Pet friendly homes
- 25th Feb 20
One of the many advantages of a Build to Rent property through Love to Rent is the chance to share your home and your life with an animal. Many developments will welcome pets and understand that you want a harmonious living space that your four-legged friend will love and feel at home in. Here’s our guide to maintaining a stylish living space for you and your furry friends.
Fabrics
The fabrics you have around your home really need to be pet-friendly if you want to avoid gathering fur everywhere. Velvet, mohair, corduroy, velour and chenille are a magnet for pet hair and best steered well clear of. Quality textiles that will withstand claws are your best options in materials such as leather and synthetic fibres.
Furniture
For a teething puppy, nothing is more appealing than uncovered wood on your furniture. Exposed wicker, rattan and sisal furniture will be too much of a temptation for a young dog so choose metal or chrome, which are far less fascinating. If you have young children and pets, then you know accidents can and will happen. You can get sofas that have been pre-treated with a stain guard to minimise the damage.
Kitchens
It’s important to keep your kitchen space tidy to avoid a pet becoming too inquisitive. Leave a loaf of bread out in plain sight, then a food-obsessed labrador will do anything to get to it. Out of sight, out of mind is the best approach to adopt and will keep your greedy pets safe from harmful foodstuff. That said, it is always important that your pet has easy access to fresh water and there’s many stylish bowls available from high-end designers through to quirky original creations, that will suit a wide range of interior décor.
Room to snooze
Dogs spend almost half of their lives sleeping so it is imperative to get a bed that they love. For an older dog suffering from joint pain, a memory foam mattress will be the most comfortable. There are so many options available, but just make sure that you select something that is appropriate for your space. A traditional tartan bed in a modern apartment will probably look out of place. Instead, find one in the colour scheme that best works for your décor. Whatever design you choose, make sure it is water-resistant and ideally has a removable, machine washable cover for easy cleaning.
Pet proof
Like you would when inviting a toddler into your home, it is important to consider how to pet proof your space. Bushy tails, clumsy paws, excited little accidents and a general lack of awareness of space means that it is important to think about the placement of objects around the home. Low tables with candles, glasses and ornaments on top are an accident waiting to happen and plants may look great but some are harmful to animals so ensure they are positioned completely out of reach. While you are training a puppy, you may want to consider a toddler safety gate to shut off some rooms without a door. It will also give your dog a chance for some peace and quiet away from the rest of the house.
Zone their space
Animals need to have a place where they can play but that doesn’t mean they have to have the run of the whole apartment. Give them a space where they can reach their toys, chase a ball and play tug of war that is out of harm’s way. Also think of a space where you can clean them before they rush into the home so they are not tempted to clean themselves dry on your rug or sofa.
Multi-functional
If you are in a small apartment, look out for hybrid pieces for pets that have multi-functions. For example, there are many options available for dog crates/coffee tables through to cat furniture that has been designed to hide litter boxes and scratching pieces that look like modern art.
How to introduce a pet into your home
- Make sure you have researched and bought everything your pet needs before they arrive.
- Bring your new pet home when you have the time to help them settle in properly.
- Allow them time to explore their new environment but don’t allow them full access to the entire space until they are fully house-trained.
- If you have other animals, introduce them to each other before they actually meet by swapping bedding or blankets so they can get used to each other’s scent.
- Train a puppy with food, it’s really the way to their hearts.
- Give them space away from excited children so they have a space to chill. Set up a bed or blanket that they can go to for some downtime. Cats like spots where they can look out a window and dogs like resting places that face the door so they can see who is coming in.