Millions of pampered pets patrol homes throughout the country so it should come as no surprise that owners increasingly make interior design choices with their animals in mind.
Diane Barber, owner of Pet Spaces in Rolling Hills Estates in California, is one of a growing number of interior designers who enhance and create spaces for people with pets.
“It’s really incorporating the animal’s lifestyle into the people’s lifestyle so there’s a harmonious living space,” she says.
It’s not hard to do. Whether you’re designing a home from the ground up or simply redecorating a room, today’s market offers stylish yet durable products that make the task easier than ever before. Here are a few ideas and suggestions:
Durable Flooring
A trendy choice is decorative concrete – acid-stained, painted or colored. Laminate flooring that replicates hardwood or tile is another practical option. It won’t dent or scratch like solid wood, and doesn’t tear or yellow like vinyl. If your heart is set on real wood, choose a distressed style in a medium finish to hide hair and scuff marks.
Snag Free Carpets
Debbie Weiner ofDesigning SolutionsinSilver Spring, Maryland recommends wool rugs because the fiber naturally repels liquids, making accidents easy to clean. But avoid looped textures, she says, that pet nails could pull on and undo. FLOR modular carpet tile is another smart solution. The squares are easy to install, and easy to clean – just remove the soiled section, and rinse in your sink.
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