Affordable Pet Friendly Home Decor Ideas

You don’t have to compromise between your pet and a beautiful home

More and more, pets are becoming a part of our families. Their comfort is important to us, too.

We want them to be able to have fun and be part of the family. We want to snuggle on the couch with them and share our popcorn.

But there may be times when your floor is littered with toy mice, chew toys, and fuzzy blankets.

We all deserve a comfortable, relaxing space to enjoy our life. That includes our pets.

So, does that mean that your house has to look like a dog toy box exploded? Are you doomed to have scratched floors, stained carpets, furry furniture everywhere?

It doesn’t have to be that way. If you’re someone wants your home to be a stylish and stunning home, fear not. You can have beautiful decor that keeps your pets in mind.

Let’s talk about it.

What is a pet friendly home?

A pet friendly home is a place where the comfort and safety of pets is part of the design of the home.

At the very least, it should include the use of the materials that will stand up against the wear and tear of pets in your home but also make their lives comfortable and safe.

While we can’t all have homes with built-in pet washing stations or dedicated feeding drawers, we can make our homes pretty, safe, and comfortable for our pets, all at the same time.

And, yes, it can still look great.

Elements of Pet Friendly Decor

There are a few ways we can make our home more pet-friendly, even on a budget.

If you have the option of choosing materials for flooring, bedding, curtains, and sofas, go with durable, scratch-resistant, and washable fabrics.

Safety is also a key component of pet friendly spaces. Pet-proof your space by securing loose wires, keeping dangerous items out of reach, and providing pet safe spaces for your furry little friends.

What are the ways to introduce pet friendly and stylish components into your already-existing home decor?

1) Sofa

The sofa is a great place to start with comfortable, pet-friendly home decor. Let’s face it. Most of us have long since given up the idea of the pet who never gets on the furniture. How else are we supposed to snuggle up with our favourite family members on movie night?

If you’re buying a new sofa or chair, opt for leather, vegan leather, microsuede, or other tightly-woven fabrics. These are generally water resistant can be easily wiped clean for most spills, dirt, and crumbs.

Not in the market for a new sofa? Try removable, machine washable covers. There are so many different styles and colours available. Surely, you can find a design that works for your home. They don’t have to look like grandma’s slipcovers. Many chic and stylish options are available.

Hey, if you’re super crafty (and ambitious), you can even make your own.

Is that even a little out of your budget or just don’t feel like permanently hiding away that perfect sofa colour? Try throw blankets in a co-ordinating colour. Just make sure it’s washable to remove any fur or pet stink.

A soft blanket or two on your sofa can create a cozy place for your pet to snuggle up with you

2) Other Living Room Furniture

When choosing items like coffee tables, go for designs with rounded, softened edges to protect your pet from injury. You can even go for a softer option like an over-sized ottoman with built-in storage to hide away extra blankets and pillows.

Dog and cat beds can be placed nearby so your pets can have their own space and still be part of things. There are so many designs and colours available. You are certain to find one to fit your aesthetic.

When you have a puppy in the house, wooden furniture legs can be a target for sharp baby teeth. But metal and glass can be hard and unforgiving when your puppy is full of beans and bouncing around the room. So, make sure those pieces have those rounded edges or are kept out of the way of your floof.

Also, keep your precious knick-knacks in a safe place. Happy wagging tails can easily knock items off low tables and curious kitty beans just love to hook items off shelves when you’re not looking or, maybe, even when you are.

Our old cat, Timmins, would look you dead in the eye and casually stretch out his paw to knock any item to the floor that we placed on the top of “his” cabinet. It was close to a window and his preferred bird-watching post.

He wasn’t about to share it and he made that abundantly clear.

We compromised (gave in) and stopped trying to put items on that piece of real estate. It took two plants and a glass bowl for me to learn my lesson.

3) Toy Storage

A large basket or bin in a corner of your living room can provide some much needed storage for your pet toys. There are many stylish options to tuck away those toys and blankets when your pets aren’t playing with them.

Have a dog that likes to pull them out and scatter them around the room at every opportunity? Try something with a lid that can be closed when playtime is done for the day or when company is around. Or, at the very least, minimize the number of toys scattered all over the room.

Pets can be as quick as children when it comes to scattering their toys everywhere

4) House Plants and Indoor Trees

Having a few house plants or indoor trees in your space is a simple and effective way to beautify your space. But some plants are toxic or dangerous to our pets. Luckily, there are a lot of safe options, as well.

