Choose Pet Friendly Materials
When you’re sharing a home with your pet, you need to consider them when deciding on which fabrics you want to adorn your space with. While velvet and silk couches look sleek and beautiful, they trap pet hair and are scratched easily. Instead, you want to consider furniture with tight weaves that is easy to clean. These fabrics include:
Leather: Leather and faux leather may be the most pet proof fabrics. It is nearly impossible for pet hair to get caught in a leather sofa or chair, and simply sweeping semi-regularly and cleaning up messes with soap and water will keep leather beautiful in your living room or family room for years to come.
Microfiber: Pet owners of all kinds swear by microfiber. Microfiber is soft to the touch while not collecting pet hair in the same way that many other fabrics do. It is also incredibly durable and easily cleaned. Compared to most woven materials, microfiber is fairly stain resistant and it is designed to repel liquids.
Faux Suede: If you cannot bear to part with the aesthetics that more traditional fabrics offer, one of the smartest choices for pet owners is faux suede. It offers the aesthetic appeal of suede with a much easier clean-up should a pet accident occur.
Make Smart Color Choices
If you cannot keep pet hair completely off of the furniture, you should at least make it less visible. Be strategic about the colors you choose to decorate your home with. Ideally, you should choose fabric colors that match your pet’s fur color. This way, the fur will be less visible during more heavy shedding periods. If you don’t wish to adhere to this rule, you should at least attempt to avoid light fabric colors. No matter what the color of your pet’s fur, stains are going to show more clearly on lighter colors. Everything from urinary accidents to muddy feet from a rainy day are easier to conceal on darker fabrics.
Protective Covers
If you are still concerned about pet hair on the furniture, an easy way to cat and dog proof furniture is to invest in protective covers. These covers come in a number of different fabrics and styles in order to suit your individual tastes. Keep in mind that using a cover will conceal your furniture, so if you are particularly attached to the aesthetic appeal that your couch offers, this may not be ideal. For those who don’t wish to purchase a full cover, blankets and throw rugs may also assist in decreasing the accumulation of pet hair.
Keep Pets Off Your Furniture
While it will not completely eliminate hair and other pet-related damages, keeping your pets off of the furniture will help you keep your space clean. If you take this route, be sure that you offer a dog bed, cat tree, or other item that can serve as your pet’s favorite spot. Just like humans, animals crave comfort and need a soft space to relax and sleep. Providing enrichment items will also help you keep your pets entertained enough to not ruin furniture. Bones and chew toys help prevent dogs from chewing on tables and sofas, and a well-placed scratching post will let cats scratch without ruining your artisanal living room set.
Bel Furniture is dedicated to providing a home every member of your family will love. Check out our current sale for amazing deals that can’t be beat, and remember to check our blog regularly for more tips and tricks on how to keep your home looking fantastic.
