Whether you already have a pet or plan to bring one home, there are many things you need to consider if you want to keep a tidy, well- decorated home, free of pet damage. Pets can ruin our decor, from a stain on the carpet, to a chewed up piece of furniture, to a scratched wall. Some pet owners confine their pets to certain areas of their home.
Others are more liberal, giving their animals free reign of the inside of their homes. The good news is that recent trends in interior design combined with new home decor products are making it easier than ever to decorate a home that is both fashionable and pet-friendly. The key is to work with materials that are sturdy and easy to clean. Follow these decorating tips from the ASPCA and you won’t have to keep your furry little friends at bay or worry about them causing any major damage.

FLOORING
1. Choose bare floors. Replace wallto- wall carpeting with wood, tile, sheet linoleum, slate or stone. Unlike carpeting which traps pet hair, stains and odors, bare floors are easy to keep clean and won’t be permanently damaged if a pet “accident” isn’t cleaned up right away. (Seal hardwood floors with polyurethane to prevent urine odor retention.) Another advantage — these materials stay cool in the summer, providing relief for your pet from the heat.
2. Accent bare floors with small, machine washable area rugs. They are easy to pick up and clean. Just be sure to secure them with a nonstick mat or piece of heavy furniture, or pet activity will have them scattered around the house.
WALLS
1. Use a lead-free, washable semigloss paint in areas where your dog will spend the most of his time. This paint is essential if you have a loose-jowled dog such as a coonhound or a mastiff type that is more likely to shake spittle onto the walls.
2. Avoid textured wallcoverings, especially if you have a cat. These coverings, like grass cloth and nubby fabrics, are invitations for cats to scratch. 3. If wallpaper is a must, washable vinylbacked wallpaper is preferable to the traditional paper-backed wallpaper. Use antique wallpapers or fabric wall treatments on the top half of the walls, and paint or hang a washable wall covering below.
WINDOWS
1. Avoid hanging vertical blinds, pooling drapery, or anything with ornate tassels and long cords. These can be a strangulation hazard to your pets.
2. Use sheer curtains or simple shades instead of long, heavy drapes that collect dust and pet hair. Fabric shades, café curtains and dramatic valances are good choices for pet-friendly homes.
3. Forget mini-blinds. They can get bent beyond repair when they block a curious dog’s view of the outside world.
FURNITURE
1. Skip leather and vinyl. They are easy to clean but can be damaged by an animal’s nails if they aren’t kept short.
2. Give your animal his own bed. Pet beds are available in patterns and fabrics that will coordinate with almost any decor, so you can put one in each room. Be sure to choose one with a cover that zips off for easy washing. Another idea is to designate one piece of furniture as the dog’s or cat’s. Cover it with a washable throw and teach your pet that it’s the only piece of furniture he’s allowed to sit, lay or sleep on. If you want your pet’s bed to match the rest of the furnishings, an oversized floor pillow covered in fabric that matches the throw pillows on your sofa is an option. It may not be big enough if you happen to share your home with a large canine, but it will suffice for a cat or smaller dog.
ACCESSORIES
Even today’s pet products are being fashioned with good design in mind. Don’t settle for ugly old plastic bowls for food and water. There are ceramic dog and cat bowls and trendy stainless steel options available which are just as washable yet can coordinate with your decor. For large dogs, there are wooden or wroughtiron feeders with hand-painted or tiled tops and matching bowls. And, instead of an old plastic placemat, choose a specially-designed fabric mat that coordinates with your table linens.
OUTDOORS
Indoors aren’t the only places animals spend their time. The outdoors are just as important for them to enjoy and for you to upkeep. Here are some pet-friendly decorating ideas for the outside of your home:
• Attach outdoor cat enclosures to the house with a cat door to allow free access for the animal.
• For dogs, fenced in yards should have a buried, inward-facing section to prevent them from digging and tunneling out. For cats, fenced yards should have containment pens circling all trees in the yard.
• Dog/cat doors to the outside (even with fenced yards) should have a microchip coded access system.
• Use high quality screens (metal) on windows to prevent cats from ripping them up. Install folding (hinged) cat perches under windows. Co-existing with pets in a clean, nicelydecorated and damage-free environment can certainly be achieved. All it takes is a little work, innovation and compromise. But, in comparison, is well worth the extra effort for the unconditional love and affection we receive in return.