Spider plants, most ferns, calatheas, and most palms are great options for a pet-friendly home. They will purify your air, and, although sometimes tempting to a cat with the nibbles, or a curious dog with food on its mind, they won’t do any harm to your fur children, especially in small quantities.

African violets, Christmas cacti, money trees, bromeliads, polka dot plants, and moth orchids are also non-toxic and beautiful house plants to include in your home spaces.

Succulents and cacti are excellent additions to desks and shelves if bright light is plenty. They can be tucked into safe spots where curious paws and snouts won’t reach them. They’re also non-toxic to your pets so you can breathe easy.

Air plants have no need for soil. They can be a good option for those pets who think a plant pot is a personal sand box.

These are only a sampling of pet-friendly plants for your home. Check with your vet or a trusted greenhouse to confirm the safety of a plant before purchasing, especially if you have a pet who loves to chew your plants.

You can also use hanging baskets, shelving if you have a dog (or a cat who isn’t all about vertical spaces), desks, countertops, or bookcases to keep them away from pets who will knock them over or love to dig. Don’t trust these to methods to bring plants into your home that are toxic. It’s not worth the risk.

Plants such as African Violets are non-toxic to your pets and add colour and texture to your space

5) Bedroom

Now, I will admit that, in our house, we don’t mind our pets taking up space on our beds at night. They are a part of our pack and the fact that they have found a space in their home that they feel the most safe and it’s right with us is, somehow, lovely to me.

In our case, they don’t crawl under the covers with us and remain at our feet. But I don’t judge those who find comfort in having a sweet little furry friend right beside them. It is a little harder to keep everything clean. But if you’re willing to wash your sheets more often and your pet is happier snuggled under the covers, who am I to say you can’t?

We keep a pretty, light blanket or folded sheet at the foot of the bed. It can be easily removed and washed more often than the comforter has need.

We also have a pet bed for each pet available for their use. Lucy will often move to her bed right beside me on the floor when she gets too hot at night and come back when she’s cool.

Hunter doesn’t want to sleep on our bed anymore (probably because he’s been accidentally kicked by a certain blonde dog one too many times). But he still prefers to sleep nearby to keep his family close.

Again, pick pet beds to fit your style. There really are a multitude of possibilities.

A soft and pretty blanket at the foot of your bed can make a comfy nest for your furry family members

6) Use of Existing Space

Sometimes, we will have a space available that we can specifically use for our pets.

Perhaps you have a corner of your kitchen or entryway where you can have their food and water dishes, their leash, pet brushes, lint rollers, and other small items you may need for your pets. A few hooks on the wall, a mat to hold their dishes, and maybe a photo or two of your special little friends to decorate, and you’ve got a posh little pet space. This is an intentional design choice so you can make it your own style.

You may have a space in the living room for their pet beds and a basket of toys and blankets. Add a little pet-themed artwork on the wall. Just because your pet may not appreciate the added touches, you certainly can.

You can go all out and place some evenly spaced and staggered shelving on the walls to give your feline friends their own climbing space. For cats that really enjoy vertical spaces, this is a special treat. Just make sure it’s safe and watch them go!

We live in an old farmhouse with wide windowsills. Hunter loves to move from sill to sill, following the sun for his best chance at a warm and cozy nap. So I help him by providing a few soft cushions and folded towels for a truly comfy space, tucked away behind the curtains(sturdy and washable curtains, of course).

7) Flooring

Options for pet friendly flooring include luxury vinyl plank, tile, laminate, sheet vinyl, sealed bamboo, and some sealed hardwood.

Look for water and stain resistance, scratch resistance, traction, ease of cleaning and comfort.

Maybe you are unable to change flooring or can’t afford it. That’s okay. Area rugs can provide affordable but stylish flooring for high traffic areas.

You can even invest in rug systems that have washable rug covers with padded bases. This might be an in-between option if you can’t afford new flooring but want the added protection and cleaning alternative.

It’s Their Home Too

Just remember, your pet is a part of your family. Your home is one of the only, if not only, safe spaces they know they have in life.

So, giving them a safe, inviting, and comfortable space, while giving yourself a home with a stylish design you love is worth the effort. Sure, having a pet or two means a little extra thought(and cleaning), but it’s totally worth it for all the wags and purrs!