A Guide to Buying Pet-Friendly Furniture

We know how hard it can be to say no to those puppy dog eyes and cat cuddles when your pet wants to jump up on the furniture with you. Unfortunately, animals and furniture often don’t go together too well.

But what are you supposed to do? Stop letting them on the couch? That’s ridiculous!

Any pet owner can tell you how stubborn animals can be when it comes to comfortable surfaces. Besides, our pets deserve the best.

A better solution is to buy furniture with your pet in mind. That way, you can indulge in all the couch snuggles you want without sacrificing a home that you love.

Here’s a guide on buying pet-friendly furniture for your home.

Fabric is Key

Sometimes it seems like cats and dogs must have a personal vendetta against couches for all of the damage they cause. It’s almost impossible to keep a sofa looking its best when there’s so much scratching and biting going on.

The trick is to choose the right fabric.

Stay away from loose-weave fabrics like tweed, because your animals will definitely be tempted to sink their claws in it. Because it’s loose, your cats will definitely be able to wear it down and tear it more easily.

Velvet and silk are hair magnets and are incredibly hard to clean if your pet has an accident on the couch. They also hold smells more than other fabrics. And while suede is sturdy, it can be just as hard to clean.

Instead, look for tightly woven fabrics, like canvas, denim, and microfiber. Animals don’t tend to claw at these fabrics as much because it’s hard for them to sink their nails in.

Leather is one of the all-time best fabrics for pets because it’s easy to clean, doesn’t hold smells, is hard to puncture, and looks great.

Outdoor furniture is another excellent choice because it’s easy to clean and durable. The best thing about these fabrics is that they don’t attract hair as much.

While fabric is obviously a significant factor, it’s not the only precaution you can take when it comes to buying pet-friendly furniture.

Become a Master Designer

Shedding is unavoidable, even with short-hair animals. And it can be a real pain when your dog’s white hair makes your black couch look like a checkerboard.

It’s essential to keep this in mind when you buy a new couch, chair, or rug. These are the areas where your pet will probably roll around the most, so consider matching your furniture to your pet’s hair.

Patterns are another option if you don’t want to match your furniture. They tend to hide hair better than solid colors. Look for small-scale patterns where only little blocks of color show through.

Throws blankets and rugs will also become some of your best friends.

Drape throw blankets over the arm of our your couch or chair and your pet is likely to make it their designated resting place. Bonus points if they can also bathe in the sunlight there.

This will protect the rest of your couch from pet hair and lazy scratching. And if you find a machine-washable blanket, it’ll be much easier to clean than your sofa.

Even if you a have carpet, you should invest in throw rugs. No matter how well you train your pet, cats and dogs will have accidents. Better for it to happen on your throw rug than your carpet.

Not only is it easier to clean throws, it’s also cheaper.

You can also buy a slipcover to protect your furniture. Like throws, covers are less expensive to clean and easier to replace.

A Pet-Friendly Home That Looks Great

Let’s face it - pets dictate a lot of our life decisions. Whether they’re waking us up because they need to be walked or making us late because they are curled up in a ball on our laps and are too adorable to disturb, we’re putty in their tiny little paws.

But one thing they shouldn’t have control over is the state of your home.

If you’re tired of shredded furniture and lingering fur, it’s time to invest in some pet-friendly furniture.

At Nassau furniture, we have all of these furniture options and more. Come into our store today, and we’ll get you started on the path to a pet-friendly home.