The era of the pampered pet has arrived: we've welcomed them inside our houses, onto the sofa and even into our beds. You see dogs and cats lounging in picture-perfect rooms in magazines -- no rugs have been chewed, no upholstery ripped, and no stains linger as evidence of delicate digestive systems. How is that possible? I've learned a few tricks since bringing home our French bulldog puppy, Lulu, two years ago, and asked some experts for advice on creating stylish sanctuaries to share with our furry friends.
According to dog behaviour expert and University of British Columbia psychology professor Stanley Coren, there are two main issues homeowners face when creating a welcoming environment for their pets. The first is safety, the second, cleanliness. I'd add selecting and organizing pet stuff to that list: even kittens and puppies come with accoutrements that can clutter our living spaces.
Safety first
“The safety issue,” says Stanley, “is much the same as when you have a two-year-old child: the larger your dog, the higher the objects have to be placed.” Before Lulu came home, we covered unused outlets, tucked away cords and relocated a favourite antique – our bulldog-shape leather footstool was sure to entice our teething puppy, so it now sits on the top shelf of a bookcase.
Stanley suggests hiding tempting items behind closed doors (avoid glass doors at pet level); owners of particularly persistent breeds (terrier owners, that means you) may even need to add child locks to restrict access. More stylish solutions to the safety issue include installing hard-wired sconces or swing-arm lamps; adopting a more minimal style and clearing away breakable, chewable clutter from tabletops; and choosing tailored runners or placemats instead of long tablecloths that can be pulled down.
Pet-proof floors
Within an hour of Lulu's arrival, every rug was whisked away lest it be mistaken for the paper-training area. The bare floor look is modern, but I find it a tad cold underfoot. And that's not the only disadvantage.
“Wood and ceramic floors are the easiest to keep clean, but large dogs can scratch wood,” says STYLE AT HOME decorating editor Kimberley Seldon, who has tackled the flooring issue personally (she has a pug named Delaney) and professionally. “Then there's ‘the slide factor': Delaney can get up a good run and end up going nose first into a kitchen cupboard.” Kimberley prefers a combination of wood or ceramic floors and area rugs. Patterned Persians, dhurries and Turkish carpets are terrific at hiding stains and fur. But if you prefer a neutral solid-colour rug, “Seagrass is wonderful,” says Kimberley, “because it's made of a waxy leaf that repels moisture and resists stains – unlike sisal, which is very absorbent.”
Another innovative carpet option is Interface's Flor system, which consists of carpet tiles that can be combined to cover an entire room or form an area rug. The design possibilities are enticing and the practicality undeniable: if a tile gets soiled, you can remove it for easier stain treatment or simply replace it with a clean one.
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