When you have pets, you should not buy the most luxurious couch which is white and pristine. Your pet would definitely jump on the sofa at some point or the other, so it makes sense to invest in sturdy pet friendly furniture which is easy to maintain. If you want to buy pet-proof furniture, this brief guide will help you in doing just that.
Guide to buying pet-proof furniture
While selecting the fabric for the upholstery, think whether your pet’s hair might embed itself in the fabric’s weave and might be extremely difficult to maintain. You have to think whether it can withstand scratching or drool or paw prints!
Microfiber/Ultrasuede
For cat owners, this microfiber is the most ‘cat proof’ material there is. You may not find it exciting, but selecting a stylish sofa or chair in this material will help you like it. For no known reason, cats do not seem to like scratching microfiber, so your sofa/s and chairs upholstered in microfiber will last for a longer time. Even if your cat does decide to scratch it, it can be easily brushed off. Cleaning microfiber is pretty easy too, as you only have to wash it with soap and water and let it dry.
The other advantage of microfiber is that the cat or dog hair can be easily vacuumed away, so that people allergic to pet hair and fine skin can be safe. Microfiber sofas are some of the best pet-proof furniture options out there, and it is both cat and dog friendly. Just clean it with a lint/pet roller everyday to get rid of the hair.
As for the frames of the furniture, whether you own a cat or a dog, it is best to buy something with metal or steel frame, as these are scratch proof. Dogs might chew in wooden sofa frames/legs and cats can also scratch the wood. Buying microfiber couches, also known as ultrasuede, faux suede or microsuede, is the best option as its dense fabric makes it less attractive to scratch on.
Fabrics which you should avoid are velvet, linen, wool, tweed and silk.
Leather
An advantage of leather furniture is that it is odor resistant as well as pet hair resistant. All you have to do is brush off the hair with a cloth. It is not scratch proof, so its better not to invest in an expensive leather couch, especially if your pet has the habit of scratching. Provide a scratching post for your cat if you want to make your leather furniture into pet-proof furniture. If your dog does accidentally scratch your comfy leather sofa, then you may be able to buff the scratch out. Distressed leather may be an option, as it may serve to hide the scuffs and scratches.
Before buying a leather sofa, keep in mind the breed of dog that you want. Some breeds are more prone to scratching and ‘digging’ and looking for things, so if you have any of these breeds such as terriers, you might not want a leather sofa. Cats too might puncture the sofa, which might be small holes to begin with, and these may eventually become large tears or holes.
For pet-proofing furniture, one method is put slipcovers on it, or else just throw a rug or blanket over it.
Throw pillows
The throw blankets and cushions should be machine-washable, and made from fabrics which are not hair magnets.
Color
When it comes to color, choose colors which are similar to your pet’s color. If your pet has a lighter color, then avoid dark colored sofas, cushions etc as the light hair will show up on dark colors. The opposite is true too. As our buying guide will point out, contrasting colors are a strict no-no as the hair will easily show up.
Carpet options
The rug/s and carpet for your home should be replaceable or washable. Why not get a separate, cozy rug for your pet, in his favorite corner of the room? This might help you keep the living room carpet clean. You might think about not having any carpets too, and just have a plain tiled or hardwood floor. Carpets absorb odors and stains and pets might bring home many unwanted things. If you already have a carpet, add area rugs strategically over the carpet which might be replaced and cleaned easily.
Patterns
Patterns are a definite yes when it comes to choosing the upholstery. Fabrics which have patterns can help to camouflage any hair, marks or stains that are on it. Think about a pattern which has the main color the same color as your pet. Avoid tweed like fabrics as these are difficult to maintain – the hairs may get wedged in the fabric’s weave. So if you want dog friendly furniture, avoid the ones which have a weave that is difficult to keep clean.
Our buying guide would suggest that the furniture you buy should be stable and without any sharp edges, which would be safer for the pets as well. To block certain areas of your home, small pieces of furniture would be quite handy.
