In a previous blog I told you about my friend who surveyed her home on her hands and knees looking for safety hazards prior to bringing her new puppies home. It’s a good idea—even better if you are planning to redecorate or remodel your home. Before you hire contractors, experts recommend you look at your home through your pet’s eyes:
Floors
Before you choose a new floor consider how well it will hold up to scratches? Also, ask yourself how easy is it to clean (should Fido have an “accident”). According to animal experts, tile, linoleum and hardwood floors are the most pet-friendly options. However, if you can’t live with bare floors, you’re better off opting for machine-washable area rugs over wall-to-wall carpeting. If urine soaks into carpet backing, good luck getting it out.
Furniture
We don’t have a dog, but I have learned from my friend (mom to two large Golden Retrievers) that the single most important thing you can do when it comes to furniture is to match the fabric’s colors to your pet’s fur. Pet owners can also attest that patterns and tweeds hide more than solids do. Of course, if you don’t want to design your living room around your pet’s hair color you could always throw a washable slipcover on his/her favorite chair.
Walls
Choosing paint for a home full of animals is not as hard as you may have first thought. Experts say any color will do as long as you use washable semi-gloss paint in areas where your pets will spend most of their time. Also, if you like to decorate your walls with frames, you should take into account your pet’s size. Anything within its reach is fair game.
Windows
If you have pets I would forget about the fancy window treatments. To active cats curtains are nothing but swing sets waiting for them to ride. Animal experts also recommend you avoid vertical blinds, ornate tassels and long cords. If your pet gets caught in any of these treatments, he could strangle himself.
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