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There are approximately 51 million pets in the UK, with 45% of Brits owning at least one animal, according to Statista.

If you share your home with a dog, cat, rabbit, or hamster, you’ll know that this is another factor you need to consider whenever you’re decorating. It’s important that you think about what’s best for your pet, as well as how you can limit the risk of your furry friend damaging your décor.

Here, we’re going to share our top interior tips for creating a pet-friendly home. We’ll look at what you need to think about, what you should be buying, and how you can ensure your pet feels as comfortable as possible. Read on to find out more.

Consider installing laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is very durable, and does a great job of resisting scratches, moisture, and wear and tear. This makes it ideal for homes with pets. It also comes with the added benefit of being more affordable to buy and install than the likes of hardwood and tile flooring.

Of course, the downside of laminate flooring is that it can feel hard and cold underfoot, but you can remedy this by adding rugs to the rooms that you want to feel the cosiest. Just make sure that you choose these with pet-friendliness in mind: low-pile rugs are perfect for this, as they won’t attract as much pet hair as shaggier styles, and they’re also very easy to clean.

Rugs Direct offers a wide range of York rugs, which are made from 100% wool and have a soft, dense pile. These are ideal for adding warmth to your space, come in a wide range of colours, and are very pet-friendly.

Choose your soft furnishings carefully

Certain soft furnishings attract more pet fur than others so, if you don’t want to be hoovering your entire house every other day, it’s important that you choose yours carefully.

When it comes to picking out upholstered furniture and decorative pieces such as scatter cushions, put plenty of thought into choosing the right fabrics. If you currently struggle to keep your home fur-free, pieces that have been made using leather, distressed leather, or synthetic fibres will work well. If you opt for leather, you’ll also be able to benefit from the fact that the material is easy to wipe clean, and resistant to odours. However, it typically won’t withstand claw marks — synthetic fibres such as Ultrasuede are better for this. If you would like more information about which soft furnishings will fare well in your home, Joybird has an in-depth guide that offers plenty more advice.

Give your pet their own space

One of the best ways you can ensure your pet doesn’t make a total mess of your home is by giving them some space of their own. Perhaps you have a spare room where they can play, sleep, and have access to all of their essentials. Even the area under your stairs or a corner of your family room could work well.

The Daily Treat has a list of 16 ways to create space for your dog that’s well worth a read, and you can adapt many of the ideas for whatever domestic animal you might have. They recommend catering to your pet’s quirks, getting creative, and finding a designated spot for all of the bits and pieces your furry friend will need every day.

Make sure your garden’s a safe space

A lot of pets will need to spend some time outdoors so, for your peace of mind and to ensure you don’t have to watch their every move, you should make sure that your garden’s a safe space for them to play in.

If you have a pet that shouldn’t be roaming the streets unsupervised, Simpsons Premium recommends that you secure your garden’s borders to prevent them from escaping. This might involve having to install a fence that’s too big for them to jump over and covering or filling in any gaps that your pet could squeeze through.

You should also ensure that all of the plants in your garden are pet-friendly. Care2 has a list of 23 common plants that are poisonous to pets, which you should read thoroughly to make sure you aren’t putting your furry friend at risk.

Finally, it’s important that your garden offers plenty of shelter for your pet. This will help to ensure that they have somewhere to go on a particularly hot or rainy day, and you won’t have to let them in and out whenever the weather turns.

Choose satin or semi-gloss paint

It can be difficult to prevent your walls from getting dirty when you have a pet, so it’s well worth taking steps to ensure they’re going to be easy to clean.

For most rooms, wallpaper should be a no-go — if it gets splashed with mud, it will be almost impossible to fix. Instead, go for satin or semi-gloss paint in every room your pet has access to. This will essentially allow you to wipe your walls clean with a damp cloth, and some gentle soap if necessary.

Dulux’s Diamond range offers paints with a variety of finishes, including pearl, eggshell, and semi-gloss. Plus, they’re available in a huge range of colours, which means you should have no trouble finding just the hue you’re after.

If you have a pet, you’ll want to ensure they’re safe and happy in your home, which means you might need to make some adjustments. Take the tips we’ve outlined here onboard, and you’ll create a home that suits every member of your family.

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