When building a home, it’s important to keep your pets in mind. Every pet owner knows – pets are messy. They shed, run around, and sometimes have accidents in the house. Keeping this in mind when customizing your home means you can plan and take preventative action. Your choice of home-building materials like flooring and furniture should anticipate run-ins with your pets. That way, you can avoid serious damage in the future. In this article, we’ll discuss several different options for pet-friendly home-building materials to help you make the best choice for you and your pet. 

Best Flooring for Pets 

Since your dog has more contact with the flooring than any other part of your home, it is very important to make sure your flooring choice is pet-friendly. When considering flooring, there are a couple of things to think about. First, and most importantly, evaluate the toxicity to pets of the flooring. You may also want to additionally consider flooring that handles wear-and-tear as well as accidents that your pet may have. 

Hardwood Floors 

Hardwood floor is one of the best options for flooring when considering your pets. However, there are many different varieties of hardwood to choose from. An option similar to hardwood floors, softwood floors, is something to avoid. Softwood floors are not durable enough to withstand scratches and accidents. Some good hardwood options include maple, bamboo, or oak. 

Tiled Floors 

Tiles are something to consider when exploring pet-friendly flooring! Tiles are typically cheap, durable, and easy to clean. Additionally, tile is very resistant to water. So, if your dog is prone to accidents, tile is a good, safe option. There are several different kinds of tiling to choose from including ceramic, porcelain, and natural. All tile options are pet-friendly, so you can’t go wrong! 

Best Furniture for Pets 

Next to flooring, the furniture is the part of your home that your pets are most likely to interact with. So, it is important to invest in pet-friendly furniture to avoid damage. Both the material and color of the furniture are big factors to consider. 

Materials 

Several different materials are good to work with. Microfiber is one of these materials. Microfiber furniture is low maintenance and highly durable for encounters with your pet. Additionally, it is very easy to choose. Aside from microfiber, any low-maintenance fabric is a good choice. Low-maintenance fabrics are more stain-resistant and have extra protection from damage. Overall, they are a great choice for homes with pets. Leather is another good choice for furniture as it is very easy to clean and stain resistant. Unlike fabric-based furniture, leather doesn’t absorb messes easily. Therefore, it is a great choice for furniture that will be around pets. 

Colors 

Color is also something to consider when choosing furniture for a house with pets. You may want to consider buying in colors similar to your dog’s fur color to prevent noticeable shedding. Additionally, darker or more neutral colors are very good at hiding wear-and-tear from pets. So, that is definitely something to consider.