When you’re designing your home, it’s all about your family—and that includes your furry friends! Pets are a huge part of our lives, and we can’t imagine our homes without them. Creating a Pet-Friendly Home doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style; it’s all about making thoughtful choices that work for both you and your furry companions. But before you know it, your couch becomes a scratching post, and your rug ends up with muddy paw prints. After years of designing homes for families with pets—and with two dogs and three cats on our own team at The Living House—we know what really holds up. We’ve even picked out dog beds for our clients’ homes, making sure they look pawfectly (sorry, I couldn’t help myself!) in the space, and we’ve created living rooms that work for a house rabbit, too!
Here are our 10 best tips to help you create a beautiful family home that’s perfect for both you and your pets.
Also Read about: Top 10 Dog House Design Outdoor Ideas to Keep Your Pet Cozy
Table of Contents
Pet-Friendly Home Interior Design Ideas:
Pet-Safe Upholstery Materials
When picking out your sofa, we recommend choosing a stain-resistant fabric, often called aquaclean. This will help you relax and not worry every time your dog jumps on the couch or your cat curls up for a nap after a long day in the garden (because, let’s be real, as much as we try to keep them off, their cuteness always wins). If you’re a cat owner, you know they think the sofa is their personal scratching post, so avoid fabrics with an open weave—cats will easily snag them. A tight weave fabric is a great option to keep your sofa looking sharp. The Lounge Co. and Snug both offer pet-friendly sofa fabrics. Also, we’d steer clear of leather with pets, especially dogs and cats, because their claws can cause damage—unless you have a vintage, worn-in sofa or armchair that already has that lived-in vibe!
Pet-Friendly Flooring
If you’ve already been through the puppy or kitten phase with wipeable, easy-to-clean floors, you know how thankful you’ll be for them! If you’re thinking of adding a furry friend to the family, now’s the time to think about your flooring choice—you’ll thank yourself later! LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) is an awesome option for homes with pets. It’s usually scratch-resistant, comes with a solid guarantee, and best of all, it’s super easy to clean when your floors are covered in muddy paw prints. If LVT isn’t in your budget, go for a wood-style or tile flooring—but be careful with high-gloss tiles, because they’ll show every little thing!
Upstairs, you probably have carpet, whether it’s in the bedroom or your home office. Since our pets (especially the dogs) love to be wherever we are, it might make sense to switch to hard-wearing flooring up there, too. Our tip? Stay away from looped carpets—they can be a pain to clean if your pets have an accident. Polypropylene carpets are your best bet, as they’re durable and way easier to clean when stains happen.
Rugs That Are Pet-Friendly
A rug can really pull a room together and make it feel complete. And guess what? Having pets doesn’t mean you have to skip out on rugs (because let’s be honest, a rugless room is just plain sad). The solution? Washable rugs! If muddy paw prints show up or little accidents happen, you can toss the rug in the washing machine—easy peasy! One of our favorite brands for washable rugs is Ruggable. Their designs are gorgeous, and they offer so many options to choose from.
Another great pet-friendly rug idea is indoor-outdoor rugs. These are super easy to clean and work especially well in open-plan kitchens with doors leading to the garden. Got dirt? Just take them outside, hose them down, and they’re as good as new!
Keep accessories out of tail’s reach.
If you love decorating your home with stylish accessories, you probably want to avoid those heartbreaking moments when something gets broken—especially if you’ve got playful pets running around. Puppies and kittens in their zoomie phase can be adorable and destructive! To keep your favorite pieces safe, try placing them out of reach of wagging tails that can send things flying. Shelves are a great spot for your most treasured decor items, and bonus—they work just as well for keeping things safe from curious little hands if you’ve got kids too!
Pet-Friendly Home Plants
Is any room really complete without a plant? We don’t think so! Adding a plant to a space instantly brings it to life with a pop of greenery and a fresh vibe. But if you’ve got pets, it’s super important to make sure your plants are safe for them. Luckily, brands like Patch Plants and Beards & Daisies make it easier than ever to pick pet-friendly options—no need to spend hours researching on your own!
Toy Storage for Pets
Pets sure do come with a lot of stuff—especially toys! Before you know it, you’re buried under a mountain of squeaky balls and chew toys with no clue where to stash them. Just like your kids’ play areas, having a dedicated spot to store and organize your pets’ toys can make your space feel so much more tidy and put together. And who says pet storage can’t be stylish? You could go for a chic woven or patterned canvas basket, or check out Etsy for adorable personalized storage baskets. If you’re on a budget, Dunelm has some lovely cotton rope baskets that look great, too.
It’s not just toys you can store in style—pet treats can get a glow-up as well! Glass jars or tins are perfect for keeping treats organized, especially if you’ve got a pet-friendly area like a utility room. A little effort in organizing their stuff can go a long way in making your home feel both pet-friendly and Pinterest-worthy!
Include your pets in your home’s design
Your pets are a huge part of your family home, so why not dedicate an area to them? We recently designed an apartment in Scotland for our customer, who had three house cats who needed somewhere to play. We found some interesting cat wall shelving from Etsy, which meant the cats had somewhere to chill out and play, but it also incorporated well into the design scheme. It also meant the cats would hopefully not be using all the beautiful new furniture as a scratching post, as they had something new and exciting of their own.
Durable scrubbable coating
Scrubbable and washable paint is a lifesaver when you have pets. It’s super easy to maintain and keeps your walls looking fresh. Whether you’re coming in from a muddy walk with your dog or your cat decides to leave paw prints after a rainy day, you’ll be so glad you chose paint that you can easily scrub down!
Blankets to Keep Your Pets Cozy
No matter how comfy you make your pets’ bed, they’ll always pick somewhere else—like your favorite armchair or your bed—to curl up. So, stock up on throws and blankets to cover their go-to spots. Even if your sofa has stain-resistant fabric, these blankets will help keep pet hair off your furniture. And just like with their toys, it’s a good idea to have a few baskets around to keep those blankets neatly tucked away!
Hiding Your Cat’s Litter Box
If you’ve got a house cat (or maybe your cat is still using their litter tray), you’ve probably thought about how to hide it while still making sure it’s easy for them to access. Well, good news—your cat’s litter tray can now blend right in with your furniture! There are tons of designs out there, from sleek low cabinets to stylish sideboards, so you can keep things neat and tidy.
Conclusion
Creating a pet-friendly home doesn’t mean sacrificing style or comfort—it’s all about finding the right balance. From choosing durable fabrics and easy-to-clean floors to incorporating stylish storage and pet-safe plants, there are so many ways to make your space work for both you and your furry friends. Whether it’s designing a cozy corner for your dog, hiding a litter box in plain sight, or simply picking the right rug, little details can make a big difference. With these tips, you can create a beautiful, practical home that keeps tails wagging and everyone happy—humans and pets alike!
