To help owners strike the perfect balance between style and functionality, Rob Burton, Co-Founder at Dapa Atelier and Interior Designer for Audley Villages, shares his four top tips to mastering the art of a sophisticated, pet-friendly home.
Choosing the right fabric is one of the most important decisions when buying furniture for a home with pets. Stain resistant upholstery, often known as Aquaclean fabric, allows owners to relax and enjoy those post-walk cuddles instead of hovering with a spray bottle or towel. Open-weave and leather fabrics are often an open invitation for impromptu scratching sessions so steer clear of these design choices to relax and let your pets do the same.
If you’re welcoming a new puppy or kitten, flooring choices are a key decision. Wipeable, easy-to-clean surfaces make day-to-day life much simpler and help take the stress out of inevitable muddy paw prints or accidents. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring is a popular choice as it’s scratch-resistant, hard-wearing and easy to maintain. If LVT isn’t right for you, tiles or wood-effect flooring can give your home the perfect vibe for you and your furry friends.
Just like your four-legged friends, being surrounded by greenery is great for the soul, so bringing the outside indoors is key to enhancing a calming mood in your home but plant selection should always take pets into account. Swap out toxic shrubs like Lilies and English Ivy for low-harm alternatives like Spider Plants and Calatheas to ensure a much healthier environment for your furry housemates. Placing your plant of choice on the floor may lead to unwanted mess so elevate your greenery to a stylish shelf or cabinet.
There’s nothing worse than tripping over a water or food bowl as you rush around the kitchen - so using the ‘deadspace’ in your home to create designated dens for your pets is a great way to make sure they have all the comfort they need without dominating your space. For extra cleanliness, your pets’ toys and blankets can be stored in boxes near this space or tucked nicely into another area of your home. For a final designer flourish, stashing toys in colour-coordinated boxes that match your room’s palette ensures the space remains stylish and harmonised.
