Make your furry friends comfortable

Shristi Nangalia

Pet owners will agree one needs to put in extra effort and vigilance to make your home cordial to pets. If you are anticipating to freshly layout or re-furbish your home, these design tips will help create a ‘home sweet home’ for your pets as well. Be it a tiny guinea pig or a full-grown golden retriever, each of them have their own habits, likes and dislikes and living preferences. They love being cuddled or attended but all your furry friends would appreciate a space to unwind or simply sleep. For most common pets, even a little sheltered house can do the trick. Or you can custom-build a nook within a cabinetry or setup a lounging station or scratching post by the window in the living areas of the house. Make use of the volume under the staircase, beds, window seats or the kitchen island and convert it into a nesting space, depending on the character of the pet. Here are some handy tips that’ll keep your pets happy:

Incorporate it in your furniture

You can customise your home’s coffeetable, side-table, console table or bench to double as your pet’s bed or dining space, or to stow away the toys as well. Not only does it save space, it becomes a good place to start training them about boundaries.

Install pocket doors

If there are areas in your house where you don’t want the pet to enter, or you wish to restrict them to a particular room, you can install hinged, sliding or pocket doors of the required height. The door can be personalised to match the décor of the space, making sure it does not become a sour sight.

Pet-proof with materials

Floor and upholstery are two surfaces your pet will be in constant contact with. Carpets are prone to spills, hard floors like ceramic tiles, stone and cement are easy to clean. Proper sealing and polishing should be applied on the floor to retard staining and make the surface non-slippery. Pocket-friendly fabric, easy on maintenance, should be picked. Microfibre and leather are great options. Replace wicker, rattan and textured fabrics and surfaces with metal, composite fibre or hardwood.

Choose safer plants

Not all indoor plants are cordial to animals. Those which are toxic in nature can cause health issues or allergies, while plants with thorns or spikes can harm them physically. Be wary of the plants that you choose to bring in. Areca palm, ponytail palm Boston fern, spider plant, banana tree, rosemary, mint and orchids are non-toxic; they can be invited in a home with pets without second thoughts. Money plant, aloe vera, jade plant, succulents and lilies are toxic. Avoid them or employ them high enough to not let the pet reach it.

Simplify the décor

Drapes and curtains with strings or tassels, wooden ornamentation on the dining table legs, textured walls, etc. can attract your pet’s attention, posing a sign of danger to them. The decorations and ornamentations can be cleverly incorporated, away from your pet’s claws.

Lastly, organise

A basket can be stationed near the habitable areas of the home to temporarily tuck away the pet toys and bedding. Pet supplies and accessories can be properly arranged in the utility or kitchen area for a neat setup. Setting up a designated bathing area for the pet, either indoor or outdoor, will help you keep your personal bath spaces away from the mess. If, at your home, space is at a premium, opt for little folding beds or pull-out beds incorporated under a table, the bed or within a cabinetry.