From hair and odours to scratches on furniture and doors, balancing a cosy home for your furry friend and welcoming space for guests is challenging. However, there’s no reason that you and your pets can’t live in perfect harmony and share the space you have available so that you are all comfortable together.
No matter how many pets you have or what size your home is, you can not only create a comfortable living space but keep it that way too. From the furniture you choose to the cleaning routine your implement and how organised you keep your home, there is a lot that you can do to ensure your home is comfortable for both you are your furry friends. Whether you are a new pet owner or you have been living with pets your entire life, there are countless measures you can take to keep your home well-maintained.
Let’s take a look at some tips and strategies for maintaining a comfortable living space with pets.
Choosing The Proper Furniture
The size and type of pet you own will definitely affect your furniture choices. While most reptiles and birds probably won’t be lounging on the recliner or sofa, there’s a good chance that your dog and especially your cat, will log many hours napping on your living room furniture, despite your objections.
Easy-to-clean materials are a must so be sure to plan on using spray cleaners to take care of various stains and spills. It’s also important to remember that accidents will happen, so choose more rigid upholstery grades and avoid looser weaves with strings hanging close to the floor. These will only tempt pets to chew and play with them, especially when they get bored and mischievous. For more peace of mind, choose a Hybreeze cloud sofa, with its tight and stain-resistant upholstery that protects the furniture from added wear and tear many pets bring.
Controlling Odours
Paramount to keeping a tidy home with pets is controlling odour. Consider using a covered litter system, which provides privacy for the feline while working to reduce the noticeable odour if you’re nearby. Cat litter boxes need daily service so make sure that you empty the waste, use deodorising spray, and finally, add a new helping of fresh litter regularly to keep any unwanted smells under control. Place litter boxes in areas routinely exchanged with clean outdoor air, like near an open window or the vent of a well-maintained HVAC system.
Pets also need regular bathing if they spend a lot of time outdoors. During the summer months, they can get sweaty, and their fur needs cleaning to prevent that dank, musty odour from getting into your home. Remember to wash their bedding and blankets regularly too, including any pillows they use, and give the nearby carpets a shampoo for good measure to kill any flea or tick infestations pets may have brought in.
Frequent Vacuuming
With pets, you need to stay on top of your vacuuming. High-traffic areas such as the floor, near baseboards, feeding and sleeping areas, and your furniture need extra attention. Pet hair contains oils that promote odour as the nearby dirt begins to stick. The hair and dander buildup doesn’t take long before it begins to show and makes your carpets stink. Portable vacuums and lint brushes are an absolute necessity and can make a big difference when it comes to keeping your home clean and tidy when you live with pets.
Consider Bare Floors
Carpeting is another potential trouble spot for pet owners. Those carpet fibres have a way of trapping urine odours and stains that are difficult to eradicate, depending on the style of the carpet and how severe the staining is. Using as much bare floor space as you can tolerate eliminates the issue. Wall-to-wall carpeting is another tempting toy that pets like to play with and destroy, depending on their temperament and training background.
Even if they don’t chew or play with the carpet, as they walk on the carpeting, their nails still pull up on those fibres and start them on the road to noticeable damage, getting you closer to a complete replacement. Instead of wall-to-wall carpet, consider strategically placing throw rugs wherever you want a soft carpet to step on. Not only are they inexpensive to replace, easy to wash, and air dry outdoors but you’ll avoid those legacy pet urine stains that are common in old homes with original carpeting.
Design A Comfortable Living Space That Works For You And Your Pets
As a pet owner, there is certainly some extra effort required on your part to maintain a comfortable living space for humans and pets to live together. Establishing good boundaries, and thorough routines like regular grooming and home cleaning mean you’ll prevent damage to your furniture and floors, ensuring a happy and healthy home life for your family and furry friends moving forward.
