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8 ideas on how to create a stylish and safe space for your dog

If you own a dog, you already know the joy of having a four-legged friend at your home. Chances are, you are also pretty aware of all the mess and fur they leave behind — from muddy pawprints on your couch to spills around the feeding areas. To minimize the mess and make your pet more comfortable, create a special space for your furry family member. Here are some ideas on how to design a stylish room for your fido. 

playing dog

Consider pet safety first 

Once you’ve chosen your pet’s zone, the first thing you should take care of is safety. If your dog is a young, energetic, and restless pup, it will likely love running riot around the whole house. In this case, you need to take steps to dog-proof the environment:

  • Keep potentially dangerous food (like alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, etc.) out of the pet’s reach
  • Put away power cords
  • Make sure to get rid of toxic plants
  • Secure breakable fragile items 
  • Put away things like kids’ toys, shoes, clothing, and anything else you wouldn’t want your dog playing with 
  • Remove trash cans, or replace them with dog-proof models 

Hopefully, your home is already equipped with a smoke alarm, but take this as a reminder.

Use semi-gloss wall paint

It’s not a surprise that pets can damage walls by scratching them and spraying drool. To keep walls as clean as possible, you should choose the paint carefully — the higher the sheen of the paint’s finish, the more durable it is. Flat-finish paint is nearly impossible to clean as it will inevitably come off leaving marks as you try to clean it. While semi-gloss-finish paint is a great choice for pet rooms and pet-friendly living spaces that involves lots of activity and moisture (especially, kitchen and bath areas). Satin-finish paint makes chic and stylish choices for living areas. If you still want to paint your walls with a matte finish, make sure you choose a washable one. 

Use dog-friendly fabrics

To spend less time vacuuming and cleaning up, choose upholstered furniture that matches your pet’s fur and made of pet-friendly fabric! By choosing proper color schemes that blend with your doggy, you can make pet hair less visible, so you won’t run with the lint roller many times a day. As for fabrics, avoid furniture covered in velvet, velour, chenille, mohair, as they’re magnets for pet hair. Such delicate fabrics as linen and silk can easily be damaged by pet’s claws, so you should be careful with these ones. 

cloth stack

The best choice is fabrics that are stain-resistant, easily cleaned, and have been built for active usage. Leather, denim, crypton, smooth tapestry, microfiber are the most popular pet-friendly fabrics. 

Install durable flooring

Most pet owners are probably aware that their beloved furry ones will leave paw prints and piddle. Choosing durable and hard-surface flooring for pet-occupied rooms is a worthy investment. It’s also a better option than forbidding your pet from playing and going outdoors. 

Tile and stone floors are easy to keep clean. These floors are also resistant to water, stains, and a pet’s sharp nails. The downside of such flooring is that they are quite cold, so when choosing tile and stone floors, consider installing a radiant heating system that will add warmth. Cork floors are eco-friendly, safe, and naturally antimicrobial — a suberin surface repels bacteria, insects, microbes, viruses, and other germs. Choices such as laminate flooring or painted concrete are also quite easy to keep clean and stain-free compared to carpets. 

Create a play space

Restless pets that are full of energy need to have enough space to blow off their steam. A pet’s play spot with some area limitations will allow your pet to have fun freely without you worrying about the potential chaos.  A play area may contain a toy chest, some interactive toys, puzzle toys, balls, and a jar with treats. 

cat under  bed

Create a sleeping spot

If your dog is used to sleeping away from you, having their own spot to rest, relax, sleep, or even play, could be perfect. Here are some great things to include to make your pet feel comfortable:

  • a cozy bed or blanket
  • water bowl for the night
  • some favorite toys to occupy them if it takes them some time to fall asleep
  • a pad for puppies in training (just in case)

Having your pet around also has some mental health benefits. Sleeping with a dog can make you feel safe while some pet owners like the sound of their animal’s breathing and claim that it helps them get to sleep faster. 

Design a mudroom

Creating an entryway or mudroom that prevents grime from spreading all around the house is one of the best investments you can make. Choose flooring that is stain- and water-resistant  and easy to wipe clean. Paint the wall with semi-gloss, satin, or egg-shell paint for protection against splashes. If you have enough space, you can design pet-friendly storage to keep all your pet supplies such as dog food, treats, medicine, and toys all in one place. Do not forget about storing pet cleaning wipes, paper towels, and other cleaning essentials in a mudroom too.

decor room

Keep a pet’s space odor-free

Although dogs may emit an unpleasant smell, it can be managed. First, a dog should be regularly washed to keep its fur clean and free of oils that tend to create the “dog stink”. A dog’s bad breath can also contribute to an unpleasant odor. You should introduce the habit of brushing the dog’s teeth into your daily routine. Provide your furry one with special dental hygiene chew snacks or toys.

Baking soda will help you remove the dog smell from fabrics and other materials that you don’t want to put in the washing. Just sprinkle baking soda over the material and leave it, then vacuum it up the next day.

If you want to use perfumes on your carpets and other materials, make sure the perfume is pet-friendly and non-toxic.

imgAuthor: ESA Care team The description can be: ESA Care is a telemedicine service company that gives people the option to speak with a licensed mental health professional

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  • gralion torile Reply

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    January 4, 2023 at 8:34 am

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