Pet-Friendly Home Renovations

Are you thinking about remodeling your home? Don’t forget your pets when making those renovation plans. Here are eight items to consider that can benefit you and your furry friends.

Flooring
Get scratch–resistant floors. Also, consider adding radiant heat to the kitchen, bathroom, or entryway flooring. It will provide a relaxing area for your pet.
Furniture
Be aware that exposed wood (such as wicker and rattan) may be tempting for young dogs to chew. Woven and low–pile fabrics, short pile velour and print, pattern or multi–colored fabric are good at hiding pet hair and stains. Leather is easy to wipe clean, although some kinds may be susceptible to scratches.
Paint
Use satin or semi–gloss paint to make it easier to wipe off dirt and pet hair from walls.
Feeding stations
Consider a built–in feeding station under the kitchen cabinet with a shelf or pull–out drawer to store pet food.
Built–in bed
Shelves and cabinets are also ideal for giving your pet a dedicated place to sleep.
Mudroom
These are great for containing the outdoor mess in a single area.
Pet shower
An excellent addition to your mudroom to eliminate hosing your pet in your shower or bathtub.
Cat highway
Designing one will provide horizontal and vertical spaces, so your cat isn’t confined to the floor in your home.

Sources
Brittney Morgan and Medgina Saint-Elien, 7 Best Pet Proof Furniture Fabrics — Dog–Friendly Fabric for Couches and Chairs, https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a26291747/pet-proof-fabrics (Sept. 23, 2021)
Tabitha Sukhari, How to Make Your Home Pet Friendly, https://thisoldhouse.com/pets/21015549/how-to-make-your-house-pet-friendly
Jen M., 5 Pet–Friendly Home Renovation Ideas, https://www.ambientbp.com/blog/pet-friendly-home-renovation (Feb. 24, 2022)
Tanya Singh, “How to Make Your Home More Pet Friendly with a Remodel,” Pet Lifestyle And You (May 25, 2022)
Vegan Design Staff, “7 DIY & Pet–Friendly Home Renovation Tips,” VeganDesign.Org (July 20, 2022)