How To Make Your Home Pet Friendly
They say a dog makes a house a home, and here at Miller Homes we understand exactly how important our furry friends can be as part of everyday family life.
So, whether you’ve recently welcomed a four-legged friend to your family, or you’ve moved home and want to make your new place perfect for your pooch, cat or rabbit, be sure to take note of our top tips.
Give your pets their own space
Pets will find their own space wherever possible, whether it’s to take some respite away from family life or to enjoy a treat in peace, so it’s important that you create a special place for them to ensure you dictate its location.
A good tip is to position this space in an area close to a sink to make washing food and water bowls easy, and near to storage for soft toys or blankets. It’s also important that it is located close to a door leading outside, so animals have easy access should they need to visit the great outdoors.
Finally, invest in a pet bed in colours matching your interiors to ensure you’re in keeping with the colours and style of your home.
Choose your fabrics wisely
If you’ve got cats with long claws, or a dog with white hair that sheds, it’s a good idea to go with fabrics that will cater for this. For example, a brand new leather sofa that tears easily may not be the best choice, whilst a black rug will highlight the presence of white fur on furniture.
Choose a light coloured sofa, or one which matches your pet’s fur. Investing in tougher fabrics is wise if you want to avoid scratch marks or damage to surfaces, so opt for a higher thread count to minimise the risk.
Safety comes first
There are certain things that pets cannot eat – household products being one of them – so take care to store these items away and out of sight from pets that may be able to reach them. You should be sure to keep bleach, cleaning equipment and any hazardous chemicals shut away and not on shelves that could be accessed by climbing cats.
You could package up dishwasher tables in a locked box and stow away bottles such as carpet cleaner and surface spray in a closed cupboard. Whatever your preference, make sure they are stored safely and out of reach of pets.
Keep things tidy
Whilst pets do come with the baggage of food bowls, toys, beds and play pens, if you want to create the perfect balance between your house and a pet’s environment, ensure your surroundings are spotless and that pet equipment is not left out to clutter the area.
If you have a dog, one creative idea to store these items is to create a dog walking station by the door for dog leads, a ball, and any other supplies necessary for a walk. This ensures that all pet accessories are kept in one place and not cluttered across the home.
Avoid low tables or breakables
Have you ever experienced the disaster of a precious ornament or vase smashing with the flick of a cat’s tail? This can be avoided by ensuring you don’t have low tables or breakable items at reachable height to pets. Making sure that your prized possessions are out of sight, and that your tables are of a considerable height, is an essential step in making your home pet friendly.
We’d love to hear what you have done to make your home pet-friendly! Tweet us at @MillerHomesUK.