You’re not the first pet owner to bemoan the pull between love for style and love for your animals. Sabine Borgia discovers how to decorate a home that is both fashionable and pet-friendly
There comes a point in every pet owner’s life when you begin to wonder who exactly is master of the household: the snoring dog hogging the duvet while you’re left shivering under the air-conditioning, or the cat scratching at the wooden furniture and shredding all the upholstery fabric. Added to this it might be that family members are becoming overly sensitive to pet fur and dander, and friends are visiting less and less frequently due to certain undeniable household odours.
If any or all of the above apply to you, it’s probably time to rework your decor and invest in furniture that is specifically designed for your furry friends.
When decorating for life with pets, the most effective strategy is to work with materials that are sturdy and easy to clean. Bare floors are the best choice, in wood, tile or stone, and these can be accented with small area rugs that are easy to pick up and wash. Be sure to secure rugs with a non-stick mat or heavy piece of furniture, lest pet activity has them scattered around the apartment. Replacing long, heavy drapes that collect dust and pet hair with sheer, washable blinds is also a good idea.
One of the biggest boons for decor-conscious pet owners is the slipcover, since these make ‘changing’ the couch as easy as changing the bed. Loose-fit covers in washable fabrics are available in a wide variety of styles, or you can talk to a local upholsterer and have a couple made.
From an aesthetic point of view, pet furniture and accessories should complement your beautifully designed home interior. Ideally, dog baskets, even feeding bowls are displayed proudly and in full-view, so that they become a talking point with visitors.
Local designer of Dutch, Chinese and French descent, Ree-Yong Yuen has come up with just such a range (pictured) available at www.reeyong.com/home/petlifestyle. The collection for cats and dogs was inspired by her days in Copenhagen, working for IKEA. “The first thing you saw when you walked into my flat was the ugly cat litter tray and its bright blue and red colours which didn’t fit in with the apartment,” Yuen says.
At first glance you would never suspect Yuen’s collection to have anything to do with pets. The boxy pieces would blend seamlessly into most homes as they come in either dark brown or white and boast clean, minimalist lines. Take the ‘cat condo’, a matching trio of stacking boxes, for example. Each box has a lid with a hole cut out the front. The smallest box is for cat grooming accessories and toys, the middle-sized box is a comfortably lined bed, and the largest is the litter tray. This later box is fitted with a disposable cardboard liner that only requires changing once a week. Other neat pieces include the low-slung dog loungers, available in three sizes.
Collections of this calibre are now widely available and, rather than spending a small fortune, you can find a decent range at affordable homeware stores like IKEA and G.O.D.
No matter how much you spend, it’s essential to bear in mind that pieces need to suit your particular pet’s needs, age, health and personality. There’s no point buying, for example, a large, open bed for your cat when she prefers to be curled up in a small, enclosed space. Likewise, a dog who likes to stretch out and lounge around will not be happy with a bed that’s small and cramped. Another important consideration is the height of pet furniture, which always needs to be easily accessible. Remember dogs like to eat at a raised level appropriate to their size, whereas a cat will crouch down.
Always avoid pet furniture with sharp, pointy edges and where possible opt for breathable, allergy-treated upholstery fabric. Yuen’s collection, for example, is made up of practical and low-maintenance materials, such as machine-washable and dryer-resistant mock suede for cushions, faux leather polyurethane upholstery and dishwasher-proof ceramics. Leather furniture is always a good bet for animals, since it’s durable, attractive, easy to wipe clean and doesn’t retain odours.
If style is important to you, you’ve got to design not only around your pet but also for him. Cats love high places so give yours a shelf of his very own and put toys on it; dogs who love to snuggle will appreciate a throw of their own (and this will also help protect the sofa). The key is to integrate your pet’s needs into the decor. After all, if you are forced to banish garishly coloured plastic bowls and dingy wicker baskets to an inconspicuous part of your home, you are sending out the wrong message – that your pets are unloved and unwanted.
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