloth and wipe it right off. Leather can scratch, so if you have cats make sure to keep a scratching post nearby. But scratches can usually be buffed out, and if it matches your design style, you can opt for distressed leather so if scratches do occur, they’ll blend right into the fabric. (Bonus: Leather is also great for if you have kids due to the easy clean up!).

Pet-Friendly Tip #3: Choose Hard Surface Floors 

Bare floors are a must for homes with pets. Hardwood is our go-to option, since they’re simple to swifter while adding a warm natural look to the home. Be wary, however, that dogs can scratch hardwood. The best flooring material for pets is ceramic tile. Tile is toenail-proof, it makes a room look sleek and elegant while being a very cost-effective way to mimic stone, and it gives furry animals a cool place to nap during hot weather. Absolutely perfect for the kitchen!

Pet-Friendly Tip #4: Consider Furniture Legs

When you’re deciding on a sofa and you have pets, always go for the piece that has wooden or metallic legs instead of fabric or skirting. This rule applies to sofas, but also to ottomans, coffee tables, or anything else that may be in reach of your pet’s sharp claws.

Pet-Friendly Tip #5: Streamline Your Pet Accessories

We’re not saying here that all of the dog toys have to match the color palette of your family room…but we’re not entirely opposed to the idea either. Minimize attention to pet accessories by tucking them into a corner, storing them in floor baskets, or by buying a lot of neat design-oriented pet accessories you can find online, like this leaning console scratching post or one of our French Country pet beds. If you’re lucky enough to be building your own home, incorporate pet food storage and dog bowls into the cabinetry, like in the photo above. The biggest culprit for a potential eyesore is the cat litter; Most would agree that the litter box is not going to be your room’s statement piece. If you have the option for it, convert a section of the basement or a closet to a space for the litter. If that’s not an option, see if one of these litter boxes disguised as furniture could fit the room. 

 

Do you have pets in the home? How do you protect your furniture? Let us know in the comments below!